Day ZERO : Press Conference and Reception
The 2024 Vitagen Singapore Squash Open kicks off tomorrow with sixteen first round matches, but before the action starts Squash Singapore held a couple of preview events …
Press Conference
Held at the impressive Tanglin Club, a short drive from the Tournament Hotel, first up were the four Singapore wildcards – Ay Wai Yhann, Cassandra Ong, Samuel Kang and Jerome Aw – and national coach Jamie Hickox talking about their aims for the tournament and the excitement and pressure that comes from playing in front of a home crown in a major event, and fielding questions from the assembled local press.
They were followed by five of the favourites for the event – defending champions Ali Farag and Nele Coll plus top seed Hania El Hammamy and Sivasangari Subramaniam – fresh from reaching the final in Malaysia – and second seed Paul Coll.
Straits Times reports on the Press Conference
Questions for each of the five players and more from the press – Ali and Nele are naturally motivated to retain their titles, Siva is undeterred by losing out in the Malaysian final and has her sights on LA2028, Hania is enjoying her first visit to Singapore and being a top seed for the first time in a long time – a few photos and the conference concluded … except that there was more in store!
Crossing the bridge, past the open air swimming pool over to the club’s Sports Complex, the players were greeted by ten students from the Northlight school, who guided them through a Peranakan Tile Painting session with some strange looks but some lovely results.
A quick squash lesson for the students on the club’s singles and doubles courts, and it was time for the players to head back to the hotel and prepare for the coming tournament.
Welcoming Reception
In the evening all the players were bussed out to the OCBC Arena for a first look at the Glass Court setup and an on-court photo shoot (it would have been at the Kallang Centre, venue for half of the first round matches, but for the rain).
Then it was back to the Tanglin Club for the opening reception and dinner. The players signed the tournament posters, there were Inspiring words from Patrick Thio, president of Singapore Squash and the tournament’s organising chairman, and Ali Farag, more group photos and a sumptuous buffet.
The evening concluded with presentations to some of the event sponsors – including primary sponsor Patrick Thio himself of course – and then, for the players at least it was back to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow’s outbreak of hostilities …
Check out all the photos from both events below …
