IInnssttaanntt UUppddaattee ISSUE 42 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 To: ALL WSF MEMBER NATIONAL FEDERATIONS cc: WSF Regional Vice-Presidents, WSF Committee Members, WSA, PSA, Accredited Companies FROM HEADQUARTERS be managing the men’s equivalent, again on no less Perhaps the most striking than three all glass show-courts, in the French city of facet of the London Olympic Mulhouse in June. Games – if you set aside the The following month sees the World Junior constant hankering after Individuals followed by the Women’s Junior Team squash to have been involved event in the Polish city of Wroclaw. The growth of – was how instrumental the Polish squash is little short of phenomenal and Games Makers were to the competing players and officials will see Hasta la Vista success of them. The Club, one of the great new facilities that are volunteers, no less than characterising the Polish scene. A further month 70,000 of them, enhanced the spectator experience, later, in August, the World Games takes place in Cali, working behind the scenes, keeping the Games Colombia, featuring two 24 player singles draws. ticking along and uplifting everybody’s spirits with That is all to come, but for now, on behalf of their contagious enthusiasm. President Ramachandran, the WSF Board and my They were a stark reminder, as if we even needed office colleagues may I wish everybody a very happy, one, that without volunteers recreational as well as healthy and safe 2013, and that everything you wish competitive sport simply could not operate. for comes true. On a general level it will doubtless So, in the squash world let’s end the year by saluting include success for the Olympic bid, and personally the tens of thousands in our own sphere that keep perhaps a regular flow of rolling nicks and other squash thriving. At club level the committee screaming winners! members, the club event organisers, junior coaches, parents and the team captains. At local, regional national and international level so many serving the sport too; from committee through to coaches and referees, administrators and organisers, helpers and [email protected] supporters. ___________________________________________ They are all the lifeblood of the sport. If you are one, we thank you, and similar gratitude goes to WSF HAILS HONG KONG 'INSPECTION' SUCCESS everybody whom we rely upon to maintain our The WSF hailed the finale of the Cathay Pacific Sun motors. Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open as a major BRING ON 2013 success - which not only produced two sparkling finals featuring the world's number one players, but Internationally, 2013 promises to be a great year. Of also hosted representatives of the International course off the court we go forward with our effort to Olympic Committee who were 'inspecting' the event persuade the IOC that squash would be a great with a view to assessing the sport's credentials to addition to the Olympic Games summer programme join the 2020 Olympic Games programme. in 2020; and we don’t have too long to wait to see how well the presentations, inspection and After a rain-affected semi-finals session on the interaction have gone. The IOC Executive Board are due to recommend their preferred sport after we and the other shortlisted sports present to them at the end of May. While the final decision comes at the IOC Congress in September, the sport in the frame will have taken a great leap towards their goal. On court the year starts with a real bang with the PSA & WSA World Series Finals at Queens Club in London, even before the Tours kick in with ranking events. There are world championships too. Firstly, after very successfully hosting the Women’s World Team Championship in Nimes, the French Federation will 1 Saturday, the two finals brought the 27th staging of SQUASH LEADS ON 'INNOVATION' IN BID the World Series championships to a glorious climax PRESENTATION outdoors on an all-glass show court erected at the Just before the New Year break the WSF presented Cultural Centre Piazza on the Hong Kong waterfront its case for Squash to be included in the 2020 at Tsim Sha Tsui. Olympic Games to the International Olympic Nicol David, the Malaysian superstar who has topped Committee's Programme Commission. The WSF the world rankings since 2006, won her eighth delegation was led by its President N Ramachandran, successive Hong Kong title after beating surprise and featured men's world No1 James Willstrop, WSF French opponent Camille Serme in the women's final, Chief Executive Andrew Shelley, and junior player and Egypt's 2010 champion Ramy Ashour Reyna Pacheco. successfully regained the men's title after deposing defending champion James Willstrop, the world number one from England, in the other final. "I could not be more happy with this weekend," said WSF President N Ramachandran. "The Hong Kong Open is an impressive event, superbly managed by the Hong Kong Squash Federation and we were honoured that the IOC Programme Commission chose to come and evaluate it. "While it is not one of our largest events by capacity, it has been framed to bring squash to the public; and the placing of the all-glass show-court on the Avenue Pictured following the presentation, were: (L to R) Andrew Shelley, Reyna Pacheco, President Ramachandran and James Willstrop Of The Stars at the Harbour certainly did that. President Ramachandran said: "Our presentation set "We hope that the inspectors were happy with the out to show that squash has been on a journey of staging, presentation and broadcast of our sport, innovation over recent years. Developments such as together with our fine Tour athletes, and that their state-of-the-art all glass courts, under floor lighting, positive impressions can be reinforced when we referee video review, side court entrances, and present to the Commission as a whole in Lausanne improved in-venue presentation have all led to a later this month." dramatic change in the broadcast and fan POSITIVE REVIEW experience. Walter Sieber, one of the two IOC Programme "We also stressed the global reach and appeal of the Commission representatives, said: "We were able to sport. All five continents have produced both male make a very thorough inspection of the way the and female world champions, and the current event was organised, taking into account the needs women's top 20 features players from 12 countries of the athletes and coaches. Naturally, we also spread across every continent. There can be no wanted to assess how the glass court is helping to doubt that if squash were to be included in the present the sport for broadcast purposes. Olympic Games Programme it would provide more "We found that the competition arrangements were countries with a chance to be on the medal podium. of a high level, and on court we were able to see the "It was a great session," added Ramachandran. "The top players in action too. It has proven to be very Programme Commission showed a real interest in the informative." development of our sport." After winning her 40th successive match in Hong The WSF also unveiled its Squash 2020 bid film Kong since 2003, Nicol David added: "I am so glad today, which captures the excitement and recent that the IOC inspectors could come to see such an innovations in the sport, and what Squash would amazing setup that is done here every year. For us bring to the Olympic Games. Featuring two of the players to play on the waterfront is wonderful - and game's most exciting players - Malaysia's Nicol David, they get to experience it too." currently bidding to win a record seventh world title, The Hong Kong Open, sponsored by the leading and Egypt's Ramy Ashour, the newly-crowned men's international airline Cathay Pacific since its launch in world champion - the film was one of three shown as 1985, is one of the most popular championships on part of the WSF presentation to the IOC Programme the world tour: "This venue shows how you can pick Commission. up and take the glass court to any great location in James Willstrop said: "Squash represents the essence the world, wherever the Olympics is staged," said of Olympic sport. It's gladiatorial given that we are England's world champion Nick Matthew. "It is great the only racket sport where players share the same that the IOC group have seen that for themselves." space, and to excel requires a mix of mental ___________________________________________ strategy, skill, athleticism and fitness. In the past few WSF APPROVED RACKETS seasons there has been a revolution in the way squash is presented to spectators. MCs, music and lighting have really helped to get the fans involved - and that's great for players. 2 "I'm 29 years old so my dream to compete in the RONNIE SINCLAIR Olympic Games may never be realised, but if I can The WSF is saddened to report play a part in helping squash become part of the that former President Ronnie Olympic Programme, I could even retire a happy Sinclair has died in hospital on 3 man." December in his native One of the highlights of the presentation was the Edinburgh, Scotland, aged 74 story of Reyna Pacheco and how squash has helped after contracting Legionnaires change her life. Disease whilst on a cycling Reyna Pachero, who was born in Mexico, now lives in holiday in Spain. Sinclair, who the United States and became the highest ranked was President from 1985 – 1989, Urban player in US Squash, added: "My mother was a Scottish junior and senior brought my older brother and myself to the United squash international before becoming President of States when I was four.