KATHMANDU, Oct 16: Nepal Squash and Rackets Association (NSRA) is organizing the fourth edition of the Civil Bank Open Squash Tournament at the Satdobato squash court, Lalitpur, from October 18 to 22.
Organizing a press conference in the capital on Sunday, NSRA President Kishor Maharjan informed that the tournament will feature events in five different categories including men's and women's open, boys' U-13 and U-19 and men's veterans events.
The event is being organized on the occasion of World Squash Day which falls on October 22, the final day of the tournament. Civil Bank is the sponsor of the tournament and will cover all cost for running the event. The expected cost for running the tournament is Rs 300,000 including cash prize of Rs 65,000 to winners.
Aarhant Keshar Singh and Bhawana Sunwar are the defending champions of the men's and women's singles events respectively while Sudip Bahadur Singh is the holder of veterans' title.
The organizers are expecting participation of 89 players in the event including 10 from Gorkha Brigade of England. “Players from Gorkha Brigade had participated in previous years as well and we have received confirmation from 10 players in the current edition of the tournament,” Maharjan said.
Maharjan, who is also the CEO of Civil Bank, informed that it was the third tournament of the year organized by the NSRA it was planning to hold six tournaments in a calendar year.
“NSRA is committed to promoting and popularizing the game across the country. This game is suitable for the country considering our physical ability and thus has potential to strike medal at the international level,” Maharjan said. “It is not a physical game and does not need to have too much coordination between partners like in the other games.”
Maharjan added that NSRA was further planning to pick potential youngsters from the tournament and provide them long-term training for the next edition of South Asian Games (SAG). “Keeping in view the 2018 edition of SAG, we are planning to pick best youngsters and provide them regular training so that we could produce better result,” he said.
Nepali women's team consisting of Bhawana Sunwar, Krishna Thapa and Bipana Blon had earned bronze in the last edition of SAG held in India in February.
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