KARACHI: Pakistan’s top squash players may miss several leading squash tournaments in 2009 because of prevailing tension with India.
Over the years, India has emerged as a major destination for international squash and will be hosting a number of important regional and world squash events this year.
Pakistan and India have suspended bilateral sporting ties because of strained relations between the two governments over the Mumbai terror attacks.
Like cricket and hockey, Pakistan’s squash is also suffering because of this. Pakistan had to pull out of the 2009 Asian Junior Squash Championships which is going on in the south Indian city of Chennai.
The Pakistanis were supposed to defend both the team and individual titles in the biennial tournament which will go till Jan. 23.
Pakistan’s squash officials are also worried about a few other major international squash event to be played in India later this year. Pakistan will be vying for the title in the World Junior Men’s Individual Championship.
However, it remains to be seen whether they would be able to compete in the event which will be held in Chennai from July 28 to Aug. 2. Chennai will also play host to Junior Women’s World Championships from July 28 to Aug. 8.
Chennai will also be the venue of the World Doubles Championships. The event was supposed to take place from Dec. 15-20 last year but was postponed.
“The Championships Committee will seek, in conjunction with Squash Rackets Federation of India, to find a suitable date to reschedule the International Doubles during the year,” said World Squash Federation (WSF) Championships Committee Director and on-site Technical Director George Mieras.
