By Alan Thatcher

June 26, 2013 - 6:20am

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Mohamed Elshorbagy and Courtwall owner Wolfgang Denk

Dubai Squash Show Night Features All-Glass Showcourt

24 June 2013

A spectacular glass-court squash show night launches the 2013 Dubai Summer Sport Festival at the Dubai World Trade Center next month.

The four-sided glass court, donated by Courtwall (pictured below), will be used throughout July and August for a non-stop series of local tournaments, company events, junior training and open days.

The aim is to attract new participants to a sport recognised worldwide as being the best for fitness, and one which is bidding for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.

Squash is already a popular sport in the region, with major events being regularly staged in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia; and with the Asian Junior Championships being held in the Jordan capital Amman from June 25-29.

The opening gala event on July 4, the Dubai Squash Show Night, features an exhibition match between high-flying Egyptian brothers Mohamed and Marwan Elshorbagy.

The pair from Alexandria are both double World Junior champions: 22-year-old Mohamed in 2008 and 2009 and 19-year-old Marwan in 2010 and 2011. Mohamed has climbed to number five in the PSA world rankings, with Marwan currently at 28.

Courtwall International, one of the world’s leading racket court construction companies, hopes the exposure generated in Dubai will help to grow the sport locally as well as raise the profile of squash as it campaigns for a place in the 2020 Olympic Games.

“Mohamed and Marwan both have the ability to be future world champions and at their respective ages they could conceivably be playing each other in a 2020 Olympic final if squash wins the vote it deserves in September,” commented founder Wolfgang Denk.

“We are happy to act as sponsors of this event supported by DuPlays, and hope that this plays a part in the continuing growth of squash in the region.”

Courtwall, one of the world’s leading racket court construction companies, hopes the exposure generated in Dubai will help to grow the sport locally as well as raising the profile of the squash as it campaigns for a place in the 2020 Olympic Games.

The announcement follows a recent statement by Lord Sebastian Coe, mastermind of the 2012 London Olympics, supporting a possible bid by Dubai to hold a future Games.

Wolfgang Denk, founder and owner of Courtwall International, said: “We know that Mohamed and Marwan will provide a fabulous display of entertaining squash to launch the Dubai Sports Festival on the glass court in a superb location at the Dubai World Trade Center.

“Mohamed and Marwan both have the ability to be future world champions and at their respective ages they could conceivably be playing each other in the 2020 Olympic squash final if squash wins the vote it deserves in September.”

Denk added: “We are happy to act as sponsors of this event and hope that this is the base for future growth of squash in the region. We would be delighted to lead the way in entering the squash court construction market in the UAE and the Gulf region on a larger scale.

“We hope to find investors to develop with us the first real squash club in the UAE, using our long-time experience in building, operating and managing squash clubs all over the world to create a genuine centre of squash excellence for the region.

“Other Gulf countries like Qatar and Kuwait began their squash development programs by building national trainings centers with eight and more courts, open for public use as well.

“The results after only five years are impressive. The Kuwaiti player Abdullah Al Muzayen is the best-ranked Gulf-area player, reaching 33 in the PSA world ranking list, and Qatar has brought up an internationally-recognised squash talent, Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi, who was leading in the World Squash Federation Junior Under-19 ranking list in February.”

Courtwall Squash Ambassador Mohamed Elshorbagy said: “My brother Marwan and I are delighted to be given this opportunity to showcase squash on the glass court at such an amazing venue in Dubai.

“We aim to put on an entertaining show and will be happy to help in any way possible to assist the growth of squash in the region, especially at a time when squash is bidding for a place in the 2020 Olympics.”

The squash events during the Dubai Sports Festival will be managed by DuPlays. They already run the popular UAE Squash League and founder Ravi Bhusari added: “This summer we will be organising the largest amateur squash tournament to be held in Dubai, with 256 players.

“Founded in 2007 by expats looking to play recreational sports in Dubai, our business grew from 20 friends playing ultimate frisbee to more than 40,000 members playing 20-plus sports.

“We are proud to help people of all backgrounds and job titles come together every day through the camaraderie of sport, and we look forward to assisting in the growth of squash throughout the Gulf region.”