Saturday, 2 August 2014 00:00
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The inaugural Leader Open Squash Championship conducted by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation (SLSF) and sponsored by Leader Holdings Limited will be held from 9-16 August 2014 at the Sri Lanka Air Force Squash Courts in Ratmalana.
The Championship has been accorded national ranking status and is set to feature some of Sri Lanka’s top ranked players and several talented youngsters who are on the fringe of national selection and squash fans are in for an exhibition of high quality squash and keen competition.
The week-long tournament will consist of 23 events which include: Men’s and Women’s Open, Novices, Men’s Over 30, Over 35, Over 40, Over 45 and Over 50; and boys and girls under 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 years. All winners and runners-up will receive trophies, cash awards and certificates. The cut-off date for age-limit events will be 16 August 2014.
The winners of the Boys and Girls Under 19 events will also receive the opportunity to participate in an overseas training program courtesy of the sponsors Leader Holdings.
Entry forms and further details of the tournament could be obtained from Sri Lanka Squash Federation, and the Sunday Leader Office at 44 Guildford Crescent Colombo 7. All entries will close at 12 noon on Tuesday 5 August 2014 and the draw will be held at 7 p.m. on the same day at the Federation Secretariat.
President of the Sri Lanka Squash Federation (SLSF) Commodore Palitha Weerasinghe said that the SLSF was particularly grateful to Leader Holdings for readily agreeing to sponsor this new tournament which will have national Ranking Status.
“Although a relatively new game to Sri Lanka, squash has gained tremendous popularity among all ages in a short time. We anticipate a large number of entries and exciting squash at this event with the participation of the cream of the squash players in the country as it is also a ranking event,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of Leader Holdings Nalin Jayetileke said that the leader was proud to break new ground in coming forward to partner the SLSF for the first time. A former national squash poolist himself Jayetilake said that it was the organisation’s intention to make this event an annual feature in the national squash calendar and help develop the sport throughout the country and take it to new heights.
“We hope to develop squash across the country and take it to a new level so that we can compete internationally. To this end we plan to assist in building squash courts in rural schools, provide them with equipment and quality coaches and hopefully see some of them taking part in the tournament next year. We will also support the training of referees and plan to conduct a competition to select the top two junior referees and give them an opportunity to develop their skills and gain National referee status,” Jayetileke added.
The event will culminate in a Grand awards ceremony on Sunday 16 August 2014.
