ISLAMABAD, July 10: Carla Khan has been inducted into the squad for this fall’s Asian Games in Pusan, secretary of the Pakistan Squash Federation, Sqd. Ldr. Sajid Waheed said Wednesday.

The decision to include Carla, who plays professional squash in England, was taken at a meeting of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) in Lahore.

The PSF and the POA had earlier agreed to a three-member squad comprising two male players and an official for the September 29 to October 14 Games. However, now the squash officials have succeeded in having Carla included in the squad.

Sajid, who attended Wednesday’s meeting said that he was able to convince the POA and the Director General of Pakistan Sports Board, Brig. Saulat Abbas that Carla was certain to win at least a silver and may also strike gold.

Sajid said that Brig. Saulat fully understood and supported his suggestions and it did not take him long to convince the house of Carla’s talents.

Carla, daughter of Wasil Khan and grand-daughter of Azam Khan, only last week won the PC Bhurban National Women’s Championship, although that competition lacked quality opposition.

Meanwhile, Carla is also likely to be part of the contingent for the Commonwealth Games that begin in Manchester later this month with the POA principally agreeing to her inclusion.

Sajid said that the move to include Carla for the Manchester Games was intitated after the World Squash Federation pointed out that the number of players for the event was not as they had expected.

“Ted Walburton, the WSF Executive Director wanted us to name a women’s team for the Games, so it is because of this that efforts are now afoot to have Carla on board.”

The PSF had initially planned to despatch a team of four boys and as many girls to Manchester but then dropped the girls altogether.

The PSF had earlier named Mansoor Zaman and Shahid Zaman for the Asian Games while both these players along with Shamsul Islam and Farrukh Zaman form the squad for the Commonwealth Games.

With Carla coming on, the Commonwealth squad will now have a total of five players. She will competing in the individual and mixed doubles event in Manchester.