Waseem-ul-Haq Profiled by Waqar Hamza
photo Waqar Hamza
March 25, 2019
Former squash players from Pakistan
have been playing important role in the promotion of squash in the
United States of America, and Waseem-ul-Haq is one of the prominent
figures in this category.
He is the founder of Haq International Squash Academy in the US that offers several programs to players of all ages and levels.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, HAQ International Squash
Academy is an elite squash training academy dedicated to producing the
best squash players.
He is also Executive Director of Kentucky Squash Rackets Association
and promoted the sport of squash throughout the state of Kentucky by
organizing squash tournaments and international and national exhibition
matches.
So far, their exhibition matches featured former world number ones John White, Peter Nicol, Kumail Mehmood, Imran Nasir, etc.
He developed a new marketing strategy for the organization that helped
it increase the number of paid squash memberships from almost zero to
about 100 in a short period of time.
Also, he is responsible for organizing and conducting six annual squash
tournaments. Besides all this, he is running US Squash Sanctioned HISA
League and has fielded many teams in the Northern California Squash
League since 2009.
“My academy organizes two US Squash Sanctioned HISA Junior Squash
Championships in a year. And the notable among them is HISA Bay Area
Junior Squash Championship that is generally held in January every
year,” said Waseem while talking to this scribe.
He added that they are going to organize 9th HISA Silicon Valley Junior
Open Squash Championship in August this year. Waseem is also a USA
Certified Level 3 Coach.
“HISA gives sessions on coaching certification and refereeing
certifications to students. I am USA Certified Level 2 Tournament
Director,” said Waseem.
Former world number 131 and Pakistan number 14 said that his academy is
helping students getting admissions in top US colleges through squash.
“HISA students have been admitted into USA top notch universities
namely UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC San Diego, New York University,
Columbia University, etc.,” said the captain of Punjab Squash Team of
1998.
Waseem, who won silver medal in Pakistan’s national games in Peshawar
in 1998, said HISA juniors participated in US Junior Open (the under-11
title was won by HISA student in 2016), US national championship (HISA
students won titles in under-11 and under-13 categories in 2017 and
2019, respectively), and British Junior Open.
He is an international level referee as well and has the honor of
refereeing in Us Open 2014, Us Junior Open 2013, US Open 1996, US Open
2016, Women’s US Open 1996 final match, Net Suite Open 2013 and 2014,
World Open 1990, 1991, 1993 and 2015, and Pakistan Open 1990.
To a question about support to Pakistan squash, Waseem said the HISA
has been promoting junior squash in Pakistan. “HISA sponsors junior
championships in Lahore with the aim of providing opportunities to
local players,” said Waseem.
It is to be noted that Waseem-ul-Haq is also the president of Friends
of Squash, a non-profit organization promoting health and education
through free squash access to players.
