WISPA Finds Turkish Delight In Istanbul
The two-stop WISPA Promotional Tour 2005 – the latest initiative in the Women's International Squash Players' Association's continuing drive to promote women's squash around the world - touched down first in a unique city: the only one in the world spreading across two continents!
Istanbul straddles the Bogazi (internationally known as the Bosphorus) with its historic Byzantine and Ottoman roots both teetering on the very edge of Europe, together with the half across the narrow strait in Asia. It offers a fragrant mix of minarets seemingly combining spearing clouds while pinning down mosques, blended with yahs, the old wooden villas, and mixed with the modern glass and concrete trappings of a major conurbation.
Having concluded their clash in the final of the PMI Seattle Open a week ago, world numbers one and two Rachael Grinham and Vanessa Atkinson had offered their time to help the young Turkish Federation as they promote the sport.
Neither they, nor WISPA Executive Director Andrew Shelley had alighted in Turkey before, but knew from the moment they landed that the whole atmosphere of the city boded well for an excellent three days. Adding the clearly vibrant squash federation team led by its young lady President Ayten Kececi and success seemed assured.
The programme was centred on the impressive Hillside City Club – Trio, the largest health club in Turkey. One of two Hillside Clubs, this one is on the Asian side of the watery separation that links the Black and Marmera Seas. Barely two years old, Trio boasts a fitness area that seemed to extend as far as the eye can see – as well as the four glass-backed squash courts and an adjacent one for racketball. In addition are all manner of other health and fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor pool, and no less than a seven screen cinema. Throw in a crèche, Starbucks outlet, eateries and more besides and it is little wonder that it is a success story. If only they could throw in a few beds nobody would ever have a reason to leave!
As the squash unfolded, sports manager Ant Fuatoglu looked on. He explained that the two Hillside clubs boast six of the rough total of one hundred courts in the country and would not hesitate to include more in any new centres that they build.
“Squash is very popular, we are full every evening,” said Fuatoglu. "Our people really like squash, and for the top two players in the world to come to my club is very good for us. There have already been many newspaper introductions in recent days,” he added. This preview coverage included a photo feature in Hurriyet, the largest national newspaper, so the profile of squash was being given a boost even before the Tour began.
Down on the courts, a variety of local players of differing standards were challenging the WISPA stars with predictable results. Turkish number three Aynur Yilmaz, a schoolteacher, had a lung-bursting encounter with Atkinson. As she savoured the experience afterwards, Yilmaz admitted she had been nervous at the start. “But then it was alright and I enjoyed it very much,” she said.
Seda Akdemur, a local restaurateur suddenly found herself on the menu as she was fed to Atkinson! After only playing for three months, she found herself exchanging shots with the world champion. “I can hardly believe it, it’s cool,” said the Istanbullu (apparently the term for a person from Istanbul, and who are WISPA to argue!).
Asked how she started on the squash road, Seda said that she had walked past a court and thought I can do this!
“I don’t concentrate well and my technique is not good but I am learning,” said Seda. But this was immediately contradicted by Atkinson: "She already hits the ball well. She has potential,” the Dutch star insisted.
Kenan Hamdioglu was another of the raft of people completely besotted with squash. As with every previous WISPA Promotional Tour, the group came upon so many. After a career in the navy and a few years as a professional volleyball player, Kenan stumbled across squash by chance in his mid thirties. “I didn’t know there was such a game. My friend invited me to the squash court and I was surprised,” he explained animatedly.
“I had no coach but I learned to play by books and after two years I had completed my learning.” He had, to the extent that now aged 41 the tourist guide is national number three. (It is unlikely that his self-taught successful efforts will cause the coaching fraternity alarm that their world will come crashing down, but it is a testament that the lack of infrastructure will not stop love affairs with squash blossoming).
But not content with what he had managed, Kenan embarked upon helping others. “We have problems with no coaches so I have compiled a squash book to raise interest for others to share in squash. We must start with school children so that squash becomes their habit,” he says. The true enthusiast, who really enjoyed trying out his skills against both WISPA women! And if the Turkish Federation ever wants to employ a development officer they need look no further than Kenan!
The story of Turkish Squash revolves around two people and an interesting juxtaposition. First up is Tunc (pronounced Tunch) Limasollu who was based in Norwich, England, during the 1980’s. He played some squash there and returned home to find that the Istanbul Hilton had built two courts a year or two earlier in 1986 … the first in the country.
He was able to carry on himself and enthuse others, including a young girl, the aforementioned Ayten Kececi. She is now the national number one, President of the Federation (and a world away from the crusty wizened image of the normal holders of the position!) …… and he is on her committee. Roles are reversed at the publishing company Tunc runs, since he employs her there!
Tunc tells of the first Hillside Club which was built in 1990, followed by some hotels and resorts adding courts, and now more health clubs following suit. Squash is certainly developing from its recent beginnings, and under the thrusting stewarding of the president is destined to go far. The base is small and the playing standard low, as one might expect from a young country, but that is set to change.
Ayten, a marketing tyro, expects the first representative Turkish team to attend an international event very soon, though being creative she has found a new way! “I met some Turkish squash-playing guys living in Germany and they will go as a Turkish Team to the European Nations Challenge Cup for emerging nations in Estonia at the end of October. Our players from here cannot afford to go as they have to pay for themselves.” However, she says she is hopeful of some government support next year – "and that will change everything”.
While there are some courts in Ankara, the capital, Istanbul’s 15 million population is five times greater - so it is from the Bosphorus that the development ripples will have to spread across the nation.
One local asset is that Turkish Olympic Committee President Togay Bayatli very genuinely supports squash. He enthusiastically watched two evenings of play, and though he conveniently cited a bad shoulder injury when invited to hit a few balls with one of the WISPA stars, you felt that he really would have liked to.
Bayatli explained his disappointment that not enough of his fellow delegates in Singapore had voted for squash to get into the London Games in 2012, but is convinced that squash will make that step up sooner or later.
Before play resumed on the final evening, the WISPA group immersed themselves in the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar (and what self-respecting Arab-influenced trading city cannot boast a decent souk!). They also took in a little of the history at the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman Sultans from the fifteenth Century until the dynasty was dismantled by Attaturk when he formed the Republic in 1923 - handily finding a name to give the country by using his own!
The last evening of play and coaching saw the arrival of two TV crews and more representatives of the written Turkish media. These included another visit by Hurriyet. All this activity ensured that more of the population now knows about squash and may even encourage a few sponsors to emerge. There is no doubt whatsoever that the inspiring enthusiasm of the small squash community alone will take the sport a long way in Attaturk’s domain.
Ferda Eren, another local player who took to the court, summed up their reactions: Entranced by what she had been a part of, she told a journalist: “It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch the top players and even play with them. I really hope it becomes a tradition here!”
Rachael Grinham spoke for the whole WISPA party when she told the Q & A session in front of the courts: “Although my legs are telling me I have played too many of you, it has been a great few days in your brilliant city. I hope we come back again soon.”
Meanwhile the summary of the three days from Ayten Kececi focused on the benefits that she hopes will flow from the WISPA presence. “All the players here have had a chance to watch the best players in squash. They are very happy. I hope that in the future that we will have more players and junior players as a result of this."
Part two of the WISPA Promotional Tour will now unfold in Amman, the capital city of Jordan in the coming days.
(Report by Andrew Shelley)