`Catch them young' squash program to improve standard and pick future champs

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

SQUASH: The game of Squash will receive a tremendous boost for the first time in its century long history, as the Sri Lanka Squash Federation and its sponsor Star Packaging (Pvt) Ltd. launches the `Star Pack National Junior Development Program' aimed at developing squads of players with high potential for the future.

The main objective is to `catch them young' to select and train schoolchildren between the ages of 9 to 14 years in view of developing and building national junior squads of all age categories.

"The key objective of this program is twofold. Initially, we want to elevate the standard of the game in the long-term by forming squads of players with high potential and thereby popularise the game among the public. The SLSF will provide a high standard of professional coaching knowhow together with a continuous monitoring process free of charge.

The entire training cost will be borne by the SLSF through sponsorships, with only a nominal registration fee being payable by each participant to ensure as a token of commitment," said Oliver Guruge, the President of SLSF at a press briefing held at the Gymkhana Club to announce the program.

Guruge said that many feel that squash belongs to the elite band, but it is not so. The game came into being during the era of the British and thereafter was played mostly in the armed forces and it is still to be popularised.

"There will be three intakes in this project. The maximum number of students that can be entertained per intake is 160. Schools such as Ananda, Nalanda, Isipathana, Thurstan, Ladies and Bishop's Colleges, the Colombo International School, the British School, Asian International, Lyceum and Elizabeth Moir School, Devi Balika and St. Bridget's Convent, all of which do not have squash on their regular sports calendar have been invited."

Guruge added: "In a two years time we should be able to muster around 1,000 players, in that we should be able tofind at least a couple of "blue sapphires" that could be polished and ready by the years of 2016 / 17' to win a medal. Squash is not a body contact game, so we could match anyone, provided with the technical expertise and a dedicated set of officials." Huzaifa H. Abdulhusein, the Managing Director of Star Packaging (Pvt) Ltd. being a squash player, he firmly believes that Sri Lanka has the potential and talent to produce good players.

"I am privileged to sponsor this new brainchild as I believe we are good at eye and racquet contact games. But, lack of exposure and expertise has deprived us of proceeding to higher levels. As a player I know that one should be fit to play squash rather than playing squash to be fit," said the MD of Star Packing (Pvt) Ltd., the market leaders in the corrugated packing Industry.