WSF World Masters 2020 head to Poland
The WSF has awarded the rights to host the 2020 WSF World Masters Squash Championships to Poland. Fittingly, the world championships boasting the biggest field will take place at the world’s biggest club – the 33-court Hasta La Vista Club in the historic city of Wroclaw.
The event, which is expected to attract players from all over the globe, aged from 35 to over 80, will take place from 25-31 August 2020 – following the 2018 championships in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, from 29 July to 4 August this year.
The Hasta La Vista Club (the showcourt of which is pictured above) hosted the World Junior Championships in 2013, then the squash action of the 2017 World Games, before attracting the continent’s top senior players for the European Masters Championships in September last year. Early next month, the region’s top players will converge on the Hasta La Vista to compete in the annual European Team Championships.
“With the possibility of a thousand or more players of all ages participating in the World Masters it seems fitting that the world’s largest club should host the matches,” said WSF CEO Andrew Shelley. “The championship, played in five year age bands features a great blend of past champions, age group stars and masters players who will simply enjoy taking part.
“2020 World Masters will truly showcase the wide geography of Squash – played today across more than 185 countries all over the world, and its intergenerational profile – two of the reasons why we believe the sport would be a strategic choice for inclusion in the Olympic programme as well.
“Doubtless so many of the players going to Charlottesville will be marking up their diaries for 2020 straight afterwards. They can be sure of a great welcome in Poland.”
Hasta La Vista owner Zenon Waniak added: “I would like to cordially invite all of you to Hasta la Vista in Wrocław, Poland to World Masters Championships 2020!
“Squash is my great passion, that is why the place, in which we can host the best players from around the world, was created. Above all, I am very pleased, when people do not give up playing squash even despite their age.
“For several years I have been dreaming to organise the World Masters Championships, so I am waiting with great anticipation for year 2020. I hope that this event will be the great meeting of many nationalities in the atmosphere of sport competition, interesting conversations, good vibes and friendship.
“On the area of 10,000 sq metres, 33 squash courts with comfortable and modern facilities are waiting for you!
“Wrocław, as a city was honoured and won the title of the Best European Destination 2018. Its history is very worthwhile, Wrocław is charming city with positive energy, hence I would like to invite you to visit and explore city of Wrocław.”
- via worldsquash.org