KARACHI: As many as 64 players are participating in the inaugural Under-23 World Squash Championship offering the prize money of $60,000 at DHA Creek Club here from April 6-10.
The players are from Pakistan, China, USA, Malaysia, Canada, South Africa, Egypt, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, China, England, Spain, Colombia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Russia, Poland, and Iran.
The top seeded players are Egypt’s Ibrahim Elkabbani, ranked 62, and Pakistan’s Noor Zaman, ranked 68, while other players are Kareem El Torkey, Ameeshenraj Chandaran, Rowan Damming, Melvil Scianimanico, David Bernet, Mohammad Hamza Khan, Damian Groenewald, Duncan Lee, Jerome Clement Aw Jin Ming, Lam Shing Fung (Matthew), Will Salter, Mattéo Carrouget, Hugo La Fuente, Juan Jose Torres Lara, Karim Michael, Au Lap Man, Kijan Sultana, Zhou Penglin, Jakub Pytlowany, Yuta Ando, Ernesto Revert, Radu Pena, Hao Cui, Wasey Maqsood, Jason Sano Herring, Nevindu Lakman, Reuel Videler, Hussain Thamer Alzaatari, Jassim Adel Al Ghareeb, Arhan Chandra, Pouya Shafieifard, Makar Esin, Zhang Guanyu, Mohammed Nasser, Laouenan Loaec, Kajetan Lipski, Tam Tsz Shing, and Muhammad Ammad.
The first ever edition of the event is being hosted by Sindh Squash Association in which the draw will be of 32 players while entry in each event is limited to a maximum of two representatives of a National Federation, and players will receive a share of a $60,000 prize pot and PSA ranking points for participating.
Also, the World Squash Federation and Professional Squash Association have announced that the winners of this championship will earn a place in the 2024-2025 PSA World Championships that is to be held in the United States from May 9-17.
World Squash CEO William Louis-Marie said: “The competition represents a great opportunity for players ending their junior careers to continue testing themselves against the world’s best as they begin their senior careers.”