Zoya has pleasant memories of India

Hindu Sports Reporter

CHENNAI: Seventeen-year-old Zoya Khalid from Lahore likes watching re-runs of Bollywood movies and says she did not face any problems at home or school in taking up squash.

“I was always encouraged to play by my parents and the federation.

“We were taken to Malaysia for a tournament recently. I’ve played in Delhi and have taken back pleasant memories of this country,” she says after practice at the Indian Squash Academy here on Sunday morning.

A fan of Amr Shabana and Cristiano Ronaldo, Zoya reveals she is friends with Indian players Surbhi Mishra and Dipika Pallikal. “I have also taken tips from Joshna Chinappa.”

Zoya, along with Pakistan’s left-handed No. 1 Maria Toor Pakay, is here with the Pakistani squash team to participate in the World junior championships later this month.

The team’s manager-cum-coach, former British Open champion (1975) Qamar Zaman, admits not many girls play squash in Pakistan, but that “the federation is doing its best to encourage participation”.

“Our team has been selected on an open trial basis. Peshawar is an active squash centre in Pakistan. We don’t have many girls, but we are trying.”

“We had absolutely no problem in getting a visa. At every stage we had the complete support of both the Federations. We feel very welcome here,” says the man from Peshawar.

Pakistan will compete in two individual events at this event, with four boys and two girls. Zaman admits that the girls may find the competition at this stage a little overawing.

“The girls are a little inexperienced, but we will give our best. We have worked very hard and that always pays off.”

On the popularity of the sport in Pakistan, Zaman says having a player in the family goes a long way in a youngster taking up squash.

Squash team India’s visit to help cement sports ties: Qamar Zaman

PESHAWAR(APP): Pakistan squash team visit for World Junior Squash Championship scheduled in Chennai, India would help extending more sporting ties in the days to come, former World Champion Qamar Zaman told APP here on Tuesday.

Named as manager-cum-coach of the six-member Pakistani squad that would leave for New Delhi on July 25, Qamar said that sports ties with neighboring India should be continued.

He also appreciated both the governments for their continuing efforts in cementing sporting ties and exchange of visits. The squash team visit would be a roadmap for similar kind of sporting ties from both sides in future, Zaman, who is also vice President of Pakistan Squash Federation, remarked.

"It is better for durable friendship and peace and such sporting ties would certainly develop a sense of understanding between the two neighboring countries and its people," Qamar added.

About the performance of the players in the World Junior Squash Championship, he said: "the teams comprising Nasir Iqbal, Farhan Zaman, Nowsherawan, Aurangzeb and two females including Pakistan No. 1 Maria Torpakai and Zoya have tuned up for the tough battle.

"They are in classic form and have under training from the last two months with national team Coach Fahim Gul who is working very hard on the physical fitness and practice matches of the team.

"We are expecting tough fight from Egyptians but otherwise the team has enough potential and capability to show good result against other world teams taking part in the event,” Qamar opined.

He also lauded President Pakistan Squash Federation on his stance of selecting team on merits. It was actually a performance based selection of the players for an important event and certainly the players are eager to show their worth.

Pakistan squad leave on 25th

A six-member Pakistan squad will leave for India on July 25 to feature in the inaugural Individual Squash World Junior Championship to be held in Chennai from July 29 to August 3.

The Pakistan squad comprises of four male and two female players who hope to give good performance in the championship.

“This is an individual event and I think our players have the best opportunity to show their mark in a competition which is generally specified for upcoming talent,” said Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) general secretary Shamsul Haq on Friday. He said that due to law and order situation Pakistan itself was unable to organise a major international championship and this tournament would be like a blessing for upcoming Pakistan stars to show their mettle.

This will be the first ever visit by any sports team of Pakistan to India after last year’s Mumbai attacks that strained the relations of the two countries.

Players: Nasir Iqbal, Farhan Zaman, Nosherwan Khan and Aurangzeb Mohmand. Ms Maria Toor Pakey and Ms Zoya Khalid.

Sports Ministry issues NOC

Pakistan's sports ministry has issued no objection certificates (NOC)s to the national squash and table tennis federations to send teams to India for upcoming international events.

Sports minister, Aftab Shah Jillani told newsmen today that the ministry had issued NOCs as it wanted to normalise sporting ties with India.

"Unfortunately while we are looking forward to restoring bilateral sporting ties with India we are not getting the same response from them," Jillani said.

Pakistan and India have frozen bilateral sporting ties since the Mumbai terror attacks last November and while the Indian government refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan early this year the Islamabad also didn't allow its players to take part in the Indian Premier League.

Hockey ties between the two nations were also affected by the tense relations between the two nations since the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan confident of good results

From Dawn

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s junior squash players are confident of putting on a good show at the upcoming 15th World Junior Men’s Individual Squash Championship.

The eight-member contingent will participate in the event slated to be held in Chennai, India, from July 29 to August 2.

"I am confident of putting up strong resistance against my rivals in the upcoming ranking tournament," said Pakistan’s emerging young squash player Nasir Iqbal.

Nasir, 17, added: "I have been training under Faheem Gul’s for the past month. His support and guidance during my crucial fixtures will hopefully be an added advantage against my opponents."

The event will see Egypt’s star player Mohamed El Shorbagy defending his title.

Faheem is also travelling along with the team as its coach while squash great Qamar Zaman has been nominated as manager for the five-day tournament by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).

Nasir, who hails from Bannu in the NWFP, pointed out: "This exposure is ultimately going to help me gain experience while my target is to lift a major junior squash title in 2010."

Two female players Zoya Khalid and Maria Toor will also be testing their mettle in the World Junior Women’s Individual Squash Championship.

"There is a huge probability of me making a big difference in the competition by winning some important fixtures in the tournament," claimed the top-ranking national player Maria.

"I am the eighth seed in the tournament that includes 128 female players. But I have had good training, which will now be the test of my professional skills. My international ranking too is likely to improve after a good finish," she concluded.

Pakistani squad gets Chennai go-ahead

From Dawn

ISLAMABAD: Standoff between Pakistan and India over sports took a U-turn on Monday with the Ministry of Sports allowing an eight-member squash contingent to proceed to India to feature in international junior squash event.

India first took a hard stance on sports against Pakistan after ‘Mumbai mayhem’ when the Indian cricket team was not given a go ahead by their Sports Ministry and a tense diplomatic stand-off was seen between both the neighbours.

In response to Indian action, Pakistan later refused to send its hockey and squash teams to India citing security concerns after the Mumbai terror attack.

A top federal government official told Dawn: "The ministry has no objection of sending the team to India however; in a letter issued by them [sports ministry] it was clarified that the permission was subject to clearance from the Foreign and Interior Ministries due to prevailing geopolitical situation in the region."

The PSF has selected junior squash players Aurangzeb Momand, Nasir Iqbal, Nosherwan, Farhan Zaman, Maria Toor and Zoya Khalid for ranking based junior international event.

National coach Faheem Gul will travel along with the team to India while Qamar Zaman has been nominated as the manager.

"The High Commission of Pakistan in India has also been informed about the arrival of Pakistani squash team’ said the official. "We have shown a good will gesture for resumption of sports ties with our neighbour but it must be reciprocal," Federal Sports Minister Aftab Shah Jilani said.

He said: "The decision has been made for the development of sports in the region."

Asked to comment about the security assurances if any provided by the Indian government, he said: "The host country will manage the security affairs of our players while the assurances are between the two federations."

Meanwhile, senior vice president of the PSF, AVM Asim Suleman said: "There is always a certain level of security cover for Pakistani players in India and if required we can request the Indian Squash Federation for special security arrangements for our players and sort it out with the host federation."