ISLAMABAD, March 27 (APP): The three back-to-back International Squash Tournaments will kick off here Mushaf Squash Complex from next month.
While addressing a press conference at a local hotel here Wednesday, Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), Secretary Group Captain Tahir Sultan, said the CAS International Serena Hotel for Men’s tournament and International Squash Tournament for Women will be played from April 1 to 5 while Huawei International for Men will be staged from April 6 to 10.
He said a total of 17 men players from Egypt, Iran, Hong Kong, Scotland, Kuwait, Spain, Czeh Republic and Ireland have confirmed their participation in the US$ 30,000 Chief of Air Staff International Serena Hotel for Men’s tournament.
“A total of 7 women players from Egypt, South Korea, Iran and Switzerland US$ 10,000 International Squash Tournament for Women,” he said.
He said 13 players from Egypt, Hong Kong, Spain, Kuwait, South Africa, Ireland, Belgium, Germany and Zimbabwe will participate in US$ 20,000 Serena Hotel Huawei International for Men.
Sultan said PSF is providing ample of opportunities to Pakistani players for the revival of international squash in the country.
“We conducted a series of 16 Professional Squash Association (PSA) international squash tournaments in 2018 (10 for men & 6 for women) in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi,” he said and added squash legends Qamar Zaman, Jehangir Khan and Jansher Khan are fully involved in the best interest of the national cause.
He said Pakistan Air Force (PAF) under the patronage of Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, has been extending tremendous support to PSF for the game’s promotion in the country and we are hopeful to regain lost glory in the game.
Sultan said Greg Lobban World Rank 27 and Youssef Suleman World Rank 33 will be participating in the CAS International Men Tournament. “Farida Muhammad World Rank 71 will participate in the women tournament,” he said and added Karim Al Fathi World Rank 46 will participate in the Serena Hotel Huawei International for men.
He also urged the government of Pakistan towards rewarding national squash heroes who have recently won the Asian Junior Team championship in Thailand in 2019 and the junior champions who won Asian Individual Junior Championship in three different categories in Chennai, India in 2018.
“Moreover, the squash players who won Bronze Medals in Asian Games are also awaiting their cash rewards,” he said. PSF Director Academies Air Commodore (R) Aftab Saddiq Qureshi, Qamar Zaman and Serena officials were also present on the occasion.
VNS ISLAMABAD
