Squash event organisers accused of manipulation

KARACHI: The organisers of the 1st Inter School Squash Tournament have been accused of manipulating the event to favour the players of Jahangir Khan Academy.

“The organisers included a few age categories in which they expect winners from the academy and excluded those categories in which they feared the academy’s players would lose,” said a local coach.

The event is being played at Jahangir Khan Squash Complex at National Coaching Centre from May 20-24. The event is being organised by a parallel Sindh Squash Association (SSA).

According to the pamphlet of the event, a copy of which is available with this scribe, the age categories for team and individual events are under-11, under-13, and under-17 for boys and under-15 for girls.

The coach added that it was very unfortunate that the organisers were doing politics with children and depriving them of playing opportunities just because they did not belong to Jahangir Khan academy.

“For example, Insa Imran and Fehmina Asim had chances of winning titles if the organisers included under-17 age category for girls,” said the coach.

Similarly, the coach added, Arib Imran and Fawad Asim had chances of winning if there was under-15 category for boys.

“When parents protested, the organisers told them that the age categories were included and excluded on the instructions of Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF),” said the coach, adding that the whole thing was planned by the organisers.

Interestingly, PSF denied giving any such instructions to the organisers. “We did not direct them to include or exclude any age categories. We in fact did not talk with the organisers in this regard,” said PSF secretary Tahir Sultan.

The secretary added that the federation did not bind organisers in these matters.

Meanwhile, the coach added, the organisers lost one opportunity of favouring their own player Naveed Rehman to win the under-17 event.

“Naveed is in Lahore playing an event these days. And they did not allow PIA’s players Yawar to play in this category for arriving late, which created a fuss and Yawar’s parents strongly protested,” said the coach.

Hence, the coach added, they had to drop the name of Naveed as well. “The way this event is being organised is shameful,” said the coach.