Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120360931600.htm

Sport - Squash

International doubles event postponed

CHENNAI: The World International doubles squash championship (men & women), scheduled at the ICL academy here from December 15 to 19, has been postponed.

The immediate reason that made the organisers take this step was Australia’s decision to pull out because of security concerns post-Mumbai happenings. The organisers had also received a communication from Dr. George Mieras, Director, WSF Championship committee with advice of “not to go ahead”.

Dr. Mieras had said that “it seems quite clear to me that other High Commissions are likely to give the same advice (to withdraw) and it is not appropriate for me to counter this.

“Also, more withdrawals would clearly reduce the value of the event to less than proper World Championship status.”

New dates later

According to Maj. (retd.) S. Maniam, the championship consultant, “it has now been decided to postpone the championship.

Fresh dates, sometime in 2009 will be decided at the World Squash Federation’s Management Committee meeting scheduled here next weekend.”

He also said that the championship, as such, had not had a good response this time with only seven countries, including Australia, confirming entries.

The Secretary-General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India, Srivatsan Subramaniam, admitted it was a huge disappointment. — Special Correspondent