ISLAMABAD - National senior women squash champion Sammer Anjum Tuesday demanded Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) equal and just treatment for female players.
Sammer said female players are not less than any top male player but unfortunately they don't have international exposure which is the main reason they are far behind in WSA rankings. “If provided with sufficient WSA events, it is my promise not only me, but there are few other players also who could easily break into top 100 and within short span of time, we are capable of breaking our ways into top 50 and beyond.”
“I am playing one of the best squash of my life. Federation, especially secretary Group Captain Amir Nawaz has done tremendous job by giving female players same amount of importance, respect and self-belief, which we were demanding since long. I can assure you all, if someone has any kind of doubts about our abilities, they could come and witness female players in action in the training camp.”
She said, federation should have taken this initiative much earlier. “Had we were provided with same kind of facilities and training alongside head coach, we could have created waves in squash circles. It was quite unfortunate in the past that female players were not given any importance and were just taken as liabilities. But now the situation has drastically changed. We are focusing on our game with each passing day and gaining strength. I could not wait for June 12, when the Asian Senior Female Team Squash Championship starts in Hong Kong. We have a point to prove there and we would not hesitate to stamp out our authority in style.”
Sammer said the competition would be very tough as they would be pitted against top sides like Malaysia, Hong Kong, India and Korea. “We had beaten Korea in the junior levels and we would repeat the same. We have set our sights on bringing down first minnows Iran and Sri Lanka and then take on the big guns. I had entered my name in the Malaysian WSA event. I had to play the first match on 15th of this month. I had reached Islamabad on first of this month for trials but the PSF rescheduled the trials, which left me with no other option but to withdraw my name from the event.”
She said she was planning to play WSA circuit in Australia in September/October this year but for that purpose she needs federation and private sector help as alone federation can't bear expenditures of male and female players. “Private sector, PIA, other private airlines, banks and multi-nationals must step forward and lend a helping hand to federation and players. If we are provided with at least 12 WSA events a year, I can assure the day is not far when at least five or six Pakistani female players would be in the top 50 WSA rankings, Sammer concluded.