KARACHI: The Professional Squash Association (PSA)-approved US$20,000 (Rs2.2 million) 11th DG Rangers Sindh National Open Squash Championship springs into action at the Sindh Rangers Jahangir Khan Squash Complex courts on Dec 25, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

“The status of the event was elevated as PSA Closed Satellite Tournament last year and the participants will get valuable ranking points,” Brig Naseem Pervez, Sector Commander, Sachal Rangers, said at a press conference on Thursday.

He recalled that the annual event celebrated completion of a decade last year when it finally got a breakthrough by getting recognition from the PSA.

Brig Naseem said the total prize money of the event, to be participated by 32 men’s and as many women’s, has been increased this time.

According to break-up, US$15,000 will be disbursed among men’s while US$5,000 have been set aside for women’s.

He said foreign players will not be competing in the event but at the same time expressed optimism that they might start participating from next year after getting a go ahead from the PSA.

The one-day men’s and women’s qualifying rounds will be played on Dec 25 and the top eight (quarter-finalists) will join the 24 PSA ranked players in the main draw. Curtain falls on the event on Dec 30.

Sindh has been allowed one wildcard in both men’s and women’s main draw.

He thanked squash celebrity Jahangir Khan for supporting the event since its launch and persuading the PSA to get it recognised.

He also thanked Sindh Squash Association (SSA) for extending their collaboration and the sponsors for their financial support.

“It’s a small contribution from Sindh Rangers for the revival of the game which remained tagged with Pakistan for two decades,” he maintained.

The secretary of SSA Rashid Ahmed, who was also present on the occasion, said the successful ongoing Pakistan Open at Islamabad is likely to open doors of foreign players in Karachi and Lahore.

According to him, Farhan Mehboob and Samar Anjum are the defending champions in men’s and women’s respectively.

Meanwhile, the courts have been refurbished and present a fascinating look.

The participants will be provided free boarding and lodging in the mess of Sachal Rangers, which also houses the squash courts and other sporting facilities.

Following are the men’s top 24 PSA ranked players: 1-Farhan Mehboob (Wapda), 2-Farhan Zaman (PAF), 3- Ahsan Ayaz (PIA), 4-Tayyab Aslam (ZTBL), 5-Israr Ahmed (SNGPL), 6-Shahjahan Khan (Balochistan), 7-Ammad Fareed (SNGPL), 8-M. Asim Khan (SNGPL), 9-Zahir Shah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), 10-Zeeshan Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), 11-Shahzad Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), 12-Bilal Zakir (Army), 13-Waqar Mehboob (ZTBL), 14-Ali Bukhari (Punjab), 15-Mohammad Farhan (SNGPL), 16-Faraz Mohammad (Navy), 17-Salman Saleem (Punjab), 18-Nouman Khan (Sindh), 19-Kashi Asif (SNGPL), 20-Mohammad Abdul Qadir (SNGPL), 21-M. Ibrahim Norani (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), 22-Mahad Javed (Sindh), 23-Waqas Mehboob (PAF), 24-wildcard (Sindh).

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2017