International Squash Championship starts

ISLAMABAD, Nov 5 (APP): Serena Hotels in collaboration with the
Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) is hosting the President Gold Cup
International Squash Championship here at the Mushaf Complex from Thursday.
While speaking at a press conference organized here at the Serena
Hotel on Thursday, Group Captain Amir Nawaz, Honorary Secretary PSF,
said that the qualifying rounds of the event started on the November 3.
“Draw size will be 16 players each for pre-qualifying and main rounds,” he
said.
He said there are 48 participants in total. “International
participants hail from Austria, Egypt, Jordan and USA while referees will be coming in from Hong Kong and South Africa,” he said.
He said the final will be held on November 10 and the President of
Pakistan is expected to be Chief Guest at the Ceremony. “The Championship
will have a prize purse of US$ 25,000 for the players,” he said. The
Championship trophies were also unveiled at the occasion.
It is pertinent to mention that last month, Serena Hotels in
collaboration with the PSF also hosted the Chief of the Air Staff International Squash Championship 2015. The Championship was well attended by International players and Egypt’s Mohamed Abouelghar won the trophy.
Shehryar Khan, Director Sports Diplomacy said “We are pleased to add
a new event to our squash portfolio. Pakistan has a long and illustrious
history in the field of squash. The President’s Cup is taking place after a span of 25 years, last held in 1990,” he said.
He said this Championship will go a long way in encouraging Pakistani
and international players to engage with each other. “Under its banner,
Serena Hotels also host Polo, Cricket and Golf tournaments including the
President of Pakistan’s Gold Medal Golf Championship,” he said.
Qamar Zaman, squash legend said the Professionals Squash
Association should allot the PSF even bigger tournaments amounting to a
cash prize of US$ 50,000 and US$ 75,000.
He said nowadays our players cannot play in the court for more than
two hours because they go for short cuts in the game which is why they are
lacking behind. “At our times players used to practice in courts for more
than six hours and that was the reason for our being the best in the game at
that time,” he said.