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Squash season set to start in UAE
DUBAI - The squash season is all set to start in the UAE. After the formation of UAE Squash Association,
- PUBLISHED: Fri 23 Dec 2011, 12:24 AM UPDATED: Fri 5 Jul 2024, 10:47 AM
All the squash activities will be held under the umbrella of the association.
A committee has been formed to look after the squash affairs in the UAE. The committee comprises Faheem Khan, Gerry Gibson, Dinesh, Mona Waleed, Nikki, Ayna, Badar Akbar and Asif Khan.
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The members have been assigned different tasks and they will look after a number of tournaments in the UAE.
World Squash Federation (WSF) Chief Executive Andrew Shelley visited Dubai recently to explore potential venues for the World Squash Challenge, set to be held here in April next year.
The federation, along with FidelisWorld, the UAE Squash Association and the Dubai Sports Council are working together to launch, what is going to be one of the biggest professional squash tournaments in the world. It also brings the UAE back on the world squash map.
Apart from visiting the possible venues, Shelley also met Major General Abdulaziz Al Bannai, president, UAESRA and Mohammed Mubarak Al Mutawi, vice-president, UAESRA. UAE national coach and technical director Abbas Khan while talking to Khaleej Times exclusively said: “Dubai squash season will begin form second week of January till March 2012.
“ During the summer the weather is very harsh in this part of the region and it is the best chance for the squash enthusiasts to utilise their time in a more productive way.” Since UAE has got a number of squash courts and it is only a matter of organising the tournaments to give players a chance to perform. The association will organise Premier League, Division One, Ladies League and Juniors League this year.
Abbas added: “This time we are planning to organise the league in a best possible way and hopefully it will become an annual affair. “The scores will appear in the print media to keep the interest alive. It also may help the association to attract more and more sponsors.”
Abbas who has represented Pakistan on international level added: “The final will be staged in a grand way. We hope to see a big crowd to watch the final which will be a great boost to the game in the UAE. “The association is leaving no stone unturned to popularise the game among the masses. It is the best way to channelise the youth's energy in a more constructive way.”
“There are a number of squash players in the UAE and the association is planning to organise an inter-emirates tournament in near future. It will provide a chance to the players across UAE to face each other. “The state teams will fight for the national trophy,” Abbas concluded.
liaqat@khaleejtimes.com