Squash is a glass act in mainland China
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent
Traditional Chinese musicians and dancers regaled athletes, officials and volunteers at the Closing Ceremony dinner for the CGG WSF Women’s World Team Squash Championship in Dalian as the Liaoning Province seaport city celebrated the successful staging of the historic first world squash championship to be held on mainland China.
Egypt, with a powerful squad boasting four world top six-ranked players, successfully defended the title – beating seven-times champions England to claim the title for a fourth time in 10 years.
Athletes representing the 16 nations, many in traditional costumes, heard speeches from local dignitaries and cheered presentations to a team of local volunteers and referees from both China and overseas – all of whom had made the 21st staging of the biennial World Squash Federation championship at the Xigang Gymnasium a major success. In addition to two all-glass showcourts, the venue also boasts four permanently-sited all-glass courts.
It was in June 2016 that the Dalian Squash Association first revealed its plan to bid for the 2018 championship: “I would like to show my appreciation to the city by bringing the World Championship here,” said Secretary General Wang GuoGuang at the time. “It would be a great milestone in my life and would make me very proud.”
At the farewell dinner, the local Association’s Chairman Lu Zhi Jun said: “We are very grateful for the trust the WSF and the whole community of squash gave us. We also thank the Dalian Government and the Dalian Sports Bureau, plus the athletes, officials and all the volunteers who made it possible to stage this successful event.
“I hope squash will continue to develop in China and that we will all see each other again soon.”
WSF CEO Andrew Shelley commented: “These WSF Women’s World Championships have shown that China is not just growing in squash, but actually leading the way! The first-ever world championship played entirely on glass showcourts – the six CGG courts providing a memorable Dalian staging to complement the superb overall arrangements and hospitality the visiting players and officials experienced.
“Squash thrives in Asia. Everybody leaves with anticipation for the 2020 staging in Kuala Lumpur – for whom the bar has certainly been set high.”
After being reminded of his plan over two years ago, Championship Director and event driving force Wang GuoGuang (pictured in the Gallery with the winning Egypt team) said: “I had a dream …. I chased it …. and I achieved it! So I am very pleased with the outcome. I now want to concentrate on developing juniors in our country so that in future years China can compete more successfully on the world stage.”
In his capacity as founder of Dalian GuoGuang Sports Facilities Engineering Co Ltd, the company which produced the Xigang Gymnasium glass courts and is the only Asian court manufacturer to be accredited by the WSF, Wang added: “Our hope is to produce more glass courts in our country to help squash grow in China.”
The final act of the closing ceremony was left to WSF Vice President Huang Ying How who handed over the WSF flag to 2020 hosts Malaysia, represented by former world number one and nine times World Team Championships’ participant Nicol David.
Pictures courtesy of WSF