Pakistani Players’ Performance in Inverse Proportion to Quality of Hosted International Tournaments by Waqar Hamza March 3, 2019
KARACHI:
Pakistani squash players’ performance has been found in inverse
proportion to the quality of international tournaments held in the
country in the past five years.
The data of PSA tournaments held in Pakistan show that only one
Pakistani (Nasir Iqbal) could win one high-prize event out of 10 men’s
events held in the country in the last five years.
Before the end of 2014, Pakistan was allowed to host only PSA-10 events due to security concerns.
And the first international tournament with foreign participation was
allowed to the country by Professional Squash Association (PSA) in 2014.
The $25,000 Serena Hotels CAS International Squash Championship was the
first event since 2011 that was open for foreign players.
The event was won my Omar Abdel Meguid from Egypt. The situation got
much better in 2015 when Pakistan was allowed to host two $25,000
events (with foreign participation).
The $25000 CAS International Squash Championship was won by Omar Abdel
Meguid from Egypt. And the $25000 President Gold Cup International
Squash Tournament was clinched by Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal.
In 2016, Pakistan organized two international events each with the
prize purse of $25,000. The $25000 CoAS International Squash
Championship was won by Omar Abdel Meguid from Egypt.
And the $25000 CNS International Squash Championship too was won by Omar Abdel Meguid from Egypt.
The year 2017 proved good for Pakistan as the country hosted two
$25,000 events and one grand $50,000 Pakistan Open International.
The Pakistan Open in Islamabad had participation of top world ranking players and the winner was Marwan El-Shorbagy from Egypt.
And Leo Au of Hong Kong won the $25000 President Gold Cup International Squash Tournament.
The year 2018 was the best year for Pakistan as they managed to host
two $20,000 events and one $30,000 event, while the second edition of
prestigious Pakistan Open with the prize purse of $50,000 was also held
which was won by former world champion Karim Abdel Gawad.
And the $30,000 Pakistan Chief of The Air Staff International was won
by Leo Au of Hong Kong, while the $20,000 13th CNS International Squash
Championship was clinched by Youssef Ibrahim of Egypt.
“This is very poor proportion that proves that we are holding these high-prize events for foreign players,” said a local coach.
He added that these events are not at all helping our players and just
proving heaven for foreign players to better their rankings.
“Pakistan Squash Federation has to change this damaging strategy. This
is futile and complete waste of money with no help to local players,”
reasoned the coach.
