JEDDAH, 16 September 2006 — Badr Abdul Aziz, an Egyptian-Swedish who is ranked 54th in world squash, won the 3rd Charity Squash Open Championship beating Egyptian Amir Wajeed in the final 3-1 at the Jeddah InterContinental Hotel Sports Club here last night. “I’m delighted to win this prestigious tournament,” Badr said while receiving the championship trophy.
Pakistan’s Raees Khan, who coaches the Saudi national squash team, took third place after beating Muhammad Saif, a Saudi and the Kingdom’s junior champion.
In all 64 players, a majority of them Saudi, took part in the tournament played on a knockout basis, which began on Wednesday.
Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed and Al Bir Charitable Society Chairman Saleh Al-Turki were among the tournament supporters. The Orphans’ Friends Committee of Al Bir Charitable Society organized the event for the third year in a row.
“The success of the previous two tournaments encouraged us to organize the third event,” Mazen Batterjee, deputy chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry and also of Al Bir Charitable Society, said.
“The tournament realized its objective of highlighting the various projects of the charity organization,” he added.
The annual event is essentially meant to generate income for the society and inform the residents about its activities, and promote squash as a new sport among young Saudis.
“The tournament also helped us to find new squash talents among our boys,” he said, adding that such events should go a long way in motivating orphans to lead a better life.
Suhail R. Nageeb, who heads the tournament organizing committee and also of the Orphans’ Friends Committee of Al Bir Charitable Society, said the tournament was the best ever organized in the Western Province. “All seats in the spectators’ gallery was fully occupied and this shows growing interest among young Saudis in squash,” he said, adding that the event offered SR24,000 worth of prizes to winners.
Tournament sponsors included United Sugar Co., Bison Energy Drink, Al Hayat newspaper, Mazda Motors, SAS Engineering System, MBC FM Radio, Saudi TV Sports channel and Buchanan Middle East for Public Relations.
