August 10, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-us-Sani 11, 1424

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PESHAWAR, Aug 9: Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Squash Federation, Air Marshal, Rashid Kalim, has said that  the federation was helping the players to polish their talent, but urged them to work hard to regain lost glory.

“We have been striving all along to provide jobs to squash players so they could earn money for their livelihood and fully concentrate on game.

Recently, the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF),  has been able to employ 24 players in  different organisations,” said Kalim, while speaking at the “Meet-the- Press” programme of the Sarhad Sports Writers Association (SSWA) at the Press Club on Saturday.

He said that they had a busy calender ahead where more and more players would be given opportunity of playing, not only against top national, but also international players which would boost their morale as experience.

The PSF official claimed that the federation had already organised three international and eight national level competitions, while others were in the pipeline, including the World Cup.

These tournament would enable the national players to improve their international ranking and gain experience, he observed.

The PSF, he said had been providing technical and financial support, equipments and coaching facilities and it had also started professional squash league, which would be extended to other parts of the country very soon.

According to him, the PSF wanted to improve squash at the grossroot level through the respective provincial associations. A national squash camp was in progress in Islamabad where eight players were being trained.

“Four of these players will be provided opportunities to compete in the international tournaments, including World Cup and British Open,” he pledged.

About improvement in the infrastructure, he said that Rs five million was being spent on Hashim Khan Squash Complex, Peshawar and another 10 million was being incurred on the renovation of the Islamabad Squash Complex.

According to him, the PSF, was in contact with the government to build a portable squash complex in Islamabad. Similarly, a new court had also been planned in Quetta, he informed.

About 250 squash players were to be shortlisted, of which 32 would be selected for the World Cup.

He also dispelled the impression that players were being denied visas by the embassies which deprived them from playing in international events and claimed hat except the US, every foreign country was willing to issue to visas to our players.