SRAP buoyed by Federer support, starts first leg

MANILA, Philippines - The Squash Rackets Association of the Philippines (SRAP) begins the first leg of a year-long season with a three-division tournament at the Manila Polo Club today as it joins a global campaign backed by tennis star Roger Federer to put the sport in the 2020 Olympic calendar.

At least 16 elite standouts are competing in the open division and 30 more signed up for a division limited to club players. Additionally, the tournament will welcome back a ladies division with 10 entries, including fashion icon Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, after a four-year absence. Top bets in the open category are defending champion Robert Garcia, 25, Ricky Espinola, 21, David Pelino, 19, and Don-Don Espinola, 17 while the club division favorites include Bob Bachmann, Manish Mahtani and Peter Hager.

Squash has been on the upswing in the country with the SRAP and the Philippine Squash Academy (PSA) holding events to promote the sport in supporting the Olympic bid instigated by the World Squash Federation (WSF) with its 144 member federations.

Last Oct. 20, the SRAP hosted a blitz tournament at the Palms Country Club in Alabang to celebrate World Squash Day that coincided with simultaneous matches involving over 40,000 players in 70 countries. The global effort featured highlights such as a 24-hour squash marathon in Slovenia, 334 matches in 15 centers in the Czech Republic, 188 matches in Singapore and 750 kids playing in Soweto.

The PSA held a two-day tournament in coordination with the Pro Squash Tour at the Makati Sports Club last February. A total of P20,000 in cash was distributed to the top four placers with Garcia winning the P8,000 first prize after outlasting Ricky Espinola, 9-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2 in the finals. Pro Squash Tour Asia-Pacific region director Kenneth Tuttle supervised the two-day battle that also brought Pelino, Reymark Begornia, Don-Don Espinola, Paolo Gomez, Bachmann and Joey Mabilangan to the Elite Eight competition.

Both SRAP president Romy Ribano and PSA founder and secretary-general Vince Abad Santos are going all out to back squash’s Olympic bid which got a big boost with Federer’s endorsement. “I used to play squash with my dad a lot,” said Federer in announcing his support. “It would be amazing to get squash in the Olympics. It’s a wonderful sport. I think squash deserves to be in the Olympics, they run a great tour with great personalities. I’d be very happy for them personally.”

World ladies squash champion Nicol David of Malaysia said Federer’s support will go a long way. “It’s tremendous to have Roger supporting our campaign,” said David. “It’s a dream come true for squash. He loves the game and was brought up playing squash. He wants to see another racquet sport be part of the Olympics. He’s giving his own time to support the bid. Making this effort is such a bonus for the squash big picture. This could have a real impact. We still have a lot of work to keep the momentum going. Having Roger supporting it is a huge plus for us. Squash deserves a chance to be part of the Games.”

Squash’s universal popularity is unquestioned. It is played by over 20 million male and female squashers of all ages in 175 countries and Forbes Magazine called it the world’s healthiest sport. In 2005, squash and karate made it to the short-list of new Olympic sports to replace baseball and softball for the 2012 London Games but failed to muster the 2/3 vote from the IOC Congress. Roller sports, golf and rugby 7s were eliminated before squash and karate were chosen for the short list. In 2008, squash was back in the list for inclusion in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, joining baseball, softball, golf, karate, roller sports and rugby 7s. This time, only a majority vote was required and golf and rugby 7s got the nod.