Squash: Asian championship starts off today on sour note

PSF faces criticism for providing inadequate accommodation to Pakistan players.

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan continues its bid to revive international sports in the country, the Senior Asian Individual Squash Championship will start today on a sour note for the Pakistani contingent.

Alongside hosts Pakistan, players from China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Jordan, Iran and Iraq are participating in the competition which will run till May 5.

Contrary to expectations, the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) decided against providing a top-class hotel to Pakistan players despite the magnitude of the event.

“It’s appalling that players will not been given a proper hotel,” one of the players lamented while talking to The Express Tribune.

“This is certainly a scenario that hasn’t been witnessed before and goes on to show the mismanagement and non-seriousness of the PSF.”

Moreover, male and female players are staying at different locations which will make matters difficult for coach Jamshed Gul.

Amir Atlas Khan is the highest seeded Pakistani in sixth position and will face Iraq’s Husham al Sady in the first round, while Nasir Iqbal will take on China’s Wang Junjie.

Ninth seed Farhan Zaman is pitted against Iran’s Navid Malek Sabet, while 14th seed Ali Bukhari will take on Sri Lanka’s WL Wickramasinghe.

Among females, Maria Toorpakai, Rushna Mehboob, Zoya Khalid and Saima Shoukat have received a bye in the first round. Samar Anjum will take on Sri Lanka’s Mihiliya Methsarani, while Riffat Khan will lock horns with Sri Lanka’s Dulakshi Elikewela.

Samar said she was not daunted by the tough draw.

“I have a tough draw but that is something I’m really excited about,” said Samar. “That way, you get to learn a lot while playing against top players.”

The Malaysian duo of Ong Beng Hee and Low Wee Wern are top seeds in the male and female categories respectively as top female player Nicol David pulled out of the event.

Danish, Mehboob earn  first-round bye

The 10th-seeded Danish Atlas Khan and 11th seed Farhan Mehboob got first-round byes as their opponents failed to show up for the event.

Danish was scheduled to play against Iran’s Erfan Jamshidi, whereas Mehboob was pitted against Alireza Sanaei.

“This event is of special importance for me and I want to win it by putting my body on the line,” said Mehboob, who is a former world number 16.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2013.