12 May 2004	Wednesday	21 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, May 11: A meeting of the organising committee for the World Junior Squash Championship this August was held in Rawalpindi on Tuesday in which important matters were discussed.

Chaired by the senior vice president of Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Air Marshal Rashid Kalim, the meeting discussed ways for holding the championship in a befitting manner. Squash secretary Wng Cdr Sajid Waheed said that a booklet defining the duties of each official associated with running the August 16 to 27 championship would be published shortly.

The booklet, he said would be given final shape at the next meeting of the organising committee in the first week of June. Zubair Iqbal, a former secretary of the PSF has been named the tournament director for the championship that is likely to feature 24 nations.

Fahim Gul has already been appointed as the tournament referee by the World Squash Federation (WSF) while Sajid himself will act as the competition secretary and venue controller.

The championship is to take place at the new Mushaf Squash Complex which is fast nearing completion. "Almost 95 per cent of work has been completed, only the portable all glass court has to be put in place and some minor jobs on the outside of the building remain," Sajid said.

Meanwhile, for the first time in history, Pakistani women players will be taking part in a championship overseas when they compete at next month's Asian Championship in Kuala Lumpur.

Trials to select four players out of seven are due to start on Wednesday in Islamabad. Muqadas Ashraf, Sara Awan, Alyia Sarfraz, Saima Shaukat, Misbah Rani, Maria Toor Pakay and Gul Zaman are in the run to earn berths on the team.

The men's trials also beginning Wednesday will see Mansoor Zaman, Shahid Zaman, Farrukh Zaman, Majid Khan, Naveed Atlas and Saeed Hasan vying for selection. The three-day trials will be witnessed by Air Marshal Rashid, Qamar Zaman, national coach Jamshed Gul and Sajid.