Islama bad-Pakistani players dismal run continued in the British Open U-19 category, as only Mansoor Zaman Junior finished 12th, while rest of the players were way behind of other nations in Birmingham, England on Monday.
For 11th/12th place match, Mansoor Zaman Junior was up against Malaysian Ong Sai Hung but he was outclassed by the Malaysian 1-3. Hung absolutely nailed Mansoor in the first game, winning it 11-2. After losing badly in the first game, Mansoor showed some fighting spirit and took the second game 11-7. But it was all Mansoor could get from the match, as Hong won the third game 11-8 and fourth game 11-5 to add further misery to Pakistani ambitions of doing well in the tournament. Only Hamza Khan and M Ammad in U-13 showed some potential, while others were failed to deliver for Pakistan.
In 21-24th place match, Uzair Rasheed was beaten by Siow Yee Xian of Malaysia 3-1. Siow won the first game 16-14 but lost the second 7-11. The Malaysian then won the third game 11-8 and fourth 11-4 to register victory. In another 21-24th place match, James Wyatt of England beat Abdul Malik Imran 3-1. James lost first game 5-11, before winning the next three 11-2, 11-6, 11-6. In U-17 29-32nd place match, M Farhan Hashmi beat Sweden’s Fritiof Jacobsson 3-1. Farhan lost the first game 10-12, but won the second game 12-10, third 11-9 and fourth 11-9 to register victory. These are highly alarming sings for Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), if a top junior player can’t win the 11th place match, then what is the purpose of spending millions on such performances.
What is the purpose of having a white elephant like Pakistan National Squash Academy (PNSA), which is not more than a liability and eating precious money without producing even ordinary results. Unless PSF president Air Marshal Sohail Aman seeks explanation from the responsible persons, there is every possibility such results will come thick and fast.
It is high time when first of all, the PSF chief must hire a technocrat as director PNSA, specialist trainers for squash training not athletics, and professional full-time head coach, who must have free hand to change the fortunes of Pakistan squash. As soon as these steps are taken, Pakistan squash will start flourishing and Pakistani players will start producing results at international level.