The KPMG Grand Slam Cup was presented in breathtaking atmosphere. The Squaire, the building with the largest glass facade, and the largest atrium in Europe, provides an exceptional location for this extraordinary event, delighting many visitors and commuters as well as the guests of the tournament, sponsors and partners.

The exciting initiative by the Fédération Française de Squash will ensure that, for the first time in the event’s 33-year history, all the teams participating in the event should experience the opportunity of playing on ASB-manufactured all-glass courts.

The 2012 Women’s World Team Championship will be staged in France for the first time – at the La Parnasse Arena and the eight-court Squash Des Costieres Club, in Nimes, from 12-17 November.

On the completion of the championship, the all-glass courts will be dismantled and re-erected in the country’s three national training centres – one in Creteil in Paris, one in Aix-en-Provence and the third in Le Mans.

“Our investment in three ASB all-glass show courts is a major initiative for the Federation – not just to use in two world championships in France, which we are very proud to host, but also for the long-term to use in our three national training centres,” said FFS President Jacques Fontaine. “Both the Women’s World Teams in Nimes, then next year the Men’s World Team Championship in Mulhouse, will provide major promotional opportunities for squash in our country.

“But the fact that the courts can be used in different locations is one of the key attributes of moveable, all-glass show courts like these,” Fontaine added. “Thus the initial investment in two world championships will provide a legacy which will give a major boost to the development of the sport in the future.”

N Ramachandran, President of the World Squash Federation, said: “This will be a landmark championship. Three state-of-art show courts, so that spectators and broadcast have an even greater opportunity to revel in the atmosphere and competitiveness of our Women’s World Team Championship, mean that November in Nimes will be very special.”

The „Punj Lloyd PSA Masters“, with a prize money of 165,000.00 US$, will be held in the „Siri Fort Complex“ in Delhi, one of India’s most modern sports facilities (badminton, basketball, swimming, squash, golf, billard, shooting, scating, tennis, yoga, aerobics), which had been inaugurated for the Commonwealth Games 2010. Squash is very well accepted and very popular in the sports complex: In addition to an ASB ShowGlassCourt with two moveable walls for doubles squash, 10 further ASB SquashCourt with 7 movable walls offer best playing conditions also for other sports.

General information to The FSB

The FSB Trade Fair is the internationally unique business platform for recreation areas, sports and swimming pool facilities! This is where authorities, operators, planners, construction companies, sport clubs and architects get informed about all the products and solutions surrounding games and sports, leisure and relaxation, fitness and wellness. This year, the organizers of the FSB expect around 600 exhibitors from over 40 countries that will present their products, services and solutions for this growing market.

Here some comments:

WSF President Ramachandran said: “Paderborn has proved to be a first class venue but it has also raised the bar in terms of how Squash can be presented to fans and sponsors. Over seven thousand spectators have attended the event so far this week and we’ve had an incredible atmosphere. The tournament has seen some exciting new innovations including using lights and music between each match on the outstanding ASB ShowCourt to build excitement and really get the spectators engaged. I am delighted to see these exciting innovations being embraced by our tournament partners as they can only help in our ambition to become an Olympic sport.

World No 1 Nick Matthew echoed President Ramachandran’s comments, saying: “There has been a great buzz right across the tournament and the way music and the court lighting have been used to pump up the crowd has been great and really added to the atmosphere. This sort of innovation can only help in our goal to become an Olympic sport.”

World No 3 Karim Darwish said: “The tournament has been a great showcase for Squash and our goal to be included in the 2020 Olympic Games. I cannot think of a greater honour than to represent my country in the Olympic Games. It would mean so much to me and would be the absolute pinnacle of my career.”

Now having obtained WSF endorsement, TopSquashReferee can be mandated for use at professional championships as well as being very much in demand by event promoters who will use it to offer spectators an added element of interest as they watch decisions flashed up. The screens can carry the scores and promotional messages too. Even more importantly, it also takes forward the decision making process into the digital arena.

Welcoming the ASB TopSquashReferee system WSF President N Ramachandran explained: “Everybody in squash works hard to improve the quality of management of matches along with their presentation. So, this ASB innovation will be a great asset to the professional game, and the promoters alike. We are delighted that they have developed such an effective, easy to use and presentationally exciting product for our sport.”

After final changes, based on feedback from the recent WSF World Cup in Chennai, have been made to the system the new ASB TopSquashReferee can now be ordered. The system adds a professional feel to tournaments by providing an advanced scoreboard alongside the new element of referee decisions displayed on the scoreboards around a show court. The scoreboard where the referees’ decisions are awaited by the audience and then displayed now also provides an integrated advertising feature in one of the most looked at spaces of the arena.

ASB believes that the system’s success lies in its easy to use functionality. Having worked directly with the WSF and professional referees from all levels the system is designed with the user, player and spectator in mind to provide a new and more intense game experience.

ASB now offers an introductory discount of 20% for the first 10 Systems sold.