The Hindu : Sport / Squash : A shot in the arm for the sport

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Sport

Sport - Squash

A shot in the arm for the sport

MUMBAI, JULY 22. Captain Jamshed Appoo has been a squash enthusiast for long. On Thursday, his company — Herald Maritime — took a giant step towards boosting the morale of the squash fraternity by announcing a Rs. 6 lakhs ($12,900) prize money event that has impressed even India's top professional, Ritwik Bhattacharya.

Last year Jamshed made a maiden entry into the squash world by sponsoring the Indian Squash Professionals event, offering a prize money of Rs. 4 lakhs.

"My aim is to popularise squash in the city and the country. Sports, other than cricket, need a lot of money and if I can help in a small way my aim will be fulfilled. Next year we will try and organise an international PSA event,'' he said at a press conference on Thursday. The tournament starts on July 26.

The winner of the men's event in the richest prize money tournament in India will receive Rs. 1,00,000 ($2100). Apart from Bhattacharya who has been given the top billing, the others in the fray are Siddharth Suchde, Manish Chotrani and Gaurav Nanrajog.

The men's runner-up will receive Rs. 50,000, the losing semifinalists Rs. 25,000 each and the losing quarterfinalists, Rs. 10,000 each. The boys' under-19 champion will get Rs. 75,000 and the boys' under-15 winner, Rs. 25,000. The winner of the men's over-40 event will take home Rs. 40,000. — Our Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport