KARACHI: The stage is set for the US $23,500 DHA Cup International Squash Championship for men and women to be held at the DA Creek Club from Tuesday, November 20.

The details of the event were announced by secretary DA Creek Club Brig (retd) Iftikhar Ahmed and secretary Sindh Squash Association (SSA) Rashid Ahmed at a press conference at the club premises on Thursday.

US$18,000 have been allocated for the men’s event while US$5,500 will be disbursed among the women players.

According to the break-up, the men’s singles winner receives $3,249 while the runner-up will pocket $2,052. Similarly, women’s champion will earn $992.75 while the losing finalist gets $627.

The SSA has named two wildcards apiece for men and women categories of the DHA Cup.

Naveed Rehman, Saad Abdullah (men) and Maria Saleem, Mehwish Ayub (women) are the wildcards in the two categories.

“Ranking and age (under-25) were the two barometers that were taken into consideration for selection of wildcard players,” Rashid told Dawn.

He pointed out that a player is given wildcard once in a year and new faces will be given chance in Pakistan Open and the CNS events.

“By hosting the DHA Cup and Pakistan Open at the refurbished Asif Nawaz Squash Complex housed in DA Creek Club the hierarchy has broken the ice,” Brig Iftikhar said.

“We’ve made befitting arrangements to host the events and provide best facilities and comfort specially to the foreign players and officials.”

Meanwhile, new wooden floor has been laid in the three side glass wall championship court which has a seating capacity for 650 spectators. Besides, two of the remaining four courts will be used for matches while two others will be restricted for practice.

The participants for the DHA Cup start arriving in the city on Monday. Arrangements for their boarding and lodging have been made at a nearby hotel.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2018