WISPA Goes to Prague.... and wows the crowd: A great day

Natalie Grainger and Cassie Jackman Play in Prague

Photos by Thomas Barva, Prague, 6.22-23.99

Prague in the evening.

It was great squash! Lobs, cross courts, boasts etc, etc. Nice and rich squash! The WISPA visitors treated the Prague fans to four matches: Natalie and Cassie against the top two Czech men players, a doubles match, and then Natalie and Cassie - Tomas Barva from Prague.

The WISPA "team" arrives. A great venue: The famous castle watches over.
Natalie Grainger and Milos Pokorny (Czech #2). [Pokorny:10-9, 9-7, 9-6] Cassie Jackman and Jan Koukal (Czech #1). [Koukal:9-7, 6-9, 9-1]
"Rest of World" vs Czech Republic: 15-9.
Natalie Grainger vs. Cassie Jackman 2-0 (9-7, 9-6) on Tuesday, 2-1 (10-8, 3-9, 9-4) on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Natalie played Jan Koukol (Koukol, 6-9, 9-2, 10-9) and Cassie played Milos Pokorny (Pokorny, 1-9, 9-7, 9-3)

World squash champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald flew from her home in Melbourne to Prague, leading a WISPA delegation to promote the appeal of women's squash in the Czech Republic.

Joining Fitz-Gerald, President of the Women's International Squash Players' Association, in Prague is England's world No. 3 Cassie Jackman and South Africa's world No. 7 Natalie Grainger.

The two-day tour (on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 June) are featuring clinics, exhibition matches, media interviews, and meetings with the country's leading sports administrators and promoters. Interest in squash in the Czech Republic has grown dramatically in recent years, with a significant number of new clubs and courts currently under construction.

The Tuesday matches took place at the Sportcentrum Nove Butovice, Prague.

Wednesday's exhibitions took place at the Svatovaclavske squashcentrum, Vaclavske sq., Prague.

[WISPA Press Release, 6.24.99]

page updated 6.24.99