SA Nationals: 22nd – 27th June
Current SA ranking (June 2009): SA No.5
My ranking has slipped 3 places due to choosing to play overseas tournaments over local tournaments in the first half of 2009.
Round 1: Monday 22nd June
Opponent: Nanette de Fronseca
SA Ranking: –
Result: 3-0: 11/1, 11/0, 11/1
Round 2: Wednesday 24th June
Opponent: Winner of Lizelle van Niekerk (SA No.16) vs Celeste Tucker (SA No.36) being played Tuesday 23rd June.
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND: 15th June
The squash bid team went in and faced the Olympic Committee giants. The team was made of:
HRH Prince Imran – Patron of World Squash Federation (WSF)
Mr N. Ramachandran – WSF President
Nicol David: Women’s World No.1
Thierry Lincou: Former World Champion (2004), current World No.8
Hanna Fekeda: 13th year old Ethiopian girl in San Diego squash programme
Siyoli Lusaseni: South African No.2
I cannot put int into words the feeling of exhiliration once the presentation was complete, and knowing we had given it our biggest and best effort.
The rest is in the hands of the IOC, and God only knows what 2 sports they will choose on the 13th of August.
For the official press releases, visit:
Juniors Jostle For WISPA Stars’ Attention In Luzern
By: Howard Harding
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.
Organised by the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association, the visit is part of a tour to Italy and Switzerland – including clinics, exhibition matches and press conferences – and immediately followed a day in Zurich. Nicol 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 (IOC).
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 youngster 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.”
‘Roger Federer of Women’s Squash’ Inspires Swiss Youngsters in Zurich
By: Howard Harding
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 the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (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 Nicol 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 Miss Merlo. “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 Nicol David take on two-time Swiss champion and number one Gaby Schmohl, followed by an entertaining exhibition match between David and WISPA Tour rival Madeline Perry.
John 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 Luzern, Lusaseni will join Nicol 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.
Saturday 6th June
Opponent: Sara El Noamany
Country: Egypt
World Ranking: No. 100
Match Result: Won, 3-1; 11/8 11/5 6/11 12/10
Sunday 7th June
Opponent: Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy
Country: Egypt
World Ranking: No.86
Match Result: Lost 3-0; 11/7 11/4 12/10
ALEXANDRIA OPEN – EGYPT
1st Qualifier Round: Saturday 6th June 2009
Opponent: Sara El Noamany
Country: Egypt
World Ranking: No. 100
SWITZERLAND
After the Alexandria Open, I will be joining the World Squash Federation (WSF) Team which will be making a presentation to the International Olympic Committe (IOC) board – in more efforts to get squash into the 2016 olympics. The presentation will be made on Monday the 15th of June in Laussane, Switzerland. A rigourous rehearsal schedule has been drawn out.
Prior to the presentation, I will also have the priviledge of joinig the current World Champion, Nicol David, as well as the Irish Word No.9, Madeline Perry in a series of promotional events around Zurich and Geneva.
Watch this space…
SIYOLI WATERS 