Third Asian Junior Squash C'ships should provide exciting fare

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

Thirteen countries are scheduled to participate at the 3rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships to be held from July 6 to 10 at the Gymkhana Club and Cinnamon Lake Side Hotel Squash courts in Colombo.

Dialog, TNT Courier Service and SriLankan AirLines will jointly sponsor the event.

Players from 13 countries, namely Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka who are affiliated to the Asian Squash Federation's member nations, will be pitted against each other and their clashes should provide the much needed exposure to the local juniors.

The main attraction of the tournament should be the presence of Deepika Pallikal of India who will compete in the girls under 19 event. She became the runner-up at last year's British Junior, and should be a hot favourite for the girls title.

However, stiff competition is expected from players from Malaysia and Hong Kong. Pakistani players are expected to have the edge over the rest with their power play and endurance which they always display.

Gihan Suwaris (S.Thomas') and Binura Jayasuyriya (Royal) in the boys under 19 category and Shariya Guruge (Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya) and Kavini Amarasekera (Sirimavo Bandaranaike BV) in the girls under 19 event are the main hopes for the host Sri Lanka.

This five-day squash fiesta will consist of four main events which include boys and girls under 15 and under 19. Besides this, there will also be a Masters event for players over 35,45,50,55 and for Ladies over 35.

At a press briefing held at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, the President of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation Oliver Guruge said that he was both delighted and proud to host this important event in the International squash calendar.

"With a 30-year protracted civil war behind us, and adverse travel advisories now contemporary history, Sri Lanka once again regaining tourism in the world's tourism map. These championships come at an opportune moment when the government of Sri Lanka is taking all measures to actively promote the country, not only as a tourist destination, but as a multi-faceted destination for sports tourism, health tourism, religious tourism, cultural tourism and more." said Guruge.

Kavan Ratnayake, CEO Dialog Broadband Service the principal sponsor said that "as the country's leading mobile telecommunication provider, Dialog has always taken a special interest in promoting sports in Sri Lanka. Squash has proved to be a very popular game with a large and growing following. We are happy to partner with an International event of this nature and are confident that it will take Sri Lanka squash to greater heights. Mirza Fajudeen, Director Room Division, Cinnamon Lakeside, Roshantha Peiris, MN Ace Cargo and a Vice- President of the Squash Federation, Brig. Tissa Jayasuriya, Chairman Organising Committee, Tournament Director, Vice- President of the Squash Federation, Wg CMdr. Jaliya Jayasekera, Sec.Organising Committee and a VP. Ravi Gooneratne Sec. SLSF were also present.