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Squash complex at NSTCC opens today Back To Main

KARACHI: Pakistan Squash Federation’s (PSF) squash complex at National Sports Training and Coaching Center (NSTCC) will be opened on Tuesday, it was decided after PSF and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) reached an understanding to resolve the three-year old issue, ‘The News’ has leant.

The Sindh Squash Association (SSA) is organising a coaching camp for junior and senior squash players at the complex to inaugurate it on Tuesday. The complex should have been opened three months earlier, but due to power disconnection at NSTCC and some other petty issues between PSF and PSB it remained shut. Informed sources told ‘The News’ that termite was spreading fast on walls and woodwork and could have destroyed the facility.

So PSB decided to open it for playing activities, although the issue of administrative control remains to be resolved. Sources said that vice president of PSF Air Vice Marshal Razi Nawab along with president Sindh Squash Association (SSA) Tahir Khanzada consulted with the PSB high officials Ahmed Nawaz Ganjera and Azam Dar. They agreed that the complex should be opened and the federation should be allowed to organise events there.

There was an urgent need of a well-developed squash complex after the demolition of Pakistan’s most prestigious squash facility, the PIA Squash Complex at Kashmir Road. This wonderful squash complex at NSTCC was ready three years ago to serve players, but personal interests of some officials caused the delay in its opening, sources said.

It was developed keeping in view the requirement of organising international events here. It has four courts, including two glass ones, and capacity for 250 spectators. PSF built the complex at a cost of more than Rs250 million inside the premises of NSTCC after mutual understanding between the heads of both institutions, but later a dispute for the administrative control emerged, causing its closure.

PSF had to bear the expenses of players’ practice at Pak Navy squash courts while the NSTCC complex remained shut. Pakistan has an unparalleled history of squash as it dominated the world in this game for more than three decades and produced greats like Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan, Hashim Khan, Azam khan, Roshan Khan and a number of other players.