KARACHI: The domestic squash scene returns to the metropolis after a considerable layoff when the Sindh Squash Association (SSA) plays host to the US $15,000 Jubilee General Insurance Pakistan Squash Circuit III for men and women at the PN Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex from July 6-11.

The first similar competition was held at Islamabad while the second has recently concluded at Lahore. The event is registered with the Professional Squash Association (PSA) as ‘Satellite Closed’ event for Pakistan nationals only and approved by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).

The details of the event were announced by the SSA secretary Rashid Ahmed who was flanked by Managing Director of Jubilee Insurance Tahir Ahmed at the RJ-JK Squash Complex. Executive Director of the Insurance firm, Hassan Khan and Syed Shahjehan Salahuddin were also present.

Outlining salient features the SSA secretary said the two-day qualifying rounds that will commence from July 6 will help top four players in the two categories to cruise into the main round. The main round of men’s and women’s will have a draw of 16 each.

According to him, US $10,000 have been allocated for men’s events while US5,000 have been set aside for the women’s events. The men’s winner gets US $1805 while the women’s champion earns US $902.50.

According to draws, Asim Khan has been top seeded in men’s competition followed by Farhan Zaman, Ahsan Ayaz and Tayyab Aslam.

Faiza Zafar, who clinched the circuit I at Islamabad, heads the ranking in the women’s competition. She is followed by sibling and winner of circuit II Madina Zafar. Anam Mustafa Aziz and Zahab Kamal Khan have been seeded third and fourth respectively.

Rashid Ahmed said the SSA is likely to host US $50,000 Pakistan Open, Roshan Khan trophy, the DHA Cup and the PSA approved DG Rangers competitions in the second half of the year

Asked about the academy that is being run by the SSA under the patronage of squash legend Jahangir Khan at the PSB Coaching Centre, he identified two players — Naveed Rehman and Zainab Khan — who have attained No 3 and No 1 rankings in boys U-17 and girls U-15 respectively.

He said there was no dearth of talent in the country in general and city in particular and asked the youth to follow the footsteps of Jahangir and Jansher to achieve the desired results.

Speaking on the occasion Tahir Ahmed said his firm has been playing its due role under corporate social responsibility in snooker, squash and other events. He said JGI has inked a three-year deal with the Sindh Golf Association (SGA) for sponsoring the SGA events.

He went on to say that at least a generation or two of youth have suffered the wrath of turmoil that lasted for over three decades in the city and had created a big vacuum.

The participants offered fateha for the soul of senior sports journalist A. Majid Khan, who passed away after protracted illness during Ramazan. They recalled their association with the deceased who had a special interest in squash.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2018