Sponsorship deal signed for World Team Squash C’ship
PSF warns players to improve performances
By M Bilal

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Squash Federation Monday formally secured a sponsorship deal worth Rs. 10 million for the World Men’s Team Squash Championship commencing here on Thursday.
Air Chief Marshal Kaleem, who is also the PSF President, received the token sponsorship cheque from the Chief Executive of “The Big Time” calling cards, Salman Wasay, at a sponsorship-signing ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Kaleeem Saadat said that events like World Men’s Team Squash Championship were a matter of prestige for the host country.
He said sponsorships were necessary not only for successfully organising such events but also for promoting squash in the country.
Up to 22 countries will compete in the championship which will be played at Mushaf Squash Complex and Roshan Khan Squash Complex, both situated within the larger premises of Pakistan Sports Complex.
England are the top seeds for the event while hosts Pakistan have been ranked at no.7 place.
The top 12 seeds of the tournament:England, Egypt, France, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Pakistan, Wales, The Netherlands, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
The 13th to 18th seeds:-Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kuwait and Scotland.
The 19th to 22nd seeds:Austria, Iran, Spain and USA.
The 22 participating countries have been divided into six preliminary round groups with Pakistan taking its place in Group F alongside Malaysia, Spain and Scotland.
INP adds: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has warned the national squash players to show splendid performances in the months to come otherwise PSF would stop sheltering them and bring new talent.
The warning was given by the senior vice President of PSF Air Marshal Raashid Kaleem in an exclusive talk with the INP here Monday at the handing over ceremony of sponsor cheque of the World Team Squash Championship scheduled to be staged from 8-14 December.
“We were monitoring the performances of all the players and next year in February 2006, we will review the targets which have given to the players and if they fail to achieve, than they should play on their own, the PSF SVP made it clear to the top slot of squash players.
However, he was optimistic about the performance of national squash team in the event and stressed that coaches always played important role in the promotion of any player.
Big time 20th World Men Team Championship will be in action from Thursday as all the arrangements have been finalized while the foreign players have also started landing in the Capital City, said the President PSF Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Kaleem Sadaat while addressing a reception for the sponsors of the championship.
The big event will be played in the Mushaf Squash Complex which has a four side glass walls championship court, with a seating capacity a mini championship court and two practice courts while few matches of initial stage would also be featured in Roshan Khan Squash Complex.
It is worth mentioning here that more than 250 players and officials are being coming from abroad to take part in the prestigious event.