 World
Open PORTRAITSFramboise meets in Hong Kong THIERRY PASCAL TONY AZLAN |
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MEETING WITH A LEGEND… “Heather is just the best in the business”… “Wait until you meet Heather”…. “Heather will tell…” “Heather will know…” I had heard of the Lady for years, but never had the chance to meet her. And I'm here to tell you that all what they say is the Absolute Truth… Framboise |
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The “Mother of Squash” as she is nicknamed
here, Australian born Heather Deayton, Executive Director of Hong
Kong Squash, is about to retire after more than 20 years of dedication to
the development of our sport in Hong Kong.  A
passionate about squash and hockey, she happened to follow her husband to
Papua New Guinea where she met with coach Joe Chow, a close
friend of Joe Shaw, David Palmer’s first coach, who transformed her
game from a hobby to a way of life.When the country marched to independence, Heather’s husband took wife and his two sons to sunny Hong Kong for a five year contract. Thirty years later, they are still here, with a few additions in the form of two granddaughters, and do not intend to go anywhere... “I was lucky to arrive in Hong Kong when the Government realised that Squash was a perfectly suitable sport for local people, and built indoor squash courts with every sports facility from 1984, which took the number of squash courts from about a hundred to 700 nowadays.” “I got involved in the Hong Kong Association because two of my team mates were working for them and one of them happened to leave. I received a phone call, presented myself the next day, back in 1984, and I’m still here…” And her story, the Hong Squash Story, is one of success one.. “Very quickly, the Committee realised that we needed to get more local people involved, at all levels, administration, volunteers, players, all were necessary to develop our sport at a junior level. Not to mention that the local physique suits squash perfectly, skilful, light on their feet, flexible, etc…” “And soon we also realised that we needed to expose our youngest to the top level, to inspire them, and that’s how the first Cathay Pacific tournament was organised in 1985, an event that has grown year after year to reach its pinnacle this year, with the first ever combined World Opens…” Efficient, motherly, warm, clever and possessing a great sense of humour, Heather couldn’t love Hong Kong more if she was a native. “I have so many great memories, like when squash for included in the Asian Games in 1998 and when Hong Kong won two medals, or when Rebecca Chiu won the Gold Medal during the 2002 Asian Games, and of course, of course, probably our proudest moment, when the junior Team won the World Junior Team event a few months ago in Belgium, as our team is composed of truly Hong Kong players, under the direction of National Coach Tony Choi and his team of dedicated coaches.” But the Mother is about to retire, to concentrate on her Grandmother role this time… “I have two adorable granddaughters, with whom I want to spend more time, and also my mum is getting blind and I want to have the opportunity to take care of her and of my 95 year old dad…” “And now I know that the future is bright, I can retire knowing that my replacement Karl Mak will be perfect in continuing the work that we have done, he is enthusiastic and I know he will be successful.”  “The
structure is strong, our Chairman, David Mui, such a passionate
about the game of squash, is a great person to have leading HK Squash, our
people, administration and volunteers are all enthusiastic and dedicated,
every junior event we organise is getting more and more popular, with the
whole of the family now supporting their sons and daughter, and with the
youngest age group registering record breaking entries..” So
Heather is withdrawing for the front of the stage. But she will not
disappear. She will not go away.
Because Hong Kong Squash won’t let her. And all those photos on the walls, with famous faces scattered around the centre will keep on reminding to all that what Heather has achieved here is phenomenal, and I pray that she keeps on appearing from time to time, and sprinkling our lives with her warmth and true kindness.
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Malcolm
the Physio Malcolm is one of the guys who operate in the background of the games. Whenever a player wins, he or she gets all the limelight, and ok maybe the coach to a certain extent as well. But what people do not see is how the players recover from the match before to be in the best of shape for the next match. Not many have the luxury of a private physio such as the England team and also Nicol David. Here is where a very fine gentleman by the name of Malcolm Minns comes in ... Alex Wan |
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Malcolm is born and bred in Hong Kong, after
his parents moved here from the UK. Malcolm works in a firm called
Byrne, Hickman and Partners Physiotherapy which has five clinics in
Hong Kong and has served the Hong Kong squash events for the past three
years – the 2003 Women’s World Open, 2004 Hong Kong Open and now the
double World Opens. What’s different for him this time round (and also all us working people!) is that we have two events running concurrently and the workload is really double, given the same amount of time. It’s something he did not foresee (and so didn’t we) so he’s been pretty much treating double the amount of people this year. What he actually does is basically treat any player who would come in complaining of stiffness, sores or any pain at all. Apart from all that, Malcolm also acts as the first line medical support for this year’s World Opens. Byrne, Hickman and Partners mainly deals with major international sports events and amongst the events they have done include the Hong Kong Sevens. Tennis players from the United States and Europe travelling to Australian Open also often stop over in Hong Kong for some time prior to the event. One big name Malcolm has treated which many guys would dream (and will always do) is Russian tennis babe Maria Sharapova. Apart from treating sports personalities, members of the public often visit their five clinics for general neck and back injuries as well. “It’s interesting to treat people from all walks of life”, says Malcolm with a smile. When asked what he thought of this year’s event, Malcolm was very quick to reply, “This is an amazingly fantastic setting. Playing in front of the harbour with the skyline lit from the buildings on the Hong Kong island, I don’t think you can do this anywhere else in the world. All the players I’ve spoken with just love it here”. |
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CONVERSATION WITH A GENTLEMAN  Once
again my compatriot impressed me tonight, as he handled the loss of not
only his World Champion title but also his world number one ranking with
dignity, serenity and a professionalism that shows how worthy of his
former title and place he is/was. “I’m
going to bet with you that he will re-conquer his title,” consoled
Richard Eaton to a sobbing Framboise long after the excitement had
all finished. “Thierry has another five great years in front of him, and
today, he displayed remarkable conduct during and after the match. There
are far more important things than winning matches. Losing with dignity
and professionalism is one of them. And today, Thierry has elevated us
all by his superb reaction and behaviour…”Yes, my compatriot was superb in defeat today, he played against a remarkable stupendous opponent at the top of his genius, smiled, saluted the performance of his “Bogey” player, surrendered his title with a calm smile, and has already turned the page of his life story and started writing on a new one… Framboise |
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 "I’m
happy with the way I played… I couldn’t keep the pace that was necessary
to beat Peter today, and in the crucial points, I could feel my legs
getting tighter and heavy, because of the hard match I played yesterday
against my friend Greg. "I’m very disappointed. I played well, but it was all about keeping the pace, the energy, and I just couldn’t do it today, I was energy deprived, and to play against Peter, you’ve got to be 100% if you want to have a little chance… "In the second game, he raised his game one notch, and I couldn't physically match it. And that’s where I mentally lost the match. Also, I should have had one or two points lead in the fourth to force the issue… It came down to very little in the end… "But I’ve pushed, I gave it all I could, I have no regrets, I did my best. He beat me one more time. A little smile though as he got a much easier draw than I did, but that’s the way tournaments go… Yesterday was the perfect example of a tricky match, and everything depends on the draw… "I think today was one of the best games I ever played against Peter, but what is remarkable with him is that although you are dominating the rallies, although you are controlling the game, he still returns the situation, and eventually wins the point. I’ve never seen anybody like him. When I make the others players work as hard as that, I finally cash in, but with Peter, nada! "He mentally hurts you, he is so good at it, so strong, and that’s what made him the great champion that he is, and explains why he has been dominating the world of squash for so long… "But I believe I still have a few good tournaments in front of me, a few more good years, and today, I’m reassured on my game, because my length, my drop shots, everything was back on. I was relaxed, I played my game, and things could have easily turned… "I was immensely glad to finish the whole year as world number one, but I deserve to lose my title, as I cannot lose in the quarters, that’s not good enough… But this defeat, the loss of my title and of my first place ranking will give me the hunger to come up and rebound. "2004 was an exceptional year for me, I won five tournaments from March to December, and it was without a doubt the best moment of my career. Also, I got my World Title by saving several match balls, so it was ever so close, I was lucky then… "This new start will give me a new energy, a new drive to find my form again, and will allow me to start from scratch, with the overwhelming pressure of being world number one AND world Champion… "This is the beginning of a whole new adventure…" Thierry Lincou |
 A ‘GRAND REPORTER’ IN HONG KONG… For months now, I’ve had the chance to be in regular contact with Pascal Grégoire-Boutreau, a name that is now famous in the French world of squash, as Pascal is the man who made the impossible a reality, two front page titles for squash in l’Equipe, one of the most famous Specialised Sports newspapers in the world… And Pascal just performed another miracle. L’Equipe has sent him to Hong Kong to follow the performance of the French players, a first for the French Newspapers, who have never before sent any journalist outside France to report on our sport . So let’s meet the young man (yes, he is only 36 years old) and discover what this “Grand Reporter” is all about… |
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"I started my career as a journalist in
Mondial Basket, where I stayed for three years, then moved to Jogging
International, where I had a fantastic job, travelling all over the world,
following the athletes, but in ’98, I left that golden job to take a “pigiste”,
a freelance spot on l’Equipe.  "People
told me I was mad, but when a few months later I got a permanent position
in the “Top Gun” football section of the paper, the same people praised me
for my good career choice! But I didn’t enjoy the 'star system' that much,
so once against all reason, after three years there, I chose to take care
of the 'Petits Sports', as we call them in France, the 'Small Sports'."For Pascal, a discreet and gentle person, his work is all about sharing, meeting people and learning about them. Too often he has been reproached to be 'too indulgent' toward the athletes he writes about. "As a sportsman myself, I know how hard it is to perform at such a high level, and who am I to criticise them, and also, I know how damaging a few lines in l’Equipe can be for an athlete… And my goal is to put the light on sports that nobody really cares about, like I feel happy and proud when I get a few lines about Pentathlon for example. Then I’m happy with my day, I feel I’ve done something worthwhile…" His best memories include the Athens Olympics, and the 100 metres in particular: "It was such a dream to be there, a few yards away from the action, the electric atmosphere, to be an actor, a privileged witness of it all… How many times as a child did I watch the event on TV, and here I was, part of it all. "And that month that I spent over there, as I was the first one to arrive, and the last one to leave for my paper, was pure magic. Everybody was walking around, a smile on their face, it is going to sound stupid, but it seemed that everybody liked each other… "And what about the first time ever I reported on the swimming competition, which was the day French swimmer Manadou won her gold medal… You can’t beat that…" The young man smiles also when he speaks about his love of sports, as he trains about 15 hours per week for the Triathlon, and the 'Iron Man' in particular, 3.8 km swimming, 180km cycling, and a marathon, which he normally finishes in less than 12 hours. Do you feel breathless, I feel breathless … "One of my best memories, as a participant in a sport, is entering First Avenue during the New York Marathon. I’m also about to participate to the Embrun race, the hardest 'Iron Man' competition in the world, and after that, I’ll put on 20 kg and starts playing Darts!" His biggest disappointment, the non qualification of the Women’s French Football Team for the big competitions. "It will come," he declares, "they work hard, and it will come…" But what about squash? Why has he decided to cover our sport? His answer is clear: "From a sportsman's point of you, I’m stunned by the physical dimension of this sport. The physical side of it is pure madness, and when I’ve got the chance to have a few rallies with the French team, I need respiratory assistance after 20 minutes! So, when I see them play at that pace for sometimes 90 minutes it is just astonishing. And if you add to that cardiac quality the flexibility and the tonicity that the top squash players possess, you get some exceptional athletes. The fact they can stay lucid and tactical in such conditions is incredible. "On a more general point, I like the squash spirit, particularly the one that reigns in the French Team, an adventure started about 10 years ago with Thierry, Jean-Michel, Renan, the Mousquetaires, now reinforced by Greg should have a 'happy ending' in about 10 days in Islamabad… "And to finish, as I covered top sports like football, I love that in squash, everybody is accessible and open minded. It’s a sport as I conceive it. A pure pleasure sport …" The future for Pascal is still to be written. "I function in three year cycles, I’m coming up to my three years now in that section of the magazine, so I don’t know what I’m going to do next but still I know how privileged I am, and that there are a lots of people that would love to be in my shoes, so, I just wait to see what new objectives I want to fix for myself… " The man is living a dream, let’s see where this one takes him… |
 AZLANAfter a tough match against Hisham Ashour in the first round, Azlan Iskander is today meeting with Intense Anthony… I caught up with the young man, and we talked about his career, his ambition, and his future… |
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Are you happy with your year so far? Yes, my ambition was to be top 15 by the end of the year, I’m now 14, so I’ve exceeded my expectations, I’ve achieved my goal, and now, I’ll try and maintain it. There are a lot of good guys up there, it’s very close, everybody is trying to get to the top, so my next step, to get into the top 10 is not going to be an easy task. I feel that the age factor is on my side, although not everybody can be as talented as James at his age, but still, I think that I’m on the right path… Suddenly, your level seems to have zoomed up. Why is it you think? I wouldn’t say zoomed up, it’s been pretty progressive ... but … you win a few tournaments, and your confidence goes way up, I guess. The first time you win, it makes you feel really good, it’s a special moment, and you try to relive it again and again. Also, I’ve been working very hard in Malaysia every summer with my institute, this year I managed to work at home for 4 months. When was that?  From
May to September, I worked physically very hard, with my physical trainer
Sean Sturges – with whom I’ve been working with since I was 17-18, and
with Ajas Azmat, a Pakistani coach, in the Malaysian Institute of Sports
in Kuala Lumpur. So now, I feel extremely fit, but I miss matches, I feel
a bit rusty. I have the sensation that I’ve lost a bit of timing, but you
get it back in time, the more matches you play…Last time we spoke, you were physically and mentally exhausted… Yes, I really needed to take time off, to work more on the physical, and now, I feel mentally refreshed. So, with whom are you training in England ? I’m still working with Neil Harvey, who is pretty much my mentor, also I’m training regularly with Peter Genever, (who actually will be going to spend a month with the Malaysian Juniors, as the Malaysian Federation was looking for a coach). There are a lot of players who come by Lambs, I have regulars, Stacey Ross, Ben garner, Peter barker, Laurens Anjema, Ritwik Bhatthararya ... yes regulars…I’m also getting more and more on court with Peter Nicol, and it’s extremely beneficiary to play with someone ranked much higher than you.. But I hear that you have other projects running… With my sister, we just started a sport managing company called Sports-Spin whose purpose is to raise the profile of Malaysian athletes. Squash Players have a decent reputation inside Malaysian Sports, I’m grateful to Malaysian Airlines who are helping me in my career for example. But more most of the other athletes, it’s sometimes very hard. At the moment, the government is spending a lot of money on sports; we have now a newspaper solely dedicated to sports, so we feel that now is a good time as the country is keen to embrace sports. And you’ll look after all athletes? Yes, I will try and do my bit in playing good squash and raising the profile of men’s squash for Malaysia and my sister will do the load, but I think the idea is very fresh especially in Malaysia, although obviously, we’ll be quite biased toward squash. Nicol David was very important in the development of squash in our country, and I think that squash has got the potential to be massive. You seem passionate by that new adventure Basically, you’ve got to keep yourself occupied, you can’t train 24 hours a day… I’m addicted to work, but I’ve learnt to deal with it, like so many other people I know. I chose the quality over quantity, and never forget to have fun. When you lose that, it’s time to stop, and question yourself. You like your life, don’t you… The life of a squash player is quite unique, we have a lot of great moments, and it’s all about time management: the quicker you learn how to organise your life, the better. Squash is all about passion, fun, and desire. I know, looks contradictory, but that’s how I see it… |
“When I coach
my players, I try and see them as different individuals, and work towards
their specificity. For example, if you take Rebecca Chiu’s body, she
doesn’t have a European type of body. She is much smaller, she cannot hit
the ball as hard as some Europeans, so we try to adapt to what she can do,
and develop her own style, a “Hong Kong” style.
"We are really
proud of Hong Kong results in the past few years, like Rebecca’s Gold
Medals in the last Asian Games. Of course, I feel that she has improved
immensely by immersing herself into the World Circuit. That gave her a lot
of experience, as even if we did send her as she was still perfecting her
skills, nothing replaces all that input you get from playing with so many
talented players day in day out.