Squash is a game for all classes: PSF Vice-President
PTF vice president insists the sport is not just for the elite.
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Vice-President Qamar Zaman said that a countrywide talent hunt was necessary for players from impoverished backgrounds and villages to think of taking up squash as a profession.
“It’s time we take this game to the underprivileged as well because they have the hunger to work hard,” Zaman told The Express Tribune. “There is a need to change the mentality that it can only be played by the elites. Players from remote areas and villages are physically strong which is what our professional players are lacking today.”
The game of squash has been dominated by just a few families of Peshawar before and after Independence with the likes of Hashim Khan, Azam Khan, Roshan Khan, Qamar Zaman and Mehboob Khan.
The former British Open champion said that the talent hunts all over Pakistan will help PSF strengthen the pool of players they have. He added that the best way to keep such players engaged towards the game will be to award scholarships and stipends to the best.
Three Pakistanis into last-16
Danish Atlas, Nasir Iqbal and Hamzah Bokhari reached the last-16 of the World Junior Squash Championship while Tayyab Aslam was controversially knocked out in Doha yesterday.
Third-seed Danish thrashed Brazil’s Josimar Silva 11-4, 11-3 and 11-7 while Iqbal beat Cheuk Yan Tang 11-3, 11-5 and 11-1. Bokhari overpowered Richie Fallows 14-12, 11-4 and 11-9. Meanwhile, Aslam’s 11-7, 7-11, 11-9 and 11-9 loss against Jan Van Den Herrewegen did not please coach Jamshed Gul.
“Aslam played out of his skin but he was denied a deserving win as several decisions went against him,” Gul told The Express Tribune. “He was on top. We won’t be creating controversy by registering a protest.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2012.
The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Vice-President Qamar Zaman said that a countrywide talent hunt was necessary for players from impoverished backgrounds and villages to think of taking up squash as a profession.
“It’s time we take this game to the underprivileged as well because they have the hunger to work hard,” Zaman told The Express Tribune. “There is a need to change the mentality that it can only be played by the elites. Players from remote areas and villages are physically strong which is what our professional players are lacking today.”
The game of squash has been dominated by just a few families of Peshawar before and after Independence with the likes of Hashim Khan, Azam Khan, Roshan Khan, Qamar Zaman and Mehboob Khan.
The former British Open champion said that the talent hunts all over Pakistan will help PSF strengthen the pool of players they have. He added that the best way to keep such players engaged towards the game will be to award scholarships and stipends to the best.
Three Pakistanis into last-16
Danish Atlas, Nasir Iqbal and Hamzah Bokhari reached the last-16 of the World Junior Squash Championship while Tayyab Aslam was controversially knocked out in Doha yesterday.
Third-seed Danish thrashed Brazil’s Josimar Silva 11-4, 11-3 and 11-7 while Iqbal beat Cheuk Yan Tang 11-3, 11-5 and 11-1. Bokhari overpowered Richie Fallows 14-12, 11-4 and 11-9. Meanwhile, Aslam’s 11-7, 7-11, 11-9 and 11-9 loss against Jan Van Den Herrewegen did not please coach Jamshed Gul.
“Aslam played out of his skin but he was denied a deserving win as several decisions went against him,” Gul told The Express Tribune. “He was on top. We won’t be creating controversy by registering a protest.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2012.