WORLD SQUASH NEWS

WISPA Brings First Squash Event To China

Shanghai will host the first international squash event ever to be held in mainland China when the world's top women compete in a WISPA Gold event in one of the world's biggest cities in November.

Details of the Shanghai WorldStars Women's Squash Championship were revealed at a press conference at the Shanghai Jinqiao Megafit Sports Club, held during the Women's International Squash Players' Association promotional visit to the city which is being led by Australia's world No2 Rachael Grinham and Malaysia's Asian No1 and world No8 Nicol David.

The $43,500 event will be hosted by the Shanghai Sports Commission in conjunction with the Chinese Squash Association from 16-21 November.  After early rounds at the city's superbly-appointed five-court Megafit Sports Club, the final rounds will be played on an all-glass court erected on the stunning Bund waterfront. 

The Shanghai WorldStars Championship, staged in what is expected to become one of the sports' most spectacular settings, will be shown on television across the world as part of the Qatar Airways Grand Prix TV programming.

"We have been discussing this event for several months, and are thrilled to be able to partner the authorities in Shanghai with a double-headed opportunity to kick-start the development of squash here in China," said WISPA Executive Director Andrew Shelley. 

"In a few years, this country will undoubtedly be a major force in our sport, and we will be able to look back at 2004 as a milestone with the WISPA Promotional Tour here and in Beijing leading into the Shanghai WorldStars Championship in this wonderfully vibrant city."

Mr Deng Li, representing the Chinese Squash Association, expressed his enthusiasm for the new event and the support from WISPA:  "We will make every effort to make the first ever major tournament in China a most successful Tour event - and we hope that events like this, which will bring top squash players to our country, will inspire a new generation of local players to grow with the sport."

Shanghai Sports Commission spokesman Mr Wu Xinmin was equally upbeat about this pioneering squash initiative in the country which boasts a population of more than 1.3 billion.  "Shanghai is honoured to be the first city in China to host such a high level event.  We hope that all participants and visitors will enjoy the squash action here as well as the beautiful scene of the Bund."

Rachael Grinham added at the press conference:  "We have been made incredibly welcome here in Shanghai, and Nicol and I cannot wait to come back.  I am sure that this is the start of something very big in our sport, and I am looking forward to being part of it."

The Shanghai WorldStars Championship will immediately join an illustrious group of the world's most prestigious events on the WISPA Gold Tour, including the World, British and US Opens, the Qatar Classic, Brunei International, Kuwait Open, Qatar Airways Open and Texas Open.