Chennai, Oct 4 (Inditop.com) The Squash Rackets Federation of India will conduct two tour tournaments, the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Indian Challenger No. 4 and Women’s International Squash Player’s Association (WISPA) Indian Challenger No.2, here Oct 5-10.
These events are supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport in preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2010.
Compared to the previous events earlier this year, the forthcoming tournaments are higher rated and the winners will accrue more ranking points and prize money.
The fields in both PSA and WISPA are strong and all middle level players in the world would be seen in action besides some Indian juniors, who made their debut in last month events.
Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu and Anaka Alankamony won the titles in PSA and WISPA events last month will also be seen in action in the meets. Anaka also created history not only winning her maiden title but became the youngest player ever to win a WISPA title.
In the WISPA qualifying event to be held Oct 6, Anaka, Aparajitha Balamurukan and Zephanie Curgenven of England have been given a bye, while India’s Shria Khatri and Harita Omprakash will fight for the fourth slot in to the main draw.
In the $10,000 men’s event, with Siddharth Suchde withdrawing from the event due to injury, Harinder is the lone Indian as a wild card in the main draw while second seed Joshna Chinappa and sixth seed Dipika Pallikal will be keeping the Indian flag flying high in the WISPA event, which offers a prize fund of $8,000.
Top seed, Sharon Wee (world ranked 29) leads the pack of three Malaysian seeds in the main draw and Orla Noom (seed-3, ranked 43) of the Netherlands, Elise Ng (Hong Kong, seed 4, rank 46) are some of the prominent stars in fray.
England’s Chris Simpson, ranked 38, has been given the pride of place in the seeding for PSA event and Shamsul Islam of Pakistan, seeded eight is ranked 105.
rounak