Punj Lloyd PSA
Masters To Promote Squash In India
The Punj
Lloyd PSA Masters, the final PSA Super Series squash event of
2010, will be the focus of the largest ever corporate initiative to develop and
promote the sport of Squash at the grassroots level in India.
The
announcement was made by Punj Lloyd Group, the diversified global
engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) conglomerate. The Punj Lloyd
Squash Masters 2010 will comprise a series of squash championships to be
held across various age groups throughout India, and will culminate in the
Punj Lloyd PSA Masters, the US$ 192,500 PSA Super Series event
for the top 32 men in the world.
In addition,
there will be a major women's international women's event and series of
promotional squash tournaments including the Punj Lloyd Defence Services
Challenge for all the armed forces and their training establishments; Punj Lloyd
All India Inter-School and Punj Lloyd All India Inter-University Championships;
as well as the Punj Lloyd Corporate-Club Challenge.
Speaking on
the occasion, Atul Punj, Chairman, Punj Lloyd Group, said: "The success
of Punj Lloyd PSA Masters 2009 convinced me that, with the right support,
squash could gain mass popularity - which is why Punj Lloyd will ramp up its
involvement in squash to now include tournaments at School and University levels
besides those for the Defence forces and Corporates.
"Year 2010
will be truly memorable for squash and for India, which will see a grand finale
of the build-up squash tournaments with two international series featuring the
Punj Lloyd PSA Masters 2010," he further added.
India's own
Saurav Ghosal, the world No26 from Chennai, and world No38 Dipika
Pallikal - both of whom are sponsored by Punj Lloyd - and Joshna Chinappa,
the world No28, will be the torch bearers for India at the Punj Lloyd Squash
Masters.
Saurav Ghosal
said: "With initiatives like Punj Lloyd Squash Masters, the younger generation
from schools and universities will get an opportunity to play Squash at a
national level. I am glad that Punj Lloyd has adopted a hands-on approach to
develop the sport at grassroots levels. It is always a pleasure to play on home
ground and with Punj Lloyd PSA Masters being held in Delhi this year,
there is added excitement!"
The
promotional tournaments will be played between the months of August and
November, in an individual and team format, across New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai
and Chennai, while the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters will be played in New Delhi
from 12-19 December 2010. The winners from each of the promotional tournaments
will play in a pre-event of the PSA Masters in Delhi. Winners will also
participate in the squash clinics of some of the leading players in the world
and will get one-on-one instructions to better their game.
Each of the
promotional tournaments will be organised in association with the Squash
Racquets Federation of India (SRFI), the Indian governmental apex body for
squash. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Srivatsan, Secretary General of the
SRFI said: "Punj Lloyd's commitment to promote Squash in India will ensure the
much needed boost to the game. We commend Punj Lloyd for promoting Squash and
bringing an event of international stature to India, thus exposing our young
talent to the world's best. Squash was always considered as a niche sport in
India and now with its growing awareness we hope to see it as one of the most
popular sports in India."
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