PSA Celebrates
Major Three-Year Kuwait Agreement
The
Professional Squash Association is celebrating a major agreement with
Sheikha Fadia Al-Sabah of Kuwait which will guarantee three PSA World
Tour events in the Middle East country each year for the next three years,
spearheaded by the Kuwait Open as part of the PSA Super Series.
An annual
$10,000 1-star and $15,000 1½-star event will be complemented by the HH
Sheikh Saad Abdullah Al-Sabah Trophy, The Patriarch Amir, Kuwait Open
- which boasts a $172,500 prize-fund.
The Kuwait
Open has been a leading annual event on the PSA Tour since first
backed by Sheikha Fadia Al-Sabah in 2004 - and will continue to be a popular
Middle East stop-off on the Tour's flagship PSA Super Series. The 2010 Kuwait
Open takes place from 28 October to 2 November.
Under Sheikha
Fadia's guidance, Kuwait hosted the 2009 Men's World Open - a
star-studded championship which was staged at the Green island Resort and
boasted a world record $277,500 prize-fund.
"We are
delighted to have signed such an important three-year deal with Sheikha Fadia
Al-Sabah," said PSA CEO Alex Gough. "She is determined to keep pushing
the profile of the sport in Kuwait and indeed the world!
"The two
smaller events are a fantastic boost to the up-and-coming players in Kuwait and
the region - and will prove to be a useful stepping stone in the Kuwaiti
players' development.
"Following on
from a successful 2009 World Open, it is wonderful to see the Kuwait
Open return for its sixth time," added Gough. "The PSA World Tour is going
from strength to strength and Sheikha Fadia's long-term commitment for these
nine events is proof of this."
Pakistan
squash legend Jahangir Khan, the former World Squash Federation President
who is an adviser to Sheikha Fadia Al-Sabah, added: "Sheikha Fadia is passionate
about sport and has a great vision for Squash in Kuwait.
"This is a
wonderful deal both for the PSA and its elite players from all around the world,
as well for the growth of Squash in Kuwait," said the six-time World Open
champion and record 10 times winner of the British Open title.
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