|
|
|
 |
 WISPA
Promotional Tour, Europe June 2009 WISPA page |
Leg Two, Rome:
Rome Rounds Off Successful
WISPA Promo Tour To Europe
A two-day visit to Rome rounded off a highly successful 2009
WISPA Promotional Tour of Switzerland and Italy, led by
women's world number one Nicol David. David, the
Malaysian who next month will celebrate an unbroken
three-year run at the top of the women's world rankings, was
partnered in Rome by England's world number eight Laura
Lengthorn-Massaro, accompanied by WISPA CEO Andrew
Shelley.
David had rejoined the party in the Italian capital city
after taking part in Squash's pivotal presentation to the
International Olympic Committee in the sport's bid to join
the programme for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Founded in 1983 by the late squash-loving Scot Edward
McKey Cheever, the Roman Sports Center is a major
sport and fitness centre in the heart of Rome's business
centre. With a comprehensive range of facilities, including
four glass-backed Squash courts - all of which attract some
2,000 members each day - the centre is managed by the
founder's widow Rosetta Cheever.
The WISPA stars chatted to and played a series challenge
matches with club members, including youngsters, and gave
visitors an insight into the skill levels of top players on
the WISPA World Tour in a number of exhibition matches.
One of the centre's most renowned members is Italian Member
of Parliament Sandro Gozi, the Democratic Party
spokesman for EU policies. Mr Gozi took time away from
parliamentary duties to join Nicol and Laura on court.
"Until tonight, the summit of my squash career was winning
the 'non-classified' Italian title in 2003!" said Gozi.
Formerly based at the European Parliament HQ in Brussels,
Gozi was able to play Squash up to four times a week.
"Sadly, my commitments in Rome now make it very difficult to
play regularly, so tonight was a special treat. I think
Squash deserves to be in the Olympics - I am definitely
backing the bid."
The WISPA visit attracted a wide age-range of enthusiasts -
from 10-year-old Ricardo Veracini to retired US
Foreign Service Officer Peter Bloom, aged 71.
Master Veracini, also a tennis player, is frustrated by the
disparity between opportunities for him in the two sports in
his home city: "There are around 250 tennis clubs in Rome,
but only five Squash clubs - so I find it difficult to find
enough kids my age to play against," said the keen
youngster. "But playing Nicol David today was a great
experience."
Bloom, a life-long tennis player and a convert to Squash
only in his forties, is delighted to have discovered the
game: "Squash has been a huge part of my enjoyment of living
here in Rome - I really appreciate that I can play here at
this centre."
An avid follower of the game through his overseas membership
of US Squash, Bloom added: "These inner city squash
programmes I read about in the US Squash Magazine are
terrific for the sport."
Massimo Bianchi, President of ASD Agonistica Squash
RSC and a former Vice President of the sport's national
federation Federazione Italiana Giuoco Squash (FIGS), was
delighted with the success of the visit his regional
association hosted.
"It has been excellent for our members to see the
professionalism of these great players. Not just competing
in an event, but the 'whole' player - how they train, how
they conduct themselves on and off court, and how they live
life," explained Bianchi, a coach for more than 20 years.
"But my dream is to host a big tournament here in Rome - one
which will truly put this city on the map as one of the
great Squash tournament cities of the world," added Bianchi.
Mrs Cheever was also overjoyed at the impact that the visit
made on her club and the profile of squash: "We have a lot
of typical Italian men here who spend a lot of time working
out - but hardly notice the squash facilities. Now we have
had many of them come to ask how they can get into the sport
- 'what do we need to do?' they are asking!
"So I am sure that our club coach Carlos Camino Mendez
is going to be even busier over the coming months,
responding to this new interest."
 Laura
Lengthorn-Massaro was pleased to have made her WISPA Promo
Tour debut in Rome: "It's been revealing seeing Nicol in a
new light - she's so good as a Squash ambassador,
interacting with all sorts of people so professionally.
"This has been a great experience for me - it's a fantastic
club and we've been really well looked after. It's been a
good mixture of work and sight-seeing," added the
25-year-old from Preston after a brief morning visit to
Vatican City and Rome's historic Colosseum before a
lunchtime session. |
 "The
last couple of weeks have really shown all facets of squash.
"From the major international side with the
Seoul Women's Open played in
the Korean capital city centre on a glass court surrounded
by TV cameras, photographers and spectators, to us
presenting our case to the IOC and
two promotional visits.
"All are about the future: Local development in Swiss and
Italian cities; national exposure in Korea; and, of course,
trying to gain access to the most important event in the
world of sport.
"The WISPA Promotional Tour this year has continued the
tradition of supporting communities, developing friendships
and in a small way trying to make a difference.
"The wholehearted support of our top players - who happily
and freely give their time - brings smiles to faces, space
in local media and is just so heart-warming and bolstering
our future too."
|
|
|
|
 |
Leg Two, Lucerne:
Juniors Jostle For WISPA Stars'
Attention In Lucerne
The most successful junior squash club in Switzerland hosted
the second day of the WISPA Promotional Tour of the European
country when world number one Nicol David led the
party to Squash Club Pilatus in Luzern.
David, the Malaysian who next month will celebrate an
unbroken three-year run at the top of the women's world
rankings, was partnered by Ireland's world number nine
Madeline Perry and accompanied by WISPA CEO Andrew
Shelley.
There was a further pair of coaching hands as the pair were
joined by South African number two Siyoli Lusaseni,
who would be travelling to Lausanne with David the following
day for squash's presentation to the International Olympic
Committee.
Boasting a squad of more than 80 juniors, Squash Club
Pilatus is a vibrant four-court club in the historic city of
Luzern, overlooked by Mount Pilatus. Inspired by coach
Pascal Bruhin, the club recently won the national junior
team title, and nurtured nine of the 13 players in the
country's current national junior squad. Excitingly, plans
are underway for an additional four courts to be
constructed.
At a press reception in honour of the WISPA stars, attended
by civic dignitaries, club President Marcel Schuler
acknowledged that the visit was unique in the club's 30-year
history.
"Last week our athletes won three gold, one silver and two
bronze medals at the Swiss junior championships, and our
A-team won the Swiss Junior Inter-Club championship,"
explained Schuler. "And we hope that this visit will further
motivate us in our efforts to develop junior squash."
Schuler also paid tribute to Pascal Bruhin - "the father of
our success".
After popular sessions in which all of the club youngsters
had the chance to be on court with the three WISPA stars, it
was standing room only when Swiss women's number two Sara
Guebey challenged Siyoli Lusaseni, the country's men's
junior number two Lukas Burkhart took on Madeline
Perry; and the new Swiss men's junior champion Patrick
Miescher faced Nicol David.
"I was very happy with the whole event," said Pascal
Bruhin afterwards. "I knew all the matches would be
close and I'm sure my players learned so much from their
experiences. It's fantastic to see such sporting excellence
from these top world sportswomen.
"It has been a huge success and I am so grateful for what
the girls have done for us - especially Nicol David. They
had so many questions for her," added Bruhin. "I know our
juniors absolutely loved it!"
Michael Mueller, the Technical Director of Swiss
Squash, also paid tribute to the contribution made by the
WISPA visit: "Firstly, it is incredible that our junior
girls have had the chance to play with these top world
stars. Not only to meet their idols and to talk to them, but
to be on court with them too, is a unique experience.
"They have also been able to see the standard of top women's
squash - and to have Nicol David herself here is a big
honour for us. Not only is she such a great player, but also
a wonderful ambassador for the sport," added Mueller.
"And, lastly, we hope that Nicol and Siyoli's visit to our
country will end successfully when they present our case to
the IOC to be in the Olympic Games!"
Andrew Shelley, the prime mover in the WISPA Promotional
Tour concept which was launched ten years ago with the
inaugural visit to the Czech Republic, concluded: "It may be
stating the obvious, but youngsters are the future of Squash,
so to link up with large groups of them and their coaches
thriving at Swiss clubs is very special.
"And for us to meet so many girls enjoying playing and
socialising does a great deal for the top WISPA players who
have freely given up their time and energy. The club juniors
were certainly inspired, but so too were Nicol, Madeline and
Siyoli.
"We were made to feel so welcome and have made many great
new friends in Zurich and Luzern. I am sure we will do so
again on our second leg in Rome." |
|
|
Leg One, Zurich:
'Roger Federer of Women's Squash' Inspires Swiss Youngsters
in Zurich
Described as 'the Roger Federer of women's squash'
by John Williams, the Swiss National Squash Coach,
Nicol David captivated youngsters in Zurich of the
opening day of a two-day promotional visit to the tennis
player's home country led by the world number one from
Malaysia.
Organised by WISPA, the visit included exhibition matches
and clinics with the Swiss National Junior Women's squad at
the Vitis SportsCenter in the largest city in Switzerland.
David, on her fifth WISPA Promotional Tour, was joined by
Ireland's world number nine Madeline Perry, along
with WISPA CEO Andrew Shelley.
Vitis SportsCenter, one of three ‘Vitis’ Sporting Centres in
Switzerland, was built in 1983 by former tennis legends
Vitas Gerulaitis and Ion Tiriac. The impressive complex has
11 squash courts (including a three-sided glass show-court),
plus 10 tennis indoor courts and seven badminton courts.
Cindy Merlo, an 11-year-old from Zurich who was
recently crowned the Swiss Junior U13 champion, was
overjoyed at her chance to play with David - the 25-year-old
record two-time World Junior champion who next month is
certain to round off her third unbroken year at the top of
the women's senior world rankings.
"It was very inspiring," said Cindy. "It makes me want to be
like her. My ambition is to be European Junior champion,
then World Junior champion!"
David was highly complimentary about the large group of
young players she worked with, which included the new Swiss
U17 National champion Fabienne Oppliger: "There is a
fantastic level of squash here - their technique is all
there, and they are hitting the ball well. They just need to
keep working hard - keep going up and up, step by step."
The large band of enthusiastic Swiss juniors then joined a
packed crowd that had arrived at the club to watch David
take on two-time Swiss champion and number one Gaby
Schmohl, followed by an entertaining exhibition match
between David and WISPA Tour rival Perry.
Williams, the club's principal coach and host of the day's
event, was full of praise of the WISPA girls' contribution:
"They fact that the sport's top women professionals like
Nicol and Madeline will give up their time free to host
initiatives like this is exemplary. They were totally
inspiring to our young girls and I am sure we will see
evidence of today's visit for years to come.
"When I heard that there was a chance to get two of WISPA's
top world stars to visit our club, I jumped at the chance.
The visit attracted a fantastic number of players and
enthusiasts - and has given the club a real buzz!"
South African number two Siyoli Lusaseni linked up
with the Zurich party after competing in the Alexandria
Sports Club Open in Egypt.
Following the second day of the WISPA Tour in Lucerne,
Lusaseni will join David and the rest of the Squash group
which will make a presentation to the IOC in the sport's bid
to join the programme for the 2016 Olympic Games.
|
 |
|
 |
|
