7th DG Rangers Open: Organisers bar media from covering event

Squash top seed Nasir Iqbal thrashes Yasir Khan in straight sets.

KARACHI: Journalists faced difficulties covering the ongoing 7th DG Rangers (Sindh) Open Squash Championship at the Sindh Rangers Jahangir Khan Squash Complex, as media presence was not allowed at the premises. 

Those who had appeared to cover the tournament were told that the media was not allowed to witness the matches or take interviews. Hence, media personnel who were already at the venue were asked to leave.

When a rangers’ officer present was asked about this, he said: “We have security threats which is why the media isn’t allowed to cover the event or interview players.”



The Sindh Squash Association (SSA) is jointly organising this tournament and its secretary Amir Khan said they would work on taking permission for the media from top Rangers officials.

“We’ll contact the top officials to take permission for journalists so that they don’t face any hindrance in covering the event,” said Khan.

Bilal stuns Karamatullah

Upcoming player Bilal Zakir pulled a stunning 3-2 win against Karamatullah Khan despite being a set down initially, winning with scores of 10-12, 11-4, 11-2, 6-11 and 11-7 in 49 minutes.

Meanwhile, top seed Nasir Iqbal thrashed Yasir Khan in straight sets in just 16 minutes while Ali Bokhari also won in similar fashion against Mohammad Arif.

Farhan Mehboob had little trouble in defeating qualifier Asim Khan with scores of 11-7, 11-6 and, 11-7 while Farhan Zaman triumphed 3-0 against Haseeb Gul.

Danish Atlas Khan and Mansoor Zaman won in straight sets against Kashif Khan and Raees Khan respectively, while Aamir Atlas won 3-1 against Waqas Mehboob.

In the women’s event, top seed Samar Anjum beat Razia Sher Khan 3-0 while Saadia Gul won 11-0, 11-1 and 11-7 against Farah Manzoor in just eight minutes.

Rushna Mehboob triumphed 11-3, 11-3 and 11-2 against Noorul Ain while Madina Zafar defeated Iram Jehan 3-0.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2013.

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