NEW DELHI, Dec 3 The World Squash Doubles Championship scheduled to be held in India later this month has been postponed in response to security concerns after last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

The tournament was scheduled for Dec 15-20 in the southern city of Chennai, but the World Squash Federation (WSF) decided to postpone the event after Australia announced on Tuesday it would not be sending its players, Indian squash federation's secretary, Srivatsan Subramaniam said on Wednesday.

“Australia withdrew their players. More withdrawals would clearly reduce the value of the event to less than proper world championship status,” George Mieras, WSF championship panel director said in a letter to the organisers.

“I consulted with the management committee of WSF who told me to put first and foremost the safety of all players entered,” Mieras said, adding that the tournament will be rescheduled for 2009.—AP