Philippine Squash Academy (PSA) president Robert Bachmann was hoping on the construction of the new national training center inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex as a linchpin in building on the gains of the national team in the last 30th Southeast Asian Games in December.

Local racket-wielders achieved a milestone at Manila Polo Club, highlighted by their first ever gold medal in the SEA Games by ruling the mixed team event featuring the squad of Jemyca Aribado, Reymark Begornia, Robert Garcia and David William Pelino.

Inspired by the hometown crowd, the Filipinos blanked fancied Singapore, 3-0, in the finals of the best-of-5 series for the country’s first squash gold since they debuted in the 1991 Games, adding flourish to their surprise overall runner-up finish in the discipline with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

The multi-story national squash training center was to be the new home of the sport and erected right beside the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium, with Bachmann lining up a full schedule of local and international competitions there to raise the sport’s public profile and awareness locally.

But Bachmann’s big dreams for the sport were squashed when the novel coronavirus ravaged the world, including the Philippines, prompting the national government to virtually lock down the entire nation in mid-March to stem its spread.

Nearly 80 percent finished, construction on the building has been suspended indefinitely by the Philippine Sports Commission, which administers the RMSC, after two arenas inside the complex were converted into COVID-19 quarantine facilities.

In fact, one of them, the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, is just a stroll away from the unfinished training center

The PSA president, however, remains undeterred and hopes that squash will be among the sports allowed to resume by the national government Inter-Agency Task Force in charge of curbing the pandemic.

“We are working closely with the Philippine Sports Commission and have provided them with our COVID-19 prevention guidelines, as well as relevant information from the World Squash Federation and the PSA World Tour on how to reopen the sport,” Bachmann said.
[PREVENTION GUIDELINES]
http://www.worldsquash.org/covid-19-recommendations/ last May 22.

“We also included a video on social distancing court drills. Hopefully, we get to play under the new normal soon.”

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vTuPI22UZs&fbclid

Among the guidelines are:

[BULLET] Keeping players at least two meters apart inside the squash center
[BULLET] Making reservations for its use ahead of time and online
[BULLET] A registration system to determine to know the exit and entry times of each player and participant,
[BULLET] Using hand sanitizers at the venue entrance, outside the playing court and other prominent spots inside the facility

Players are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled time inside the squash center, and leave 15 minutes earlier before the next set of players take over. Those awaiting their turn on the courts must stay in designated areas separated by at least two meters from each other.

On the field of play, umpires, coaches and players are also urged to stay at least two meters away from each other, which would mean seating plans farther away from the courts as is the usual norm. Players are also required to bring their own rackets and personal gear, including water bottles and snack packs.

Whenever possible, squash clubs are to provide doctors — complete protective gear — who know how to treat suspected COVID-19 patients.

[SUBHEAD] WE CANNOT BE PARANOID

Given the nature of the game, Bachmann acknowledged avoiding physical contact was impossible but also cited the fact that “we can get the virus just as easily by going out in public. We just need to boost our immune systems and stay fit and healthy.

“Rather than being idle at home, all of us need the exercise to do just that. We cannot be paranoid (about this virus).”

The PSA chief disclosed that he recently played at a private court of a friend with two junior players “and I noticed that one of our coaches had gained weight because he wasn’t able to play for quite some time during the lockdown.”

He said that the members of Kayod Pilipinas, the national squad’s moniker, continued to train despite the present circumstances “and we have a program given to us by our international federation for home training just to keep our athletes in check and good shape.”

Local competitions have been cancelled for the rest of the year while the PSA was looking at possible overseas tournaments for the team, “but it will all depend where it will be and what the COVID-19 play protocols are there. I believe there will be one in September,” according to Bachmann.

As for the uncompleted national squash training center, the PSA honcho disclosed that the imported court surface for the facility was being kept in storage by the contractor and ready for installation.

“It may take two to three to three months to complete the finishing of the training center, but it cannot be done as long as the two national government quarantine facilities remain there,” said Bachmann, referring to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

While the squash head was wont to admit it, it may take some time yet before the building is completed, and the sport gets back on track.

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