First squash championship for men & women

International squash fans will have a treat in October when the world’s 64 top men and 32 leading women’s players converge on Manchester to play in the first Hi-Tec World Squash Championship for men and women. The nine-day event is expected to attract the world’s best players from forty countries.

The brand Hi-Tec can trace its origins to the development of the world’s first lightweight squash-specific shoe in 1974.

Hi-Tec has a proud heritage of sponsoring top-class squash events, including the National Squash Championships, the British Open and now the World Squash Championships. In fact, the brand can trace its origins to the design of the first lightweight shoe designed specifically for the sport. Since its launch in 1974, the Hi-Tec squash shoe has sold more than 18-m pairs worldwide.

Hi-Tec will be launching a new squash range in October to commemorate their sponsorship of the World Squash Championships. The new 4:SYS squash range will be backed by the latest in independent biomechanical research and development.

“In the 32 years since Hi-Tec Squash was born, we have been at the forefront of the game both in terms of product innovation and sponsorship from the grass roots through to the professional game,” says chairman and founder Frank van Wezel.

More than half of the worlds top ten squash players are currently wearing Hi-Tec shoes, for example, reigning world #1, Amr Shabana, UK #1 James Willstrop, 2006/7 world champion David Palmer, world #5 Nick Matthew, world #9 Karim Darwish and world #11 Lee Beachill.

“Hi-Tec’s 4:SYS shoes are the world’s best performance squash shoe with 38% better impact cushioning and up to six times better grip than other leading footwear brands.

Locally, Hi-tec has been sponsoring a mixed team tournament at Parkview squash club for the past five years (see picture). The month-long tournament that is played from end October to end November attracts squash players from all over Gauteng . Players receive prizes and playing shirts with the Hi-Tec logo, creating a lot of brand awareness. They also sponsor the SA Schools Squash Association Tournament at the Parkview squash club, in which the six best juniors per province compete against each other.

“Hi-Tec’s involvement at a schools level is very important to us,” says marketing manager Lauren Ploos, “as we are reaching out to these youngsters at an early age.

“Hi-Tec also sponsors local squash players, as this gives us the opportunity to get involved with squash at a grassroots level.”

Apart from about ten Gauteng league players, Hi-Tec also works closely with former SA national champion Craig Van Der Wath who is still a force to be reckoned as a doubles partner for young Clinton Leeuw and as a Masters player.