Game on for development to host world junior champs
Jan 19, 2006
Squash Palmerston North is being transformed into the country's premier facility in time to host the world junior championships in July.
Work on the $1.9 million Club Palmerston complex on Linton Street began last week, with contractors readying the site for foundation work.
| The complex will have eight new glass-backed courts and a full championship court. | PREMIER DEVELOPMENT: Club Palmerston chairman Grant Smith overlooking construction of the $1.9 million development to be used when the city hosts the world junior championships in July. Photo by Murray Wilson, Manawatu Standard |
The development is a bold joint venture between Squash Palmerston North, the Palmerston North Bowling Club and the Cosmopolitan Club.
The complex will include function rooms to be shared by the three clubs and also for community use.
Club Palmerston's chairman Grant Smith believes the squash court development will be of a standard never seen in this country.
"The development will provide a legacy for the city and is already attracting interest for hosting other events," Smith said.
"This has got to be up there with the Lido and the Arena - on a smaller scale obviously - but I'd say it will become one of the city's key sporting assets."
The courts are already booked to host a test against Australia on June 15 and the national Cousins Shield club tournament earlier that month.
Smith said these events will provide a good dummy run for the world championships and give the club a month to iron out any problems that might arise.
Despite the tight seven-month time frame before the world championships, Smith is confident the complex will be ready.
"It's a like bit like Athens," he said, in a reference to the last Olympic Games.
"But the whole construction thing's aimed around getting the courts completed.
"Obviously the courts and all the clubrooms are part of the bigger Club Palmerston, but the courts come first."
Construction is being done by Palmerston North's Kynock Construction, with all sub-contracting work being done by local firms.
The Palmerston North Squash Club is no stranger to the international stage, having hosted the world men's championships in 1971.
In addition to the eight courts for this year's junior championships, an all-glass court will be erected at Arena 2 for the individual and teams finals on July 22 and July 28.
So far 21 countries have entered the 12-day tournament, and Smith is hoping it will increase to 24.
The last junior world championships, held in Pakistan in 2004, attracted 22 countries.
Favoured nations for this year's team's title are Egypt and Pakistan, with strong challenges expected from Australia and England.
The total number of players expected to compete in both events is around 240, with 128 in the singles draw.
The team event is limited to four players but some, including the United States, will have a dozen players in the individual competition.
Article by Andrew Still, Manawatu Standard