After much speculation and a long wait, the Women’s World Squash Championships has finally got a place in the calendar. The prestigious world meet will now be held at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil, Malaysia from April 23-30, 2016.
It was earlier scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur from December 11-17 in 2015. But the organizers of the tournament, Hallmark Events Group backed out at the last moment, stating a security threat as the reason. Following the cancellation, Sportspin Event & Athlete Management stepped in and raised funds from private sectors and they will now host the tournament in association with Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM).
Pleased to have reached a resolution
“We are pleased to have reached a resolution with all relevant stakeholders that will allow us to stage the event this April,” said Professional Squash Association (PSA) Chief Executive Alex Gough.
“The PSA Women’s World Championship is the most important event of the year for our female athletes, and ensuring that they are presented with an opportunity to compete for a world crown has been foremost in our discussions with Sportspin.”
Sportspin is headed by former World No. 10 Mohd Azlan Iskandar of Malaysia, who is now retired. Iskandar said: “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with the PSA and look forward to staging the PSA Women’s World Championship in Kuala Lumpur this April.”
This elite event will see 32 players vying for the title and has a total prize money of $ 200, 000.
Malaysian squash legend Nicol David will look to defend her title as she sets her sights on a record ninth crown. She will get tough competition from the likes of the current World No. 1 Laura Massaro, the former top-ranked Raneem El Welily and the fourth-ranked Nour El Sherbini.
Among the Indians, the country’s top two squash players – Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal – will be playing at this event. Pallikal reached the quarter-finals of the World Open in 2011.
