The Karachi-born 15-year-old Saad is ranked second in his country in the junior category. -File Photo

LONDON: Promising Saad Shahid hopes to excel at British Junior Open squash championships, commencing in Sheffield from January 2.

The Pakistani player will be among 350 youngsters in age bands of under-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 taking part in the competition from approximately 30 countries.

Last year, the Egyptian team made a clean sweep of all the titles in the prestigious event.

The Karachi-born 15-year-old Saad is ranked second in his country in the junior category but is 64th in the world ratings. He has participated in five international events, winning the Pioneer Cup in Germany as well as the Hamdard Delton Squash Championship in 2008. He secured 3rd position in Dutch Open in 2008 and German Junior Open in 2010 where 256 players from around the world had participated and was 4th in Dutch Open in July 2010.

Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan hosted a reception for the young player on Thursday evening and commended Saad’s efforts in representing Pakistan in international events and earning good name for the country by winning and securing high positions in the world championships where more than 140 countries participate.

Shahid started playing at the age of seven at the Roshan Khan Jahangir Khan Squash Club, Karachi where he received regular coaching from world champion Jansher Khan and seasoned coach Faheem Gul.

Saad began playing the sport for leisure but later got selected in the trials for provincial team of Sindh. From there onwards, he began playing regularly at the national and then international level. Shahid attributes his success to his parents who consistently encouraged him and bore expenses for participating in international events.

Deliberating on difficulties faced by the Pakistani players, Saad pointed out that problems of visas were hampering participation of Pakistani youth in international sports events.

Saad said he could not participate in the British Open and US Open in 2009 while four other players were not able to travel to participate in British Open because their visas were still pending.—Agencies