PESHAWAR: Vice-president of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Qamar Zaman on Tuesday said that they had successfully completed the 2014 calendar of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Squash Association (KPSA) by holding a total of 19 tournaments of different age groups involving both male and female players.

Lamenting poor response from sponsors toward the game, the former world champion said the KPSA had only been able to promote squash in the province with the aid of PSF and PAF Sports Control Board.

The KPSA had been focusing on grassroots level, said the PSF vice-president while stating that the provincial federation had succeeded in holding tournaments at U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels besides setting up U-9 and U-11 camps twice a year under the aegis of qualified PAF coaches.

Stating that the KPSA held national junior, national senior, inter-district and inter-region tournaments, the former world champion said two national women’s championships were also held at Abbotabad and Peshawar during 2014.

He said emphasis was put on women players for which they had separately organised four different tournaments due to which a total of 20 females from all across the province were now playing on regular basis.

“Two of our upcoming players, Laiba Ijaz and Komal, are now part of the PAF Squash Academy and they are improving their game with every passing day,” Qamar said.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2014