New Zealand’s top squash coach, Dardir, and the Mayar (Mr H.G.Hay) will help open this $3000 glass backed squash court at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday.

The Canterbury Squash Association is planting “play squash day” at the seven court complex.

The court is the only glass backed exhibition court in the South Island and the third to be imported to New Zealand.

Two have been ordered for Wellington courts, one for Timaru and there are two in Auckland.

Mr Hay will hit the first ball at 9am and Dardir, along with some of Canterburys’ top players, will play demonstration matches during the day until 9pm.

Dardir will be one of the main attractions. His arrival in New Zealand in 1966 heralded a fresh approach to squash coaching in this country.

He had made his mark in international competition and had become one of the legendary Egyptians who dominated the squash scene overseas for so long.

The glass wall was imported from England last last year.

Previously, viewing space was limited by the solid back wall and only the spectators in the first two rows saw the whole of the court.

Now 200 people can watch a match through the glass wall without missing a stroke.

Photo Credit – Mohamed Dardir (left), the national professional squash coach, playing in an exhibition match with Les Milne, president of the Canterbury Squash Rackets
Association, after the opening of the glass-backed court at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday.