Pakistan cleared to host international squash events

ISLAMABAD: Professional Squash Association (PSA) has given all clear to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) to organise a record number of 19 international tournaments running up to December this year, making the season as the busiest ever in the history of country’s squash.

The PSA decision to award record number of events to Pakistan is a big achievement on part of recent squash diplomacy initiated by senior Vice President PSF Shahid Akhtar Alvi with the Asian and international squash bodies. “For the first time during last decade PSF has been given go ahead to organize international events in Lahore and Karachi. On top of that we have been given the rights to hold as many as 19 international tournaments including nine for women folk. This is a big achievement for the Federation and its recent efforts and successful liaison with the international as well as Asian bodies,” a PSF official when contacted said. A well placed source has confirmed to The News that international events ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 50,000 are to be organized in three major cities of the country during the next eight months.

The international events starved Karachi has got maximum benefit as the Metropolitan City will host 11 events including $ 50,000 Pakistan Open for men and $ 20,000 event for women.

“The city of Karachi has been deprived of its genuine right to hold international event for the last well over a decade. Now we allotted 11 of the 19 international events to the city. Though the provincial association has yet to confirm hosting Pakistan Open and women event, the PSA has agreed to award the mega event to the city,” the official said.

Besides that the city will also hold one $ 20,000 event and two $ 10,000 events. “These will be apart from the five other events for women. The provincial association will be responsible for making allthe required arrangements to hold these events in a befitting manner.”

Islamabad gets the second biggest share. Apart from $ 30,000 international event, the capital city will also hold four other international tournaments. These will also include women events including one to be organized by Bahria Town. “The lower ranked events are to be organised to improve the overall ranking of men and women players. We hope that by featuring in these tournaments, we would see marked improvement in players ranking during the next one year. Thus they would be in a better position to make progress in bigger prize money events next year,” the official said.

The city of Lahore will also stage three international events including men’s $ 20,000 squash. “Lahore has also been given their share of events. The Punjab association has shown interest in organizing three international events which were awarded to them.”

The official hoped that the restart of international events would inject new blood in squash activities in the country. These international activities would act as renaissance in revival of squash activities in the country.”