‘Low-prize international events to boost squash base in country’

KARACHI: Former national squash player Usama Khan believes that organising low-prize international squash events will help increase squash base in the country.

“This is a key strategy being adopted by many countries like Malaysia in the region,” said Usama while talking to ‘The News’.

He added that following this policy they recently organised five international satellite events each carrying prize purse of $1000 in Karachi.

Sharing his future plans, the chief executive of Racket Sports said they’re determined to revive squash in the country, particularly Sindh.

“We are going to host two $5000 PSA international events in the coming months for local players with low rankings,” said Usama.

The events with the same prize money may also be organised in the first quarter of the next year to maximise the benefits for local players, he added.

“And then three satellite $1000 events will be organised again in June next year,” said Usama.

He said that all these activities would be organised consecutively for three years to achieve the best results. “We have realised that our players need better rankings to be able to play big events. “And for that they have first to play low-prize events to increase their ranking points,” said Usama.

“Also, this strategy will attract new players to enhance our squash base since very few players are left in Sindh,” Usama said and added that players from Sindh were nowhere in national rankings. “We need to seriously think about this situation and I feel the only remedy is hosting as many low-prize international squash events as we can,” said Usama.

He said that this was why he has come up with a sound plan and some international Pakistani sponsors are part of this project.

“I have received strong response from local squash lovers and companies as well. So here we are ready to steer this sport out of the crisis,” said Usama.