ISLAMABAD, May 17: The practice courts at the Mushaf Squash Complex which is fast nearing completion, are to be made available to the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) next week.
Squash secretary Wng Cdr Sajid Waheed says that once the courts are ready, the national men's and women's teams will begin using the combi courts to prepare for next month's Asian Championship in Kuala Lumpur.
"Similar courts are to be used in Kuala Lumpur so it will certainly help our players in their preparation," Sajid said. The PSF on Saturday had named its teams for the championship with the women's squad competing abroad for the first time ever.
All the players including the juniors have been training at the Roshan Khan Courts, adjacent to the Mushaf Complex. "The four courts there were not enough, so the new ones are surely goingto help ease things for the players and the coaches."
The junior squad under coach Rehmat Khan is preparing for the World Junior Championship due to take place in Islamabad this August. The seniors on the other hand are being coached by Jamshed Gul, who took over only recently. His immediate assignment is the Asian Championship.
The entire Mushaf Squash Complex, named after the late president of the PSF who was killed in a plane crash last year, should be ready in about 20 days. "As much as 95 per cent of the work has been completed so it is only a matter of days now," Sajid said.
The complex built at a cost of Rs 50 million has a portable glass wall court with four practice courts that can be converted into three combi courts. Located in the premises of the Pakistan Sports Complex, the venue also has changing rooms, administrative offices, camera pits and a small gymnasium for players.
Meanwhile, stone-laying ceremony of the Hashim Khan Complex in Peshawar is scheduled for next week. "The venue has 10 courts which are to be upgraded, one of which will be the championship court," Sajid said.
The PSF plans to add back side glass walls to the courts and change the flooring of at least three of them. "The material in this regard has been procured from Germany."
Work on the complex in Abbottabad is halfway through where a court is being added to the two existing ones. "The new court will provide for a seating capacity for around 300 spectators."
"The extension of the venue will enable us to have nine to 10 players train at a time. Previously we could not hold a training camp there for more than five players." The project is expected to be ready by November this year.
