The prize distribution ceremony of Bangabandhu International Squash Tournament was held at Gulshan Club in the capital on Sunday.
A total of 24 renowned squash players from 6 countries – UAE, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh had participated tournament organised by Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation (BSRF) and sponsored by Ispahani group. This was the first international squash tournament in the history of Bangladesh, said a press release.
Bangladesh entered the shortlist of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament host countries for the first time by organising this 5-day long tournament, held from 20 to 24 October. PSA is the authority of professional squash worldwide.
The final match, on Sunday, was held between Yassin Elshafei from Egypt and Noor Zaman from Pakistan at the Gulshan Club squash court. In the final match, Yassin Elshafei won the championship by beating Noor Zaman who became the runner-up of the tournament, the press release added.
The chief guest of the closing ceremony was State Minister of Youth and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP. The President of Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation Faruk Khan MP, Chairman of Ispahani Group Mirza Salman Ispahani, General Secretary of Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation Brigadier General (Retired) Kamrul Islam SPP, President of Gulshan Club Captain Saifur Rahman, and other officials of Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation and Ispahani Group were also present at the event.
Md Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP thanked everyone for organising this squash tournament successfully and promised to develop the squash complex and other infrastructure in the future.
Faruk Khan MP thanked Ispahani Group and other sponsors for making this international tournament successful. He wished Bangladeshi women will be more successful in squash in the future.
Mirza Salman Ispahani thanked all parties related to the tournament and thanked to the organisers for giving the opportunity to sponsor a tournament involving Bangabandhu’s name.
The winners of this tournament will also participate in an exhibition match in Chattogram at Chittagong Club on 25 October, which will be also sponsored by the Ispahani Group. The title of the match will be “Ispahani International Squash Exhibition Match: 2021”.
