Bahria Town international women squash

ISLAMABAD: A galaxy of international women squash stars has reached Bahria Town to feature in the country’s first ever $10,000 2nd Bahria Town International Women Squash Championship with organisers promising to make it regular and more attractive in years to come.
In a press briefing held adjacent to squash facilities, Bahria Town’s Vice Chief Executive Commodore (r) Mohammad Ilyas said Bahria Town wanted the event to be regular and even bigger in years to come.
“It is just a start. Pakistan has never hosted $10,000 event before. I hope the next year the event would attract even bigger prize money and hopefully more international stars will be seen in action.”
Around 13 international women players from seven different countries are competing in the event that is being sponsored and supported by the Bahria Town. “Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has extended all possible technical and moral support. Since we are the sponsors, our every effort would be to look after the guests so that they would love to come here again.”
Ilyas, who was accompanied by Director Projects Safari Club Ms Sitwat Babar, General Manager Safari Club A Rasheed Malik and Pakistan Squash Federation Secretary Group Captain Amir Nawaz, said that their efforts had always been to promote soft image of the country.
“Such events always help in promoting soft image of the country. Finding international stars here is indeed a welcome sign and hopefully would help in bringing international sports back to the country.”
He also thanked Bahria Town for supporting and financing the event. “We need financial backing for such international events. Hopefully Bahria Town will continue to support the event in the future also.”
World No 35 Siyoli Waters, who is seeded No 1 for the event, was excited to compete in Pakistan.“This is my very first visit to Pakistan. I find that people here are very cooperative and sincere to their profession.”
Fourth seed Chenya Tucker, who also hails from South Africa, hoped that playing here would help in improving his ranking. “I have landed here with very positive mood and want to make all-out efforts to do well in the competition.”
Ilyas also revealed Bahria Town’s plans of having an all-glass court in years to come.“We are working on having totally separate squash facilities with an all-glass court. Hopefully in future we would have these arrangements in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.” He also thanked media for supporting the event.
Meanwhile, two Pakistan players and one each from India and Egypt qualified for the main round of the 2nd Bahria Town International Women Squash Championship at the Safari Club courts Tuesday.
India’s Sachika Ingale, who won the title in the first edition of the tournament last year, Amina Yousry of Egypt and Pakistan’s duo of Sadia Gul and Moqaddas Ashraf reached the main round, which begins today (Wednesday).
Results (qualifying round final stage): Sachika Ingale (IND) bt Zoya Khalid (PAK) 13-11, 11-3, 11-4; Sadia Gul (PAK) bt Anam Mustafa Aziz (PAK) 11-4, 11-7, 11-2; Moqaddas Ashraf (PAK) bt Amna Latif (PAK) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7; Amina Yousry (EGY) bt Riffat Khan (PAK) 11-8, 11-1, 11-7.
Wednesday’s fixtures (x denotes seeding): Siyoli Waters (South Africa, x3) v Zulhijjah Binti Azan (Malaysia), Linda Hruzikova (Slovakia) v Sachika Ingale (India), Liu Tsz-Ling (Hong Kong, x3) v Sadia Gul (Pakistan), Farah Abdel Meguid (Egypt) v Carmen Lee (Hong Kong), Amina Yousry (Egypt) v Rachel Arnold (Malaysia), Teh Min Jie (Malaysia) v Cheyna Tucker (South Africa, x4), Vanessa Chu (Hong Kong) v Maria Toorpakai Wazir (Pakistan), Moqaddas Ashraf (Pakistan) v Nadine Shahin (Egypt, x2).