Fourth WSF Ambassador Programme Hailed As 'Inspirational'
Fourth WSF Ambassador Programme Hailed As 'Inspirational'
The
latest WSF Ambassador Programme has "inspired" the impetus for
Squash in Papua New Guinea, said the PNG Squash President
Edmond Pereira at the end of the four-day visit to the capital
Port Moresby this week.
Malaysia's world No7 Low Wee Wern and Australian number one
Cameron Pilley spearheaded the World Squash Federation
international promotional initiative devised to highlight the appeal of
Squash in countries where the sport is at a developing stage. Launched
three years ago, the programme was making its first foray into the
Oceania region.
Wee
Wern and Pilley look forward to the first slice of a special cake made
to celebrate their visit
As
well as the two leading players, the team also featured Australians
Marc Forster and Nathan Turnbull, who provided coaching and
refereeing workshops, respectively, and was led by WSF CEO Andrew
Shelley.
The
programme included a press conference at the Airways Hotel, a visit to
the PNG IOC HQ in Port Moresby, plus a number of squash sessions at a
variety of locations which included training with members of the PNG
national squads, plus local school children and sponsors, as well as
exhibition matches between Pilley and Wee Wern.
Wee
Wern makes a presentation on behalf of the WSF to PNG Olympic Committee
Secretary General Auvita Rapilla, pictured with (L to R) Shelley,
Pereira, Pilley and IOC Press Officer Andrew Lepani
"The
visit has been excellent for us in terms of promoting the game," said
PNG Squash President Pereira. "It has inspired us to continue the
development work that we have started for the growth of the sport in the
country and its long term sustainability.
"Hopefully, in the future, we can produce some world class players in
the sport.
"It's
also been great to see some of our former players coming back ¬- many
now successful businessmen in the region - and seeing what our new
vision is, seeing what we're doing to promote the game.
"We
hope this visit has given our supporters and people in government
circles the chance to see how we could learn from what has happened in
other countries - for instance Malaysia, where their success today can
be traced back to 1991 and the development plans they put in motion
after they won the rights to host the 1998 Commonwealth Games, where
squash made its debut. Wee Wern is a product of that programme.
"Furthermore, the experience our players have had in seeing Cameron and
Wee Wern in action, and also being on court with them, has been
invaluable - giving them the chance to see how much they need to improve
their game.
"For
the elite players, the 2015 Pacific Games here in PNG is what we're
targeting - though we are also sending an eight-man squad to next
month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and two players to the 2015
Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in 2015.
"What
this WSF Ambassador visit has given us can only lead to a better
development strategy in the future.
"I
thank you for making the effort in coming across the world to promote
this wonderful sport," Pereira concluded.
Cameron Pilley,
who was a finalist in the PNG International in both 2004 and 2005, was
delighted to make his debut as a WSF Ambassador: "It's been an honour to
represent squash on this WSF Ambassador Programme and help to spread the
word about our great game around some of the smaller countries.
"It's
been 10 years since I was last here - but the memories came flooding
back," added the 31-year-old from New South Wales. "The people here are
so great, really friendly with great hospitality.
"Getting on court with the kids - some of whom had obviously never seen
squash before - was really good. And some of them were absolute
naturals, taking to it like a duck to water!"
There
are great expectations of local player Linette Vai, a 15-year-old
from Port Moresby who recently moved to Penang in Malaysia where she is
educated at a local international school and trains with Wee Wern and
her coach Aaron Soyza.
"This
has been a great experience for all of us - we haven't seen play at this
level here before," said the teenager. "Both Cameron and Wee Wern are
very strong.
"And
the coaching and refereeing sessions with Marc and Nathan were also so
helpful."
Low
Wee Wern,
a three-time Asian Junior champion, was also celebrating her first time
on the WSF programme: "It's been a great experience. Playing with
youngsters like Linette so reminded me of when I grew up in Penang,
knowing nothing about squash in the early days and playing in
plaster-walled courts with no gallery!
"It
was really good to see kids from the Gordon International School on the
first day, most of whom had never been on a squash court before - then
coming back on the next day because they enjoyed it so much! They were
so keen.
Girls
from the Gordon International School pictured with (L to R) Pilley, Wee
Wern, Edmond Pereira, Marc Forster and teacher Alex Rangrang
"Coming from Malaysia, where we now have such a good national
development system going, it was quite an eye-opener to see the limited
opportunities here, with few courts, limited availability of rackets,
etc.
During
the visit, Malaysian High Commissioner Jilid Kuminding held a
welcome reception in Wee Wern's honour.
"I was
overwhelmed by the reception I was given by the Malaysian community here
too," added 23-year-old Low. "I knew the Embassy had arranged a meeting,
but I didn't expect about 30 Malaysians to join the High Commissioner
himself at a reception. It was like a mini-Wedding!
"And
to have a send-off at the airport, too, as we left was just amazing!"
As a
precursor to a Commonwealth Games Federation-funded WSF Coaching
workshop in Papua New Guinea later in the year, Coaching and Refereeing
workshops attracted significant numbers.
"Being
part of my first promotional squash trip outside of Queensland was an
amazing experience," said WSF Referee Nathan Turnbull. "There
were some very keen referee prospects in PNG - and I will continue
working with these referees over the next 12 months to help get them
accredited.
"The
hospitality from the whole squash community in PNG was amazing, seeing a
new bunch of juniors some of whom had never played before."
The
WSF team pictured with participants and members of PNG Squash
Andrew
Shelley
summed up the WSF response: "The WSF Ambassadors Programme is intended
to support the efforts of nations - but it really energises us too. You
cannot help but be impressed by the national development work and our
own desire to help is re-vitalised. PNG have done just that for us.
"We
hope that the national TV and general media attention the visit enabled,
coupled with governmental, business and squash community interest, will
provide a real leg-up to the Federation in PNG."
The
WSF Ambassador Programme first visited the Baltic country of Latvia
in 2011, followed in 2012 by a trip to the African countries of
Malawi and Namibia, before last year taking in Panama
and Venezuela.