PSA allows PSF to host $25,000 events

Pakistan Squash Federation ecstatic with ‘major breakthrough’.

KARACHI: In a major breakthrough that has the potential for Pakistan players to improve their rankings dramatically, the Professional Squash Association (PSA) has allowed the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) to host $25,000 tournaments.

A press release from the PSF stated that after vigorous negotiations with the PSA under the leadership of PSF President, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, the federation has been given rights for organising international tournaments offering $15,000-$24,999 prize money.

According to the federation, the decision was conveyed yesterday by PSA Chief Executive Officer Alex Gough. Previously, the PSF was restricted to organise only four $10,000 PSA tournaments every year.

The PSF lauded the efforts of legends Qamar Zaman, Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan for supporting them in the matter. Their appreciation was also extended to the PSA board for supporting squash in Pakistan.



PSF Senior Vice-President, Air Vice Marshal Razi Nawab, who is also vice president of the Asian Squash Federation, expressed his delight at the achievement.

“It’s a pleasant development for Pakistan squash as we’ll be able to organise these events at home,” Razi told The Express Tribune. “This will certainly help our players to break into top 20 or top 30 again. We’ll be able to hold these tournaments from this year and I hope international players will be playing in the near future as things are taking a positive turn for us.”

‘Decision great for players, officials and fans’

Zaman worked closely with the PSA to bring higher prize money events back to Pakistan and termed it a major breakthrough.

“It’s a major breakthrough for people associated with squash; for fans, players and officials alike,” said Zaman. “The credit goes to Butt and Razi who encouraged us to correspond with the PSA. Pakistan will start staging more important events once again as it used to do in past.”

National Coach Jamshed Gul and former world number 16 Farhan Mehboob also campaigned hard during the recently concluded World Team Championship in France for persuading top players to push the PSA for allowing prestigious tournaments in Pakistan along with encouraging international players to participate.

“Farhan and I were able to convince top players Ramy Ashour, Gregory Gaultier, David Palmer, Cameroon Pilley, Laurens Anjema, Saurav Ghoshal and others to write to the PSA about allowing Pakistan to stage $25,000 tournaments,” said Gul.

“The Malaysian players helped us a lot. Ong Beng Hee and Nafiizwan Adan were instrumental in giving positive feedback to top players in the Asian Individual Championship that was held in Islamabad.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.

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