Pro Squash Tour’s World Championship Comes to Detroit
by Georgetta Morque
Detroit, Mich. -- (April 25, 2013) — The Pro Squash Tour (PST) will hold its highly anticipated season finale, the 2013 PST World Championship Tournament, at the Detroit Athletic Club, 241 Madison Street, on Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5. The Detroit Athletic Club will serve as the host of this annual world-class squash competition through 2015.
PST’s top eight point leaders at the end of the season are invited to compete in the event and the winner will be crowned the 2013 PST World Champion. The impressive lineup of players who have qualified are as follows: David Palmer of Australia, finalist in last year’s world championship, Mohamed El Sherbini of Egypt, winner of the PST Bottini Fuel World Open, Fabian Kalaitzis, 13-time Greek National Champion, Wade Johnstone of Australia, finalist in the PST Bottini Fuel World Open, Stephane Galifi, Italy’s No. 1 player, Bradbury Thompson of the U.S, Shahid Khan of England, and Josh Cardwell of Australia.
Tournament favorite Palmer, a four-time British Open Champion and squash icon is one of the sport’s most dominant players of the past decade. Yet he could face a battle against any of the other competitors, such as Sherbini, formerly Egypt’s 1 junior who exhibits the unique Egyptian style of play, a powerful force in the sport today, or Cardwell, also from Australia who has competed in more than 70 pro tournaments in 30 countries and comes from a squash family. His mother is a four-time British Open Champion.
Other players to watch are Thompson, a finalist in three PST events this season who hails from the competitive college squash arena as a former captain and No.1 player at Brown University. The left-handed 6-foot-3-inch Khan, winner of PST’s Siena Open and Pyramid Open, Johnstone, who climbed high in PST’s rankings this season, and Greek star Kalaitzis will provide additional challenges, along with Galifi whose controversial style entertains fans and rattles opponents.
In addition to competing in tournament action, touring pros will also give back to the community when they spend time with Detroit’s Urban Squash enrichment program, Racquet Up. On Saturday at noon, inner city youths will step on court with the pros and see them in action, some for the first time.
“PST is thrilled to bring its world championship to Detroit, a city with such a strong history of hosting top sporting events,” said Joe McManus, PST Commissioner. “We are especially pleased to be partnering with the Detroit Athletic Club, a magnificent institution to crown our tour’s champion for the next several years. The Detroit Athletic Club (DAC) is one of the nation’s great and historic clubs and the perfect venue for the growing sport of squash.”
Since it was established in 1887, the DAC has shaped more than 120 years of Detroit history and made a significant impact on the community. Over the years, the club has been honored as one of the finest in the nation and home to world-class Olympic and amateur athletes, as well as professionals, with the clubhouse playing host to regional, national and international tournaments and exhibitions of all types, from boxing and fencing to swimming and squash.
“This will be a great weekend of squash for seasoned players and fans, as well as newcomers to the sport,” said Mick Joint, squash pro at the Detroit Athletic Club. “The format and venue gives the audience a chance to get an up close view of the fast action of these talented pros.”
The Pro Squash Tour’s World Championship tournament begins Friday, May 3 at 4:30 p.m. and continues Saturday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m. The finals are scheduled for Sunday, May 5 at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 per day, $100 for the weekend or $150 for a bronze ticket which includes all matches and attendance at a Meet-the Pros cocktail party. For tickets, contact Mick Joint at the Detroit Athletic Club at Mjoint@thedac.com.
The Pro Squash Tour’s World Championship is presented by Bank of America. Additional sponsors include Morgan Stanley, Aaro Companies, Ameriprise Financial, Burroughs, Baker Tilly, Clark Hill, Edward Jones, Franklin Templeton Investments, RacquetUp Detroit, The Roxbury Group, Skidmore Studio, Talmer Bank and Trust, Troszak and 4 Men in a Box Syndicate.
Founded in 2009, the U.S. - based Pro Squash Tour hosts tournaments in North America and Asia. Players from around the world compete to earn points and prize money at each tour stop of the season with the hope of qualifying for the PST World Championship. Over 150 years old, squash is played by an estimated 20 million people across the globe with over 1 million playing in the United States.
For more information, visit www.ProSquashTour.net
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