Daily Times

KARACHI: The $23500 DHA Cup International Squash Championship – men’s and women’s – commenced at the DA Creek Club Asif Nawaz Squash Complex here on Tuesday. The men’s event, which carries a purse of $18,000, will see 11 foreign players in action in a 32-man draw while the $5500 women’s competition includes four foreigners. According to organisers, the foreign players and referees have started arriving in the city for the mega event.

The foreigners who will compete in the men’s category includes top seed Navid Maleksabet (Iran), second seed Mohamed Reda (Egypt), third seed Ivan Yuen (Malaysia), sixth seed Ahmed Hosny (Egypt), eighth seed Addeen Idrakie (Malaysia), unseeded Ryan Pasqual (Malsysia), unseeded Henrik Mustonen (Finland), unseeded Sajad Zareian Jahromi (Ireland), unseeded Youssef Ibrahim (Egypt) and Ong Sai Hung (Malaysia). The women’s quartet from abroad who will make their presence felt includes second seed Ooi Kah Yan (Malaysia), third seed Farida Mohamed (Egypt), fourth seed Farah Momen (Egypt), and unseeded Amina El Rihany (Egypt).

Unseeded Arisha Jahan Khan (US), daughter of former Pakistan squash player Zarak Jehan Khan has withdrawn leaving four foreigners in the fray. Her first round Pakistani opponent Noor-ul-Huda has been awarded a bye. Two international foreign referees namely Rajiv Reddy (India) and Naved Kashif (Malaysia) have also arrived here to supervise the matches alongside Pakistani counterparts. Pakistan squash legend Jahangir Khan formally inaugurated the DHA Cup.

Published in Daily Times, November 21^st 2018.