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WISPA Russian Tour Continues
Ukranian Squash Ambitions featured

By Howard Harding © 2003; all rights of reproduction reserved.
June 21, 2003 

Squashtalk Pro Squash Headlines

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Roman Dolinich © 2003 WISPA

Ukraine's top player Roman Dolinich thought nothing of taking a 90-minute flight to St Petersburg from his home in Kiev for the opportunity to meet and play with the two squash stars visiting Russia's second largest city as part of the nine-day tour of the country organised by the Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA).

The WISPA visit, led by Australia's retired world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald and world No 5 Vanessa Atkinson, from the Netherlands, is the latest initiative in the Association's continuing drive to promote women's squash
around the world.

Whilst squash is in its infancy in Russia, the sport is even less developed in
neighbouring Ukraine. Dolinich is based at the Aquarium Fitness Centre in Kiev,
the largest such facility the country. However, such is the enthusiasm for
squash being generated by Dolinich and his colleagues at the Aquarium that the
one-court centre will be augmented by a further three courts before the end of
the year.

Dolinich is also leading a bid to establish the country's first national
federation, based at the Aquarium. "We have had a lot of help from the from
the World Squash Federation (WSF) and now hope that the new organisation will be
fully established within the next three months," said the 25-year-old.

Dolinich was revisiting the five-court Hypersquash Centre in St Petersburg,
primary host of the WISPA visit to the city, where a year ago he won the St
Petersburg Open. "It was very exciting to play both Sarah and Vanessa, and
meet the WISPA team, and I would very much like to host a similar event to this
in our country in the future," said the avid squash enthusiast.

In July, Dolinich is staging the Senior Aquarium Open, to which players
from Eastern Europe, Russia and the Baltic countries will be invited. While in
St Petersburg, he received a phone call from local company Tez Tour, confirming
that they would sponsor this new event - the first in the Ukraine.

Further news from home during his stay revealed that a major TV network in the
Ukraine had screened a short feature on squash in one of its popular magazine
programmes marking the sport's first TV exposure in the country!

We proposed the idea to this TV network some time ago, so I am so glad they
followed up our suggestion and I look forward to seeing it when I get home, said the enthusiastic squash promoter.

WISPA Director Andrew Shelley added: "We are focussed on Russia, but to meet,
talk to and help Roman and his efforts in Ukraine is an unexpected but welcome
bonus for our visit.

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