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"That was a really nice experience and
a wonderful training session," said an exhausted Andersen afterwards.
"As a cross-country ski instructor, I know how important movement is –
and those girls were like leopards, it was so good to see people with
such beautiful movement. But when you play people at this level, it
lifts your game."
When asked what he felt the WISPA Tour
brought to Norway, Andersen replied: "It is a big inspiration for our
squash federation – and also for the young guys and girls to see the
best players in the world and play with them. The concept is a really
good idea. Sarah and Nicol are the stars of the sport and they see
their role as ambassadors – which is really good."
The subject inevitably turned to the
Olympic Games, and squash's campaign to become part of the programme:
"I know how close you were to getting in last year – and I can
understand how important it is for the sport to be in the Games. Now
that I have had the chance to experience the sport at this level, I
hope you are successful for 2016," concluded Andersen.
Fitz-Gerald went on to challenge
reigning Norwegian men's champion Stig Kobbevik. "She was very
precise – and forced me to play too many weak shots," admitted
Kobbevik after his defeat. "But it was a really enjoyable
experience."
Another local player to share a court with a world
champion for the first time was
Lotte
Eriksen,
Norway's brightest women's prospect who has recently joined WISPA and
trains in Malmo under Swedish national coach
John
Milton.
After a best-of-three clash with Nicol David at Lysaker, the world No
122 was treated to a full-length battle with Sarah Fitz-Gerald at
Baerum Squash Club.
"It was very hard," said the
19-year-old from Stavanger. "They take the ball so early – I never
seem to have time to get back to the 'T' before I'm chasing their next
shot! But at least I now know what I need to work at - my length and
my strength!"
"It was a great experience to work with
Sarah and Nicol – I wouldn't have missed it for anything," added
Eriksen, who plans to work on her fitness in Stavanger over the summer
– while taking a summer job selling strawberries – before heading over
to Broxbourne in England for a summer camp with John Milton.
The visit attracted local press
coverage in papers including Norway's most popular newspaper
Aftenposten and the TV channel Budstikka. In one Oslo
newspaper, Norway's No2 junior Eline Zaborowski figured
prominently. "Meeting Sarah Fitz-Gerald was a dream come true," said
the 18-year-old who is also ranked No4 in the country's senior women's
list.
Another youngster Amanda Aakeson
travelled for six hours from Bergen to meet the WISPA stars in Oslo.
"I didn't realise we would get the chance to go on court with Sarah
and Nicol," said the 15-year-old. "It's been fantastic, I've learned
such a lot."
When asked what the most important
piece of advice she'd picked up was, Aakeson replied: "Nicol told me
that the most important thing was to have fun and just do as well as
you can. That's a great lesson," said the U17 No1. "I would really
like to play squash full-time."
Perhaps the most enthusiastic youngster
was Sigurd-Martinius Stray, a 13-year-old from Oslo better
known by his friends as 'SMS'! "Playing with Sarah and Nicol was just
awesome – wait till I tell my friends at school that I've played with
two world champions!
"Now I can't wait to play my next
opponent," said the two-times Norwegian U13 champion and reigning U15
champion. "My ambition is to be the best player in the world – but
first I want to get into the top 20 in the world, then the top 10."
National Coach Stig Olsen is also the
leading light behind the planned launch in September of a new squash
centre in central Oslo, a seven-court facility which will feature the
country's first all-glass court. "I hope that the Oslo Squash Club
will become the home of future national championships and squad
training – and stage events too," said the Norwegian international.
"This visit has undoubtedly
kick-started a new enthusiasm for squash in the country. Looking at
people's faces as they watched Sarah and Nicol, it was clear that they
couldn't believe what they were seeing!"
Reidun
Ribesen,
the General Secretary of the Norwegian Squash Federation, was
delighted with the results of the WISPA visit: "This has meant so
much for squash in Norway, especially for our juniors," said the
Stavanger-based Mrs Ribesen, who has run the Federation for 11 years.
"We are particularly pleased with the media attention the visit has
inspired. Our top national paper and TV never normally cover squash,
and to do so - especially during the World Cup - has been fantastic.
"It was so good to see the reaction of
our juniors, meeting Sarah and Nicol – it was like young football fans
meeting someone like Ronaldinho!
"Currently the high price of most
courts in the country is really restrictive for juniors," explained
Ribesen. "I am now working with people in Stavanger to launch a new
community squash facility which will enable kids to play free – and
eventually I hope there will be more places like this in the rest of
the country."
Sarah Fitz-Gerald, a veteran of five
WISPA Promotional Tours, was delighted with the latest visit, and
especially the news of the new club being opened in September:
"Norway certainly seems to be taking a step in the right direction,"
said the record five-times world champion from Australia.
"I have been a part of the WISPA Tours
since the idea was first conceived in 1999, when we went to Prague -
and have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to promote women's squash
in countries that have not held a major event, nor seen squash at this
level – and struggle to get any media attention.
"As a former player, I also enjoyed
seeing the 'coming of age' of Nicol David," added Fitz-Gerald, who
retired from the game over three years ago after winning more than 60
major titles including Commonwealth Games gold. "She is a talented,
fun and professional young lady who handles her position with ease and
a growing assurance."
Andrew
Shelley,
Chief Executive of WISPA, summed up the feelings of the Tour
organisers: "People in marketing talk of synergy. For WISPA it is
interaction. The eighth WISPA Promo Tour has again brought together a
mix of great hosting, player support and a wonderful sponsor.
"We have been so well looked after -
firstly in Estonia and now in Norway – by Federations that have mixed
superb hospitality with great efforts to use the visit to generate
maximum local interest from young and older players – and the media.
In both cases, they have generated press and TV coverage that can only
help them raise the profile of squash in their countries," explained
the driving force behind WISPA.
"That has been achieved with the help
of two wonderful ambassadors in Nicol and Sarah, who gave their time
to help support the game. It is not the first time for either – but
to watch them integrating with and enthusing local players, organisers
and the media, is very special.
"Talking of very special, the last word
must go to Tom Tarantino, a Philadelphian squash enthusiast who
embraced the concept from the start and provided the sponsorship that
has enabled the trips to take place each year. Without Tom, there
would be no WISPA Promotional Tours.
"We thank the host countries, the
players, and Tom – in perfect synergy!"
Top Norwegian WISPA
player Lotte Eriksen (far left) and men's champion Stig
Kobbevik with Nicol David and Sarah Fitz-Gerald |
