Yash, Ashita lead India challenge at World Junior Squash Championship

The World junior will basically be in the individual events in which Egyptians Marwan Tarek and Rowan Reda are given the top billing in the boys and girls sections respectively. The final will be held on July 29.

Addressing a press conference India coach Cyrus Poncha said the sport in the country is in a state of transition. 

“We don’t have clear challengers for the title in either section. But our process of development is a work in progress and we have a bunch of youngsters ready to take over. Our target is a medal in such World events in the future,” he remarked.

The individual championships will be followed by the boy’s team event will take place at the Indian Squash Academy and the Express Avenue shopping mall. However, there won’t be a team event for girls this time.

Chennai hosted the 2009 World Juniors, the first time both individual events were held together, and last year hosted the Asian Individual Championships at the same venues. Pakistan is the defending champion in the boy’s team championship. Interestingly, the Pakistan team got its clearance and visa for the event ahead of the championship.

Cyrus Poncha confirmed the Pakistan contingent has confirmed its participation after getting the visa. Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) secretary, Tahir Sultan said visas for the entire contingent comprising six players and three officials who will take part in the team and individual championships, were received.

Initially, the Indian High Commission had returned the passports of the players and officials of PSF without granting them visas. 

Sultan claimed that it was after the PSF approached the World Squash Federation and Asian Squash Federation and asked them to cancel the event in India that the matter was resolved. “We thank the World and Asian bodies for taking up our case and getting the Indian squash body to convince their government to issue us visas in a change of heart,” he said.