After a 10-year absence, the Al-Ahram establishment will
host its flagship squash international tournament at the Giza
Pyramids from 17-23 September.
Many renowned squash players will be present at the $200,000
tournament including world number one Mohamed El-Shorbagy
and the women's world number one Nour El-Sherbini, both
Egyptians.
Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet is the leading non-Egyptian
in the men’s draw - in which all eight first-round matches
feature an Egyptian - while eight- time world champion Nicol
David of Malaysia is second seed in the women’s draw.
 World
Squash Federation vice-president Mohamed El-Menshawi said
in a news conference on Tuesday that he is delighted the
tournament is coming back to life, saying Ahram's hosting of it
confirms that Egypt is capable of staging any event.
"All those who are passionate about squash really missed this
tournament. They will now have a chance to follow the games with
the pyramids in the background," he added.
"Organizing a great event like Al-Ahram Open ensures there are
no security fears in Egypt and that the decision to cancel the
2015 World Team Championship (that was scheduled to take place
in Egypt last December) over security concerns was completely
false."
The 2015 World Team Championship was postponed indefinitely
after several countries withdrew, citing security concerns.
However, Ahram chairman Ahmed El-Naggar said Ahram
decided to sponsor the tournament to highlight Egypt's
capabilities of organizing big events.
"Egypt is a secure country," El-Naggar told the Tuesday news
conference.
"Our success in the hosting of this tournament will confirm that
there are no security fears in the country. There are many
American cities, for instance, that are less secure than Egypt."
El-Naggar said Al-Ahram will cooperate with the Egyptian tourism
and antiquities ministries as well as the Egyptian Squash
Federation to stage the tournament over the year in several
other cities such as Hurghada and Luxor.
"We are looking to revive tourism in Egypt," he said.
Tournament director Amr Mansi thanked Al-Ahram for its
initiative to re-host the tournament.
"The tournament will be broadcast by 40 channels so it will
be a good promotion for Egypt and the Egyptian squash," he
said. |
original report from ahramonline
|
