World’s Best Squash Players on the ‘Road to Dubai’ by Nathan Clarke September 16, 2015
- The world’s best squash players will be heading to Dubai after the
Professional Squash Association (PSA) - the international governing
body for the sport - today announced that the season-ending World
Series Finals will be staged in the emirate for the next three years.
Under the official name of ‘PSA Dubai World Series Finals', the
2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 competitions will all take place in the
emirate after an agreement was reached between the PSA and Dubai Sports
Council, facilitated by Falcon and Associates.
In order to compete at the spectacular season-ending event both the
Men’s and Women’s players will have to rank in their respective top
eight on the ‘PSA Road To Dubai Standings’, with ranking points
accumulated at every PSA World Series tournament - with details of the
confirmed 2015/16 PSA World Series schedule to be released later this
week.
With many of the sport’s high-ranking players hailing from the Middle
East, the PSA Dubai World Series Finals will build on the already
strong regional presence and popularity of squash.
Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, His Excellency Saeed Hareb
said: “Hosting the PSA Word Series Finals in Dubai is an opportunity
for us to create further awareness of the prestigious game in this part
of the world. Staging this event next year strengthens the UAE’s
position in general, and Dubai’s position specifically, as a leading
sports destination in the world, as we add squash to our already
impressive and diverse sports portfolio. We are confident that this
event will help raise the profile of the professional game and boost
its popularity in Dubai, the UAE and across the region.”
PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough said; “We are delighted that an
agreement has been reached which will see the Word Series Finals take
place in Dubai for the next three years in what is a very positive move
for the tournament and the sport.
“The World Series Finals is an iconic tournament within the squash
calendar and one of the most lucrative events on the tour. We are
committed to growing the tournament over the next few years and feel
that having the event securely positioned in a world class destination
such as Dubai will help us achieve our goals."
PSA Chairman Ziad Al-Turki, who successfully ran the tournament for a
four-year stint at London's Queens Club until 2012, has also returned
to the event in an advisory capacity and will be re-introducing the
Z-court - the iconic and futuristic looking coloured glass show court.
"It was with pleasure that I took on the custodian's role of running
the World Series Finals in 2007 in a move that I felt would allow the
PSA to build their off-court presence without the distractions
associated with staging a high-profile event,” said Al-Turki.
"The tour is now in a much stronger position, both financially and
administratively, than when I first got involved and it has been
re-assuring to see the PSA grow significantly as an association during
that time and securing a three-year agreement for the World Series
Finals will allow the PSA to create a lasting legacy in Dubai, which
can only be of benefit to squash as a sport.”
About Dubai Sports Council:
Dubai Sports Council was founded on November 30, 2005 with the aim of
developing and improving sport in Dubai. It aims to create a
comprehensive sports environment that meets the requirements of society
and paves the way for the youth to cultivate their sporting and
cultural talents and aptitudes in a way that leads them to achieve
tangible results, so that Dubai can become a leading name in the world
of sports.
Website: www.dubaisportscouncil.ae
About Professional Squash Association:
An affiliate of the World Squash Federation (WSF), the Professional
Squash Association (PSA) is the global governing body responsible for
the administration of both men’s and women’s professional squash around
the world. With over 800 registered players and over 200 events
taking place in all four corners of the globe every year, the PSA World
Tour showcases the game of squash at its highest level in some of the
world’s most unique and stunning locations. Encapsulating all that is
good about top flight professional squash, combining athleticism,
skill, fitness, tenacity, power, drama and above all else, passion, the
PSA World Tour is the pinnacle of world squash.
Website: www.psaworldtour.com
About Falcon and Associates:
Falcon and Associates FZ-LLC is an independent strategic advisory and
implementation company working on behalf of the Dubai leadership to
enhance the Emirate’s position as a global hub for finance, business
and tourism. Falcon partners with government and private entities to
build on the Emirate’s many successes to date, helping it fulfil its
long-term potential.
Website: www.falconandassociates.ae
