The players are facing hurdles in continuing their game due to the huge expenses involved.—File photo by APP

LAHORE Two emerging brothers in the game of squash, the national Under-15 champion Syed Ali Mujtaba Shah Bokhari and his elder brother Syed Hamza Shah Bokhari, who ranked seventh in the national Under-19 ranking have urged for more sponsorship in the sport as the players are facing hurdles in continuing their game due to the huge expenses involved.

Speaking to Dawn on Saturday, they said that their main difficulty under the current circumstances was touring abroad to get international exposure.

'There is a dearth of international exposure for Pakistani players as foreign players are not willing to come to Pakistan to play with us here in the international circuit, due to their security fears.

'Even though we did get some chances of international exposure by appearing in international tournaments in India, but we were unable to cash in on that opportunity as well due to the ongoing tense political relations between the two neighbouring countries,' said Mujtaba, who started his career from the of U-11 stage in 2005 and has earned 14 different titles till now.

Hamza said that though the national squash federation was arranging one tour a year for the top ranking players it was still not enough.

He said they were getting best coaching facilities at the Punjab Squash Association Complex but their main problem to get maximum international exposure still remains. And he has urged private sponsors to come forward in sponsoring talented players.

Hamza, who won back-to-back competitions in Under-17 categories in Malaysia this year, said that the expenses on the game were increasing with the coming of each day and the government should make an effort to reduce the prices of sports gear here, so that the country can bring back the glories it earned in the past through legends like Roshan Khan, Hashim Khan, Jehangir Khan and Jansher Khan.