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Squash season begins

UAE Squash Association has announced the schedule of the tournaments for the season of 2013-14.

Dinesh Mansukhani, Asif Khan, Mohammad Abdullah Ali, Faheem Khan, Anja Bolz and Aroop Mishra during the Press conference at Al Nasr Leisureland. — KT photo by Mohammad Mustafa Khan

Mohammad Abdullah Ali, general secretary and the board member of the association, announced the schedule in the presence of a number of officials and media at Al Nasr Leisureland.

Mohammad Ali said: “The President UAE Squash Association, Maj. General Abdul Aziz Bannai, is very keen to uplift the game and it is our wish to bring squash at par with other international games in the UAE. Our main focus is to involve local population and we are quite successful in our mission.

“We are planning to introduce the game in schools in near future.” The meeting was chaired by Mohammad Ali in the presence of Asif Khan, Senior League organiser; Faheem Khan, Junior League organiser; Dinesh Mansukhani, Senior League organiser; Miss Anja Bolz, Junior League organiser and Aroop Mishra, Senior League organiser.

Squash has been dominated long enough by Jehangir Khan and Jansher Khan of Pakistan. The Khans are very much involved in the game in the UAE as Abbas Khan, UAE coach and technical adviser, Fahim Khan and Asif Khan (the coaches) are showing a great dedication to lift the standard of the game in the region.

UAE boasts of over 2000 squash courts in the country and the game is gaining ground as over 150 junior players are learning the tricks of the trade in the all the emirates.

The squash activities are sponsored by A2 and Asics in the UAE.

Ladies League is 20 years old in the UAE and now players are being allowed to play with their bodies covered which has great response. The association is planning to organise a separate tournament for those female payers in 2014.

The Junior League organisers are aiming to promote the game at all levels and main focus will be on fair play.

Anja said: “There will be 12 weeks of competitive squash among the juniors in the UAE. The Junior League will be staged between December 20 to February 20. The earlier matches will be played in the respective emirates while semi-finals and finals will be staged in Dubai.

“It will provide a great opportunity to the youngsters to learn by playing one another and spending time together.”

The tournaments which will be held in Dubai will attract players from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah.

Mishra said: “There is a great potential and we hope to unearth talent in the field of squash in the UAE. It is a great start and we are well on course to organise professional tournaments here. The association is leaving no stone unturned to take the game to a new level.

“The number of players and tournaments is increasing day by day. If we succeed to promote the game in the same manner, there no doubt that squash has a great future in the UAE.”

liaqat@khaleejtimes.com