Rhodes University Squash Club members and Grahamstown residents were among more than 40 000 players registered to take part in the World Squash Day Challenge.
Rhodes University Squash Club members and Grahamstown residents were among more than 40 000 players registered to take part in the World Squash Day Challenge.
The sport of squash is claiming a world record for the biggest sports match in history, as players demonstrated global support for the sport's 2020 Olympic bid.
More than 800 clubs from over 70 nations joined in, with players representing Team Squash and Team 2020.
The local event took place at the Rhodes University Alec Mullins squash courts.
Brendon Martens, chairperson of the Rhodes squash club said Rhodes was the only university in South Africa to organise an official event affiliated to World Squash Day – and one of only a handful in the world.
Martens said most of the 22 players where Rhodes students, but several local residents had also participated. At the Rhodes event, Team Squash defeated Team 2020 8-3.
A delighted World Squash Federation (WSF) Chief Executive, Andrew Shelley, said, “It was wonderful to see the worldwide squash community come together in one massive match. It clearly illustrated the passion the whole sport has for squash's Olympic bid, as well as promoting squash at national and local level.
“These 2020 figures really illustrate how much players of all abilities care about seeing Squash in the Olympic Games,” Shelley added.
World Squash Day was also celebrated in some exotic locations, with Reunion Island hosting a team from Mauritius.
One of the biggest events took place at the Tanglin Club in Singapore, where they joined forces with the British Club and Hollandse Club to stage 188 matches.
A 24-hour marathon in Slovenia attracted more than 300 players; 334 matches took place more than 15 centres in the Czech Republic; and Gravelines in France featured 122 competitors.
Around 750 youngsters from the inner city of Johannesburg, townships of Soweto and Alexandra – among numerous around the world who would benefit from Olympic inclusion beyond 2020 – had a fun-filled day as they joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Squash Day through their annual Egolisquash Festival.
