Qatar Squash Federation (QSF) Board Member, Mohammed Al Khulaifi (left) addressing a press conference at InterContinental Hotel Doha yesterday. Also seen are Technical Secretary of QSF, Gamal Rasmi (centre) and Resident Manager at InterContinental Doha, Giles Nicolas.
Picture by: Qassim Rahmatullah
Doha: The 13th edition of the InterContinental Squash tournament will begin from February 12, it was announced here yesterday.
This year’s edition to be played simultaneously at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex courts and at InterContinental Hotel will see a record number of players taking part, the organisers of the event said.
“Around 166 players, both men and women, will take part in the championship. The tournament will be held in 13 categories. Every year the tournament is growing in stature and in a few years time it grow bigger and better,” said Qatar Squash Federation (QSF) Board Member, Mohammed Al Khulaifi while addressing a press conference here yesterday.
The six-day tournament is held under the patronage of QSF and sponsored by InterContinental Doha and will end on February 17.
Technical Secretary of QSF, Gamal Rasmi, said the tournament will be held at two venues.
“The preliminary rounds of Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 will be held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex courts. The semi-final and the final will held at InterContinental Doha. All other matches will start at InterContinental from day one,” said Rasmi.
“With every passing year the number of players taking part is increasing. so this year we had to add one more day to the schedule so it now a six day event.
The tournament will be held in the following categories: Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Men’s Level B, Men’s Level A, Men’s over 45, Ladies and Men’s Professional.
Resident Manager at InterContinental Doha, Giles Nicolas said they are happy to tie-up with QSF to host the tournament and disclosed that they in the process of upgrading their sports facilities.
“We are building two more squash courts and an equal number of tennis courts, besides expanding the sport facilities for guests. The next edition in 2015 will be played on four squash courts at the InterContinental Doha,” said Nicolas.
“Sport is an important and integral part of the activities carried out by Intercontinental Doha and we want to be part of the various activities carried by the communities in Doha,” he added.
Nicolas said he was amazed that Qatar has set one day aside for sports.
“I have been worked in different countries for the last 15 years, but I never found one country which has given one day off for the entire population to do sport, which is a fantastic thing and InterContinental Doha staff will be joining the celebrations,’ Nicolas said.
Most of the top players from Qatar are taking part in the event which is sponsored by Sportwell and Go Sport.
The tournament is open to all residents of Qatar.
Last year, Abdulrahman Al Malki defeated Syed Azlan Amjad to clinch the top place in the Professional category. In the Men’s Level A final, Ahmed Noor overcame Umair Zaman to win the top spot. In the Men’s Level B, Abdel Wahab Al Ishaq set aside the challenge of Sadam Mehawesh. Mayar El Saka topped in the Ladies category while Hana Alaa El Lethy came second.
The Peninsula
