23-Feb-2012
The News
KARACHI: Players from Canada, India and Iran will also be seen in action along side local players during the fourth edition of PARCO Roshan Khan Junior Open Squash Championship which gets underway from February 25 here at PN Roshan Khan Jahangir Khan Squash Championship.
Squash legend Jahangir Khan, who is organising committee chairman, told reporters here on Wednesday that the reason behind inviting foreign players was to pave the path for the return of international sporting action in Pakistan.
“Our tournament is registered with Asian Squash Federation (ASF) and carries points, through which players can better their Asian rankins. Hopefully, next year we will register this tournament with World Squash Federation (WSF) and other foreign players will also be seen in action in it,” said Jahangir.
Jahangir revealed that two Iranian players have already reached Pakistan and the Indian players are also expected to land in Karachi soon.
However, the Indian players are yet to receive visas to visit Pakistan. Jahangir said that the interior ministry has assured him that the Indian players would receive NOCs and they will reach Pakistan before the start of the tournament.
“I have talked to the interior ministry and they have assured me that they would soon give NOCs to the Indian players. Hopefully, Indian players will reach Pakistan before the tournament begins,” said Jahangir, who won the prestigious British Open on a record ten occasions.
Iran’s Erfan Jamshidi and Aliee Nayeri have already reached Pakistan. Meanwhile, Indian Ranjeet Singh and Junaid Muzaffar Thoker and Canadian Dorosham Khan, a youngster of Pakistani origin, are expected to reach Pakistan soon.
Jahangir said that many international players have assured him to compete in the next edition of this tournament. The tournament carries lucrative prize purse of US$10,000. The organisers have received 210 entries for the tournament.
The events to be competed in the tournament are boys U19, U17, U15, U13 and U11 while the girls would compete in U19 and U15 categories.
Ali Bokhari is top seeded player in U19 boy’s event and Suleman Khan is expected to meet him in the final. Shah Zeb is the favorite in U17 event while Safiullah Kakar is the second seed. Riffat Khan is top seeded in U19 girls’ event while Samar Anjum is seeded second. Iranian Aliee Nayeri is favorite in the U15 event, while Madina Zafar is expected to battle with Aliee in the final of the event. |
