WORLD SQUASH NEWS
Top Qatar Events Postponed Due To Gulf Crisis
Two of the biggest events on the international squash circuit have been
postponed as a result of the conflict in Iraq.
The PSA Masters and the women's WISPA World Grand Prix Finals, originally
scheduled to be staged in Doha from 22-27 April, will now take place between
19-24 May.
"Due the current circumstances and the increasing tension in the area, the
events will be postponed and played in May 2003," said Tournament Director
Alaa Eldeen Allouba in a letter to the Professional Squash Association (PSA)
and Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA). "We have the
approval of QNOC (Qatar National Olympic Committee) to the new dates."
PSA Executive Director Gawain Briars responded: "It is with regret that the
Qatar Squash Federation and the PSA announce that the PSA Masters has been
postponed.
"Although PSA has recently held a Circuit event in Qatar and the reports back
from the players was that Qatar is a safe venue to participate in, the
promoters and the PSA considered that with the increased importance and
prestige of the PSA Masters coming into play, more players and their families
would be nervous of travelling into the region during this difficult time of
conflict to play in this high profile event.
"PSA is very grateful to the ongoing support of the QSF and the Qatar Olympic
Committee in agreeing to postpone the PSA Masters, and we are sure that the
event now booked for May will be as exciting and successful as it will now be
anticipated," Briars concluded.
WISPA Director Andrew Shelley added: "We fully support the QSF decision to
delay the event when thoughts in the region cannot be fully focused on
squash, so the WISPA players look forward to returning to Doha a little later
than planned."
The $120,000 PSA Masters is a Super Series Platinum event which attracts all
of the world's top men, and the $62,000 WISPA Grand Prix Finals features the
top eight women who have qualified through success in the WISPA World Tour
Grand Prix events in 2002.