WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Nepal Provides Final Bonus For 2004 WISPA Promotional Tour

A visit to the South Asian country of Nepal, which lies between Tibet and India, provided a fitting finale to the 2004 Promotional Tour organised by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), after its highly-successful eight-day tour of China.

The tour was the latest initiative in WISPA's continuing drive to promote women's squash around the world.  After leading a number clinics, exhibition matches and coaching sessions in China's two main cities Shanghai and Beijing, Australia's world No2 Rachael Grinham and world No8 Nicol David, the Asian No1 from Malaysia, again wowed audiences in Kathmandu in a whistle-stop two-day added stopover on their way home.

In stark contrast to China, Nepal boasts less than 20 courts nationwide, with the country's flagship facility being the Nepal Squash Rackets Association Academy in capital Kathmandu.

Construction began some four years ago, but the impressive complex is yet to be completed, though its four glass-backed courts already provide exceptional facilities for a growing group of local players of all ages.

"We were determined to provide a superb facility which was also available to the public," explained NSRA President Amar Simha.  "We were able to do this by raising funds through selling life memberships, and now the Association also has ordinary members.  But by also making it available to the public, we believed that we would not only help to make the game more popular for more people, but also that we would ultimately generate more elite players who could go on and represent Nepal in international competitions."

The NSRC was founded in 1987 by a committee led by Major General Bharat Simha.  During a distinguished career in the Nepalese Army, Major General Simha was an active squash player and responsible for building a number of courts in Army facilities all over the country.

In 1989, Simha had to resign his inaugural Presidency when called to London to become the Ambassador for Nepal in Britain - and son Amar took over the reigns, which he has held ever since.  The now-retired Major General holds the position of Honorary ADC to King Gyanendra of Nepal.

"Now that the NSRA has a membership of some 400, we can stage our first ever elections - and look forward to the Association being led by an elected body for the first time," said Amar Simha.

"With the new Academy now almost complete, we can also look forward to hosting our first major event, and hope to stage a new U19 Asian Junior Championships later in the year," Simha added.

The WISPA party arrived in Kathmandu on the finals day of the Snow Lion Tournament, the third year of an event featuring many different categories and sponsored by NSRA Vice President Bijaya Shreastha, Managing Director of Snow Lion Carpets.

After an exciting men's final, in which Nepal No1 Hira B Thapa ultimately outran long-time rival Suresh Gurung, the Nepal No2, Rachael Grinham and Nicol David treated the crowd to a best-of-five exhibition match which clearly delighted the enthusiasts who had never before witnessed squash of such a calibre.

In an end-of-evening prize-giving ceremony which eventually had more people on court than off, the WISPA stars were presented gifts in honour of their presence by Major General Simha and two further distinguished guests, Kamal Thapa and  Sarat Singh Bhandari.  Thapa, a former Minister of Home and Local Government, was responsible for providing early funding for the NSRA, while Bhandari was the country's former Sports Minister who donated the land on which the Academy has been built.

"Both were significant benefactors to us - our 'godfathers' if you like - and the NSRA owes them a great debt of gratitude," said President Simha.

In a speech to the tournament crowd, Amar Simha praised WISPA for bringing the tour to Nepal:  "Their visit here has been a good opportunity for us in Nepal to see how the game of squash is played professionally.  And to grasp the seriousness and dedication that is needed to reach such standards and, finally, fame.

"Demonstrations like these are a good way of instilling in our potential players and youth the qualities, values and discipline that are needed to excel in sports.  Today, the youth of this country needs to see achievements made in the field of sports, so that they can look up to these achievements as examples. Sports could be considered as one of the most important factors in the overall development of a child.

"Hence, with the right sort of resources, technical know-how and funding, it would be a good opportunity for the youth of this country to let their potentials be harnessed into something that is more tangible, like being the World Champion in squash, or in any other games," Simha explained.

Simha, who himself first learned to play squash when studying in Harrow in England, added later that squash is an ideal sport for the Nepalese.  "We tend to excel in individual sports, rather than team sports, so I feel confident that we can achieve success here eventually.  Our third place finish (to Pakistan and India) in the SAF Games last March was a breakthrough for us, and we are determined to build on that."

Twenty four hours after winning his latest Snow Lion title, Hira Thapa was able to pit his skills against Rachael Grinham.  While Thapa arrived fresh for the encounter, Grinham had undergone a serious and lengthy training session with David and, furthermore, was less used to the Kathmandu altitude than her opponent. 

After losing the first game, Thapa came back to take the next and raced to a 6-2 lead in the decider.  But the plucky Australian maintained WISPA's five-year unbeaten record in such 'battles-of-the-sexes' and ultimately triumphed 2/1!

"It was a good game," said an exhausted Thapa afterwards.  "But what was so exceptional was how free she made the court, never blocking as my opponents often do - and she simply doesn't miss anything!"

Nicol David, who also sparred with Suresh Gurung in a match which thrilled the crowd, said of the WISPA Tour:  "It's fantastic to have been able to play a part in the development of squash in countries like China and Nepal.  I was delighted to have been invited on this trip and have been overwhelmed by the response we have had.

"You really get the feeling these countries want to grow the sport and make something out of squash.  And we've visited some great places, like the Great Wall.  I'm really, really, looking forward to coming back to play in the WISPA event in Shanghai, and see the all-glass court in another stunning location," said David as she left to defend her Asian Championship title in her home country Malaysia later this week.

In summing up WISPA's 2004 Promotional initiative, Executive Director Andrew Shelley said:  "Imagine the Williams sisters spending a couple of weeks getting on and off planes, hitting tennis balls with club players and generally joining local tennis communities for a while - all without getting paid.

"It doesn't compute - yet that is exactly what Rachael and Nicol have done for the last fortnight; and that is what makes them and the other top WISPA girls so special," said Tour mastermind Shelley.

"But special too are all the people we have met.  The enthusiasts in Shanghai and Beijing are a wonderful group, and with the huge organisational efforts being made by the China Squash Association, all deserve to have increasing courts and attention at home.

"We have already developed a strong bond with the CSA and are trying to support them - but the major thrust must come from them.  Our resources are limited, but although WISPA represents the women's professional end of the sport, we must do what we can to help nurture the grassroots," Shelley pointed out.

"And the same is true with the great new friends we have briefly made in Nepal in the last couple of days.

"Both the Chinese and Nepalese have said how inspirational our visit has been - but it has been the same for us too.  We are delighted to have had the opportunity to promote squash in this way; and WISPA is very grateful to our main hosts the China Squash Association, the Nepal SRA, the players and flight sponsor Tom Tarantino.  Without all these elements, and especially Tom's support, none of this would be possible."