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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to host the second Asian Squash Masters Championship, scheduled to be held in September 2012, as the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has won a bid for hosting the squash event, Dawn learnt on Thursday.
Since terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, international teams have been refusing to participate in any international event held in Pakistan mainly because of security situation in the country.
“We have won the bid among several other countries and now we are set to hold the event in September next year as per the decision announced by the Asian Squash Federation (ASF),” a senior PSF official told Dawn.
Pakistan, he said, would defend its title since it has won the inaugural Asian Masters Squash Championship played last year in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Outgoing PSF secretary Wing Cdr Irfan Asghar, 42, crushed his Indian opponent Mohainsh Sawant in straight games 3-0 in the final of the inaugural Asian Masters Squash Championship, played at the Colombo Gymkhana Squash Complex last year in July.
Adequate security measures would be taken to ensure foolproof security for visiting players and officials, the official claimed, adding that they would start receiving entries from ASF-recognised countries after the announcement of the scheduled dates.
“We are hopeful of retaining the title since Mr Asghar has already won a recently held inter-Air Force competition besides winning other events held within the Pakistan Army,” the squash official maintained.
According to information shared with Dawn ASF member countries are Pakistan, China, Malaysia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong-China, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau-China, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Philippines and India.
