The death of Graham Prior, a major loss for South African squash, say players | More sports news

CHENNAI: South African players have described the death of junior squash squad coach Graham Prior as a huge loss to the sport in the country. Prior had died here Sunday afternoon after suffering a heart attack. Prior, 67, was in the city with South African players for the world juniors squash championships that ended Sunday.

Moments after South Africa – who had already been knocked out of the tournament – beat Singapore 2-1 in their last ranking match at the Indian Squash Academy, it 's only a matter of time. collapsed while he was preparing to board the hotel team. While he was immediately transported to Apollo First Med hospitals in Kilpauk, he was declared in vain because he was declared dead by the time he was taken to the hospital.

READ ALSO: South African junior coach Graham Prior dies in Chennai

"It's amazing and I'm still in shock because I saw him half an hour before it breaks down.We offer our condolences and pray that his family has the strength to overcome this tragedy, "said Pablo Serna, vice president of the World Squash Federation (WSF).

South African players informed that Prior was feeling uncomfortable before the match against Singapore and had asked their junior No.1 Mikhail Ismail, who was not playing after an injury against him. Scotland on Saturday, to take the "coaching" functions.

"At the beginning of the meeting, he asked Ismail to do some coaching, he looked very pale before the match and his shirt was soaked with sweat, he just sat and watched match, he told us to catch the next bus.Some of the other players left with him, but he stopped at one of the tournament offices to swap the game. When I got on the bus, it still had not arrived.Then the Singapore coach started calling us, he was walking towards the bus and was a few meters from us. when he fainted on the floor, "said Murray Schepers, one of the players who accompanied the coach to the hospital, told TOI.

Prior spent much of his formative years in Zimbabwe and represented the African country in two World Cups – 1981 and 1983 – during his playing career. After his retirement, he was actively involved in training in South Africa and Zimbabwe. He also coached Zimbabweans at the 2002 World Junior Squash Championships in Chennai.

"It's a major loss for South African squash, an outstanding coach and a very jovial character, he was not a hard master of everything, he was very relaxed and very laid back. we also have fun with us, "said Tristen Worth, another member of the South African contingent.

The players, who returned to South Africa on Monday, continued to reflect on what has been bittersweet in recent weeks. "It's been a good trip, we had a lot of fun, it's a pity that it ends like that, it's like that, he ended his life doing something that he liked." a lot, that's something we can be grateful for. .