WISPA Qatar Airways Challenge Court To Feature All-Glass Floor

A new revolution in squash court technology will be unveiled in India next week when the Qatar Airways Challenge in Hyderabad will be the first professional event to be played on an all-glass court which boasts an all-glass floor.

The third biggest championship on the Women's International Squash Players' Association World Tour, with a prize fund of $79,550, will take place from 4-9 July. After early rounds at the Secunderabad Club, the final rounds will be played on the new all-glass court erected in front of the Falaknuma Palace, an historic building set on a hill overlooking India's fifth largest metropolis.

After successful testing of the new concept by manufacturers ASB at the recent Austrian Nationals in Salzburg and at its headquarters in Germany by a number of the world's top players, a new glass court floor has been acquired by the Squash Rackets Federation of India to be used for the first time at the WISPA event in Hyderabad.

"We have developed the floor in accordance with the players' requirements and we now have a product that is absolutely anti-skid, elastic and even," said ASB founder Horst Babinsky. "The colour of the floor is determined by the colour of the surface under the glass - one of the biggest benefits being advertising, which can be placed at any area of the floor, completely visible, in any colour."

WISPA Chief Executive Andrew Shelley added: "I am sure that we will look back upon this ASB development as a milestone for squash. The floor quality has been assured - and there is no maintenance such as panel breakage, the colour options are wide, and the ease of advertising placement is another encouragement for sponsors."

A star-studded women's field is in prospect in Hyderabad, led by world number one Vanessa Atkinson, the 2004 champion from the Netherlands, with world No2 Nicol David, the world champion from Malaysia, and the Australian sisters Natalie Grinham and Rachael Grinham - the latter being the defending champion.