Two athletes looking to break a Guinness World Record for the longest squash match remain determined to take on the challenge despite their training being plagued by injuries.
Entrepreneur Grant Ward, from Basingstoke, and taxi driver Mike Sohachevsky, from Eastrop, both 29, aim to play 30 hours continuously at Basingstoke Sports Centre, in Festival Place, from November 25, beating the current record of 29hrs and 55mins set in 2008.
During October and November, the pair have been pushing their bodies to the limit in a bid to prepare themselves for the mammoth ordeal.
Balancing work with training, the duo have been putting in four-hour squash sessions, time in the gym, and on Sunday did a 12-hour stint on the court.
Speaking to the Basingstoke Observer, Grant said he was worried about injuries but remained adamant he will be fully fit on the day.
He said: “For me it was a shoulder complaint. I pulled something in my arm, which was causing pain while I was sleeping and causing pain during the day, which obviously while I was swinging my arm it was my squash shoulder that was sore. It’s still just about there but it will be alright on the day.
“And Mike had a niggle in his groin. He was worried that it could be a hernia about to raise its head, but it seems that’s not the case. He did 12 hours on Sunday and is feeling in good shape.
“The injuries won’t hamper us or stop us. I don’t know if we are hyper-sensitive to them or if it’s just one of those things that when you want it to be good you start to get worried about every little bit.
“It will require a lot of grit, a lot of determination, and a lot of head strength to keep going for that length of time and defeat the tiredness and the boredom but we are confident we can push through it and we are fit enough to do it now.”
Grant and Mike hope to raise up to £10,000 for Cancer Research UK and the Basingstoke and Deane Sports Trust, which runs the town centre squash courts. The attempt has been green-lighted by Guinness World Records and Grant is gathering a team of independent witnesses, stewards, and a qualified solicitor to make sure the attempt is ratified.
Anyone keen to sponsor the attempt or help out should call Grant on 08447 749602, or visit www.basingstokesquashclub.co.uk/worldrecords.aspx
