WSF Strengthens Links With East Asian Games Hosts

A successful meeting has taken place in Hong Kong between members of the Management Committee of the World Squash Federation and officials of the Organising Committee of the 2009 East Asian Games.

The visit to the offices of the 2009 East Asian Games (Hong Kong) Limited - which took place on 28 February, during the WSF 'ManCom' meeting in Hong Kong - was arranged to continue the strong collaborative approach between the WSF and the Organising Committee in planning and organising the Squash competition at the 2009 Games.

The WSF delegates were accompanied by David Mui, Chairman Hong Kong Squash. Squash has been added to the 2009 East Asian Games programme for the first time, with seven medals (men's and women's singles, doubles and teams; and mixed doubles) in contention.

"With Squash in Asia continuing to make good progress, WSF ManCom knew that there was a great opportunity while in Hong Kong to meet with some of their leading sports officials," explained WSF Vice President Heather Deayton, the former CEO of Hong Kong Squash. "I approached Hong Kong Squash, who quickly took up our request by arranging a meeting with the Organising Committee of the 2009 East Asian Games.

"There is tremendous benefit when you meet 'face to face', being able to acknowledge the excellent work achieved and agreeing to continue to support each other in future plans of squash," added Deayton. "Growing the sport in such countries like China all adds to our cause of squash becoming an Olympic Games sport in 2016. We certainly came away with a good feeling."

Led by President Jahangir Khan, the WSF team met CEO Johnny Woo and the Head of Competition Events Charles Chu. The visit also included a tour of the Hong Kong Organising Committee's Olympic Gallery, which includes memorabilia, photos and details of past Olympic Games and East Asian Games.

Next year will see the fifth edition of the Games. Previous venues have been Shanghai, China, in 1993; Busan, South Korea, in 1997; Osaka, Japan, in 2001; and Macau, China, in 2005. The 2009 East Asian Games will be staged in Tianjin, China.

Countries eligible to compete in the Games include the People's Republic of China, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Macau, Mongolia and Chinese Taipei.