November 17, 2002	Sunday	Ramazan 11, 1423

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LAHORE, Nov 16: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) secretary, Wing Commander Sajid Waheed, has predicted that Pakistan will clinch a gold medal in the team event of the World Junior Championship to be held in Chennai, India from Dec 3 to 14.

Sajid, while talking to journalists Saturday, stated that a four member team had been picked up for the competition which was quite capable to win a gold for Pakistan.

Khayal Mohammad, Arshad Iqbal Burki, Majid Khan and Safeer will play in the team event, while Saeed Hassan was selected as a reserve player. Khalid Atlas and Shahnawaz will compete in the individuals event.

Sajid however, was not sure about a gold in the individuals contest, but added a silver medal could be expected in this category.

Rehmat Khan , who has been training the players has been appointed as manager and coach of the team. Mohammad Ayaz will act as assistant coach.

The squad leaves for India via Dubai on Nov 30.

Sajid informed the media that teams from England, Australia, Egypt, Finland and Ireland would present a real challenge for Pakistan.

PSF secretary stressed that India Squash Federation and the Asian body had assured PSF of full security arrangements, especially for the Pakistan squad during their stay in India.

Responding to a question Sajid remarked that the team for the World event was selected after a comprehensive programme launched a year and a half back.

Sajid said that after the Chennai’s event PSF will organise trials for U-13, 15 and 17 to continue the process of selecting boys from the grass root level to groom them for the future.

He dispelled the impression that a promising player Yasir Butt was not progressing fast under the training of Rehmat as compared to the coaching he was receiving earlier by Gogi Allauddin.

“Yasir is getting training under a far better atmosphere than what he was getting under Allauddin but the player is passing through a bad patch and will come out it soon”, he clarified.

The PSF secretary expressed hope that Pakistan could regain top position in the world in the next five years, provided PSF maintained consistency in its scheduled programme till that period.

He pointed out that Jansher Khan took a hasty decision of entering the arena again after a long lay-off of three years from the international circuit. “Jansher should have undergone tough training for at least a year before competing in any competition”, he said.

The former world champion who withdrew his retirement in August this year played in an international tournament in Karachi but failed to make a impression, after which he could not take part in any other event due to fitness problems.