04-Jan-2013
ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) on Monday said that a “US package” aimed at training of leading squash players is bringing positive results.
The ‘US package’ which is fully funded by the PSF, was introduced by senior vice-president AVM Razi Nawab under which top ranking squash players have been sent to the United States for a period of six months to the leading squash coaching centre in Boston.
Under the package, players would be provided free boarding and lodging by the PSF besides covering the air-fare of the squash players.
The players will also be featuring in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) events in the US.
“This US package is bearing positive results for the federation since Aamir Atlas, Danish Atlas and Farhan Zaman have featured in few PSA tournaments now and are being trained in an environment where the top professionals of the world are playing squash,” AVM Nawab told Dawn.
According to details shared by the AVM, top ranking national squash players are undergoing strenuous physical and competitive training in Boston.
He informed that Farhan Zaman has improved his ranking in PSA events and climbed more places than Atlas brothers — Aamir and Danish.
The PSA rankings indicated that Farhan Zaman is currently ranked 93rd in the world but has improved his ranking by five points.
“Zaman was ranked 98th but in the past two months he climbed up after reaching the semi-final and even the finals of a few tournaments,” informed AVM Nawab.
However, both Aamir and Danish could not improve their rankings in the PSA events in the US and in a few instance even crashed out of the initial rounds.
However, Pakistan’s emerging squash player Nasir Iqbal Khan impressed with his performance and is likely to benefit from the package.
“Nasir fared well and we have high hopes from him since the 18-year-old squash player is also included in the US package,” remarked AVM Nawab.
Details indicated that Nasir is currently ranked 90 on the PSA ranking table but improved upto seven positions during the last three months after playing well in the PSA events.
Nasir also defeated an Indian player Harinder Pal Sandhu 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 in the final of the PSA World Tour Challenger played in Malaysia in October.
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