10-Apr-08:
Sheikha & Jahangir
unveil Platinum event
The Kuwait Open Squash Tournament (H.H. Sheikh Saad Amir
Sheikha Al Sabah. The Patriarch Amir Trophy - Kuwait Squash
Open) has been elevated to platinum level by the PSA.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the organizing
committee, Sheikha Fadia Saad al Abdullah, during a press
conference on Tuesday.
 Sheikha
Fadia said the tournament gives the game in Kuwait a push,
allowing a Kuwaiti player entry as a wild-card, enabling him to
play in the main draw. She said that one of the many
developments in the game will be to introduce a glass court for
the first time in Kuwait, and announced that the top 48 players
in the world will participate in the tournament scheduled to
commence on April 21.
She said everyone was working towards ensuring that the
tournament, in its fourth event, will boost Kuwait's
international image in the sport. She added that the tournament
also contributed in allowing Kuwaiti referees to participate in
officiating over some of the international matches, as well as
enrolling them in many training courses to gain international
accreditation.
Sheikha Fadia explained that this tournament is considered a
prelude to the Men's World Open Championship to be hosted by
Kuwait for the first time next year.
Meanwhile President of the World Squash Federation Jahangir
Khan lauded the contribution to the development of the game
in Kuwait. He said the remarkable improvement of the game in
Kuwait is the result of tremendous efforts exerted by tournament
officials. He said Kuwaiti players finished in second place in
the team event and third in the individual competition during
the 14th Asian Championships held in Kuwait recently. Khan said
Kuwait's continued success qualified it to host the men's world
championship next year and hailed the government's support that
contributed to the construction of the state-of-the-art squash
complex.
Tournament director Dr Mahmoud Ruzouqi said "the
tournament enjoys a high status at the world level, as many
countries are keen to cover it, and this is a source of pride to
all those who organize it." Dr Ruzouqi announced that the
Egyptian World Referee Nasser Zahran has been appointed
as tournament referee for the tournament, which is a first for
an Arab national.
Hussain Al Makseed, chairman of Kuwait Squash Federation,
said: "The 48 participating players are the elite of the world,
which confirms the great status that the tournament players give
to it." He said that the PSA decided to grant Kuwaiti player
Abdullah Al Mazyen a wild –card to allow him to play in the
main draw, while eight Kuwaiti players will play in the
qualifying competition.
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