RAWALPINDI: Sadia Gul and Muqaddas Ashraf won their qualifying matches on Tuesday to join Pakistan’s ace women’s squash player Maria Toorpakai Wazir in the main draw of the WSA Challenger 10 Bahria Town International Squash tournament.

The trio will carry Pakistan’s hopes in the tournament which will see another 13 international players from seven different countries in action and carries a prize purse of $10,000.

Also reaching the main draw on Tuesday were Sachika Ingale of India and Egypt’s Amina Yousry. The main draw begins on Wednesday here at the Safari Club squash courts.

Bahria Town International Squash to see 13 foreign players vie for title

Addressing a press conference on the eve of the main draw, Bahria Town’s Vice-Chief Executive Commodore (r) Mohammad Ilyas and Director Safari Club and Secretary Pakistan Squash Federation Group Captain Amir Nawaz said it was good to see foreign participation in the four-day event.

“By organising such events we are trying to promote a soft image of the country,” said Ilyas of the event which is being organised by Bahria Town.

Sadia advanced to a main draw clash against Liu Tsz-Ling of Hong Kong after beating Anam Mustafa Aziz 11-4, 11-7, 11-2 in just 16 minutes in their final qualifying round match.

Muqaddas’ reward for beating Amna Latif 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 in 23 minutes is a tie against Egyptian Nadina Shahin while Maria will open her title bid against Hong Kong’s Vanessa Chu.

Ingale defeated Pakistan’s top player Zoya Khalid 11-13, 11-3, 11-4 in 18 minutes and will face Slovakian Linda Hruzikova while Yousry’s 11-8, 11-1, 11-7 over another local hope Riffat Khan saw her set up a match against Rachel Arnold of Malaysia.

South African Siyoli Waters, ranked 35th in the world, is the top seed at the tournament and will lock horns with Malysian Zulhijjan Binti Azan in the opening match on Wednesday.

There is another South Africa-Malaysia clash on the opening day when Cheyna Tucker and Teh Min Jie collide while Egypt’s Farah Abdel Meguid will face Carmen Lee of Hong Kong.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2015

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