WISPA 2002 East Asia


WISPA PROMOTIONAL TOUR TO EAST ASIA, June 2002	2004 Tour
WISPA Tour Ends On A High In Sarawak The WISPA promotional tour of Asia ended on a high in the Malaysian state of Sarawak with Australia's world No1 and four-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald praising the talents of a number of junior players who had attended the coaching clinics at The Sarawak Club in Kuching. Led by Fitz-Gerald and Malaysia's Asian champion and twice world junior champion Nicol David, the 12-day WISPA tour began in Thailand, and then visited Brunei before moving on to raise the profile of women's squash in Sarawak on the island of Borneo. "I have been very impressed with the quality of the junior talent here," said WISPA President Fitz-Gerald to journalists at the packed press conference at the Sarawak Club. "It's my first visit here and it's been great to be on court with so many enthusiastic kids." Sarawak's top two junior girls June Tiong and Jo-Ann Jee, both 15, particularly impressed the WISPA stars. "You could see that they had a good eye for the ball and had been properly coached," said Fitz-Gerald. "Indeed, one of the girls won the first rally of a short game we played - and I thought 'lucky' - then she won the next and I realised I had to pick up the pace a little!" The press conference provoked widespread coverage, including TV exposure on both RTM and NTV-7, and a number of interviews broadcast on RTM Radio, plus coverage in both the English and Chinese-language newspapers - the latter being a rare achievement. Former Pakistan international Abdul Rehman, a contemporary of Pakistani greats Qamar Zaman and Gogi Alauddin, is the resident state coach. "It's been a great experience for our youngsters to be on court with players like Nicol and Sarah. They can see first hand that today's game is more attacking than it used to be - and that is the way they must play," said the former Qatar, Hong Kong and Singapore national coach who recently moved to the Sarawak Club after 18 months at the Bukit Jalil Sports School in Kuala Lumpur. Moh'd Azlan Iskandar, currently Malaysian No2 behind top-ten ranked Ong Beng Hee, began his squash career in Sarawak before moving to the Bukit Jalil school, then on to London where is now a member of the Neil Harvey stable which also includes England's world No1 Peter Nicol. Sarawak's current leading junior is Wong Kim Lee, son of Belfast-born Sue Teale, who also moves to England this autumn to further his squash career - at Gloucester's Wycliffe College after a period at the KL sports school. In the exhibition matches at the Sarawak Club against local opposition, Fitz-Gerald took on Ronnie Chong, Secretary of the Sarawak Squash Rackets Association, while Nicol faced top Sarawak junior Romero Yap, a cousin of Azlan Iskandar. "I am very tired now," said the 14-year-old after his best-of-three encounter. "But it was a great experience and I learned that I need to play more attacking squash." The WISPA party were welcomed on arrival in Kuching at a dinner hosted by the Sarawak Club. The following evening, they were entertained by the Sports Council of Sarawak, at a dinner hosted by YB Joseph Entulu, the Assistant Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation. Sarawak SRA Chairman Kenneth Goh and Sarawak-based Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) Treasurer Lucy Read both hailed the WISPA visit as a huge success: "It's extremely inspiring for our young players to have the chance to see, meet, and even play, with players of the calibre of Sarah and Nicol - and I am certain we will see the effects of this for many years to come," said Goh, who learned his squash at England's Edgbaston Priory club in Birmingham in the Jonah Barrington era there. The exhibition matches and coaching clinics in Kuching prompted interest from all over Sarawak. One family of six arrived at the Sarawak Club after a 12-hour journey by road from Miri in the far east of the state, negotiating numerous potholes and ferries to see the WISPA action! "We have been delighted with the response we have received throughout Asia," said Fitz-Gerald as the Association's fourth annual promotional tour drew to a close. "Our bid to increase the awareness of women's squash in countries which never usually see our level of squash has not only been very worthwhile but extremely enjoyable. Nicol and I have been overwhelmed by the general level of interest and the way in which we have been inundated by requests for autographs and photos." Nicol David, the 18-year-old Asian champion from Penang who only met the distinguished Australian for the first time 15 months ago, when they played in the same event in Germany, added: "This project has been very significant for me in two ways: firstly that I have been able to travel with Sarah and learn from one of the sport's most successful players of all time, both on and off court - and secondly, that we have been so warmly received wherever we have been, with local organisers clearly working hard to attract great numbers of both players and media for us to meet." WISPA Director Andrew Shelley summed up the tour's success: "We believe in building relationships - and that has been an understatement this year. Not only have we been able to raise the profile of women's squash in these countries but their enthusiasm to try to initiate events augurs well for the future. We have really enjoyed meeting a huge number of fans - not only those revolving in the ceilings!"	Sarawak Brunei Thailand All about Sarawak Nicol poses in a traditional Sarawak Kayan costume - a picture which began to appear in the Sarawak press as the WISPA party left Kuching. Facing the media at the formal press conference at the Sarawak Club are (L to R): Andrew Shelley, Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Ken Goh, Nicol David and WISPA Media Director Howard Harding. The WISPA stars and Andrew Shelley celebrate the Asian tour success in front of Kuching landmark Fort Margarita. Lucy Read (left), who combines the two roles as Treasurer of both SRAM and the Sarawak Club, with Sarah and Nicol and Sarawak Club Secretary Chan Poh Hui. Talented youngsters June Tiong and Jo-Ann Jee (right) soaking up tips from the WISPA stars.
20 June 2002 Brunei treated to top-class squash	Sarawak Brunei Thailand
"Brunei treated to top-class squash" was the headline in the Borneo Bulletin for the second day that the sport provided a rare alternative to World Cup football in Brunei where Australia's world No1 and four-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Malaysia's twice world junior champion Nicol David were promoting women's squash on the second leg of their tour of Asia. The visit to the capital city Bandar Seri Begawan was part of a ten-day tour organised by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), in which David, the 18-year-old Asian champion, and Fitz-Gerald, the President of WISPA, led coaching clinics with youngsters, met the national media, and played a variety of exhibition matches. The party's first port of call was the impressive Jerudong Park Country Club, whose CEO Denis Bin HJ Roslee is also President of the Brunei Squash Rackets Association. The luxurious complex boasts three floodlit polo pitches, a championship golf course, a theme park and a lavish sport club which amazingly features two permanently-sited all-glass squash courts side-by-side. Fitz-Gerald and David performed in front of a distinguished audience of BSRA guests which included Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Rahman bin Hj Mohiddin, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs; Dato Paduka Hj Yaakub bin Abu Bakar, Deputy Minister of Finance; and Glen Raise, the former US Ambassador in Brunei, now regional manager at Citibank. Nicol took on Ak Khairal Amir, the Brunei junior champion, whilst Sarah faced Ak Hasanan, the U-16 No1. With his schooling now behind him, Amir plans to play squash full-time in South East Asia before considering becoming a PSA member. Hasanan still has a further year at school ahead of him, but was overjoyed at his chance to play against the world No1. "I've never played a world champion before - it was a great experience from which I learned a lot," enthused the youngster. Minister Abu Bakar, who had earlier dismissed the light-hearted proposal put to him that he himself should challenge the visitors, was so impressed by the pair's later exhibition match that he immediately left the club to return home to collect his squash kit and racket. On his return, the 55-year-old acting Finance Minister, a regular 2-3 times a week player, played a best-of-one game with both Fitz-Gerald and Nicol before slumping into a seat beside the court to relish his experience. "They make it look so easy and hardly seem to tire at all," he said afterwards. "How do they do it?" After getting his breath back, the Brunei dignitary conceded: "It's not every day you get the chance to play two world champions - I just hope my next opponent suffers the way I did just now!" Brunei, a small country on the island of Borneo surrounded by Malaysian states Sarawak and Sabah, has less than 50 courts. Alongside sports like football, tennis and badminton, squash has been included in the country's 'National Youth Scheme', and the Ministry of Welfare, Youth and Sport funds National coach Tarmidi Saad, a former Malaysian national player who came to Brunei seven years ago. "A lot of people here take up squash when they start working," said the BSRA's Arine Haji Budin. Many Brunei companies have their own courts, like the Fire Service whose newly-constructed HQ features two courts. "We are succeeding in changing this mindset and introducing the sport to children and students. After a successful initiative with secondary schools, next year we plan to introduce squash as an extra-curricular activity in primary schools - and we already have five schools interested," enthused Arine. Talking on the second day, when the WISPA party had moved to the National Sports Stadium's Squash Centre - packed with youngsters of all ages - Arine pointed out: "Five years ago there wouldn't have been a single student here!" The centre boasts seven glass-backed courts in a row - plus a spectacular three-sided glass showcourt surrounded by some 500 fixed seats in an air-conditioned arena! "Sadly, this facility is severely under-utilised - the last event we had here was in 1999 when Brunei hosted the South East Asia (SEA) Games," said Arine. National Youth Scheme students enjoyed a brief coaching session with Fitz-Gerald and David, before the pair took on local male opposition, then entertained the enthusiastic crowd with an exhibition match. Nicol played Sarah's previous day's opponent Ak Hasanan, while the students then revelled in the sight of National coach Tarmidi Saad being grilled by Fitz-Gerald. "They have been wonderful ambassadors for squash here," said Saad afterwards of the WISPA stars. "But the best aspect of this visit is that it has really opened the eyes of the country's sports officials to the appeal of squash - they have seen so many people here keen to watch the sport. "And the kids themselves have been truly inspired - already my youngsters have been coming into my office this afternoon asking if we will be training tomorrow!" said the jubilant national coach. Earlier in the day, Fitz-Gerald and David visited local sponsors QAF Brunei where they met HRH Prince Abdul Qawi, nephew of the Sultan of Brunei. A full page in the following day's Borneo Bulletin covered this visit, together with further coverage of the pair's on-court activities in the sports pages. One aspect of the Brunei visit that has been an insight for the WISPA team is the adulation which greeted Malaysian and Asian star Nicol David wherever the group visits, whether squash centre or airport lounge. "If Nicol had earned a Brunei dollar for every photograph she was asked to pose for here, she'd be a rich girl," observed WISPA Director Andrew Shelley. In thanking the Brunei hosts for their lavish hospitality, WISPA President Sarah Fitz-Gerald highlighted the fantastic facilities that are available in the country. "You are so lucky to have facilities which you don't even see in countries like Australia and England. We have had a wonderful time here, and would love to come back to put your courts to good use with a first ever WISPA tournament here."	All about Brunei Sarah Fitz-Gerald (left) and Nicol David with Dato Paduka Hj Yaakub bin Abu Bakar, Brunei's Deputy Minister of Finance (second left) and Denis Bin HJ Roslee, President of the Brunei Squash Rackets Association Nicol (left) and Sarah with opponents Ak Hasanan (second left) and Ak Khairal Amir at the Jerudong Park Country Club Brunei youngsters show Nicol David how to grip a racket! Two current WISPA stars with potential stars of the future!
17 June 2002 Fitz-Gerald & David In Thai Drive For Squash	Sarawak Brunei Thailand
Australia's world No1 and four-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Malaysia's twice world junior champion Nicol David led a two-day drive to promote squash in Thailand that was hailed by Dr Sunchai Anuman Rajadhon, Vice President of the Thailand Squash Rackets Association, as "one of the biggest things that has ever happened here." The visit to Bangkok represented the first stage of a ten-day tour of Asia, hosted by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), in which David, the 18-year-old Asian champion, and Fitz-Gerald, the President of WISPA, led coaching clinics with youngsters, met the country's media, played exhibition matches and competed against top Thai talent. "Even though we're a small country, we work hard to promote squash - with an emphasis on youth," continued Dr Rajadhon. "To have the world No1 here, and Nicol David, who has been winning events in Asia since before she became a teenager, is fantastic. Our future clearly lies with our juniors, and the way Sarah and Nicol inspired them was truly wonderful." The pair first visited the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, which boasts more than 8,000 members across two separate sites, each of which has four squash courts. An enthusiastic crowd saw Nicol take on the Thailand men's No2 Poowis Poonsiri and Sarah challenge the country's No1 and three-times national champion Chatchawin Tangjaitrong. Poowis, 18, a law student at Bangkok's Thammasat University and son of club coach and former Thai No1 Peerapon Poonsiri, went down 9-7 9-5. "Why do you look so tired?" joked one of his club team mates after his drubbing by Nicol. In the other best-of-three challenge, Sarah overcame Chatchawin 9-5 9-2. "That was a totally amazing experience, truly an honour," said the 23-year-old who has just graduated in Economics from Williams College in Williamstown in the USA. "I didn't expect to beat Sarah, but I was really excited by the opportunity of playing the top lady in the world." In a presentation to the WISPA party afterwards, the club's squash chairman Anmol Pathela said: "It's been an honour to have the world number one and Asian number one here playing our top men - nothing like this has ever happened here before." The Bangkok WISPA visit coincided with celebrations of early fruits of the TSRA's recently-launched 'Junior Development Programme'. Thirteen juniors from the scheme participated in the Singapore Junior Open in the first week of June, with Anantana Prasertratanakun winning the Girls U-13 title, and Anya Saengtian taking third place in the Girls U-15 event - success which achieved rare coverage on the front sports page of the 'Thai Rath' national newspaper, otherwise dominated by the football World Cup! Many of the youngsters are educated at Bangkok's exclusive Vajiravudh College, whose Rector Dr Chai-anan Samudvanija is also Chairman of the TSRA. Dr Samudvanija hosted the second day's activities at the six-court Rajpruek Club, one of the country's newest luxury sports clubs, with around 5,000 members. Sarah and Nicol gave clinics for the enthusiastic juniors then, with the gallery of the main glass-back court packed with fans and dignitaries, again competed against top men. Both WISPA stars had to fight back from behind in their matches, Nicol from 5-0 down in the second to beat 21-year-old Thai No3 Apirom Na Nakorn 9-3 10-8, and Sarah from 6-8 down in the first to conquer Poowis Poonsiri 10-8 9-3. "Do you breathe through your skin - you don't look tired?" asked TSRA committee member Owart Phromratanapongse in the question-and-answer session after the matches. Nicol and Sarah were besieged by autograph-hunting juniors after the session, many of whom now have photographs with them and their star coaches. "We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown to us by these youngsters," said Fitz-Gerald. "Experiences like these make it all so worthwhile." Four TV channels were represented at a press conference also staged at the Rajpruek Club, together with reporters and photographers from various daily newspapers - with the result that the World Cup gave up part of the opening sports page of the 'Daily News' the following day to a report and photograph of the WISPA group. Nicol David told the attendees that "Thai squash has been really progressing in recent times, and it's clear that a great deal of effort is being made." The finale of the day was a sumptuous dinner hosted by the club in honour of the WISPA visit, which was attended by representatives of more than 20 Thailand squash clubs and dignitaries including Chiraya Issarankul Na Ayudhya, the second President of the TSRA and a former national champion and Burapa Attakhor, a former Vice-President of the Association. In a speech thanking Sarah and Nicol for visiting Thailand - "and beating our men" - Dr Samudvanija conceded that "the TSRA is quite young compared with the organisations in countries like Australia and England, and we have limited facilities, but we will do our best to improve our game, especially with the juniors. "We hope we will be able to attract coaches from other countries, not only to train our players but also our coaches. We are so grateful to Sarah and Nicol for coming here and inspiring us so much," the TSRA Chairman added. The WISPA tour now moves on to Brunei and Sarawak.	*All about Thailand* Squash in Thailand Nicol and Sarah welcomed at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club by the club's squash chairman Anmol Pathela (left) and committee member Natchai Taworntawat. Sarah gives some tips to (L to R) National U-17 champion Prach Niyomkar; Anya Saengtian and Singapore U-13 Open champion Anantana Prasertratanakun Sarah and Nicol David (2nd right) prepare for action against Chatchawin Tangjaitrong (left) and Poowis Poonsiri (far right), respectively, at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Sarah in traditional Thai costume, pictured by Bangkok's famous Wat Arun temple (larger version) Squash in Thailand all about Thailand
FITZ-GERALD TO LEAD TOUR 2002
Australia's world No1 and four-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald heads for Bangkok early next week to lead the latest Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) tour to promote women's squash around the globe. The fourth tour - and the third that WISPA Chairman Fitz-Gerald has led - will visit Thailand, Brunei and Sarawak from 12-22 June. The British Open champion from Melbourne will be joined by another world champion - Malaysia's 18-year-old record twice world junior champion Nicol David, who is also the Asian champion. "Our aims for the WISPA Tour are long-term," said Fitz-Gerald. "This means playing an active role in raising awareness of international women's squash rather than just hoping that events will materialise." WISPA Director Andrew Shelley added: "Important initiatives such as this could not take place without the great support of the national associations which host us; Tom Tarantino, a WISPA supporter from Philadelphia who sponsors the international flights; and the players who give their time without fee." The action-packed schedule will include exhibition matches and meetings with national federations, players, court operators and the media in the three countries. Kenyan youngsters enjoy the 2001 tour