squashed
Geoff is Hunting for more courts!
GEOFF Hunt is regarded as one of the best squash players of all times. Three years ago, the Australian joined the ASPIRE Academy as head coach of its squash programme.
And the 62-year-old Hunt now considers his stint in Qatar as 'fulfilling'.
"I'm happy with the progress that we've made in three years. Some players, like Ahmad Al Tamimi, has made rapid strides. His killer instincts on the court will stand him in good stead. He's competent enough to win at the Asian and international levels. He's become a good role model for younger players," said Hunt.
"Things weren't easy at the start. There was no base for squash in Qatar and initially, I operated with a small group. However, things have changed. The Qatar Squash Federation has helped us immensely. The programme will surely produce champions," he said.
However, the situation is not all rosy. The shortage of squash courts is a pressing problem, which requires immediate attention.
"Next year, we'll have two more boys in the team, bringing the total up to 10. We urgently need more squash courts at ASPIRE. At present, we've just two and require at least three more. Although we use the Khalifa International Squash Complex, much time is lost in travel, so we plan to convert the basement area at the academy to squash courts," he said.
Hunt, who has been associated with the game for many decades, was realistic in his assessment that not all his students would go on to make it big.
"The first of our players will graduate next year. Not all of them will make a splash. Only the fittest can succeed in high-performance sports. However, where ever they go, they're sure to uphold the values we taught them," he added.
GEOFF Hunt is regarded as one of the best squash players of all times. Three years ago, the Australian joined the ASPIRE Academy as head coach of its squash programme.
And the 62-year-old Hunt now considers his stint in Qatar as 'fulfilling'.
"I'm happy with the progress that we've made in three years. Some players, like Ahmad Al Tamimi, has made rapid strides. His killer instincts on the court will stand him in good stead. He's competent enough to win at the Asian and international levels. He's become a good role model for younger players," said Hunt.
"Things weren't easy at the start. There was no base for squash in Qatar and initially, I operated with a small group. However, things have changed. The Qatar Squash Federation has helped us immensely. The programme will surely produce champions," he said.
However, the situation is not all rosy. The shortage of squash courts is a pressing problem, which requires immediate attention.
"Next year, we'll have two more boys in the team, bringing the total up to 10. We urgently need more squash courts at ASPIRE. At present, we've just two and require at least three more. Although we use the Khalifa International Squash Complex, much time is lost in travel, so we plan to convert the basement area at the academy to squash courts," he said.
Hunt, who has been associated with the game for many decades, was realistic in his assessment that not all his students would go on to make it big.
"The first of our players will graduate next year. Not all of them will make a splash. Only the fittest can succeed in high-performance sports. However, where ever they go, they're sure to uphold the values we taught them," he added.
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