KARACHI: A galaxy of men and women players including Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad, who is among the top 10 and Peru’s world No 12 Diego Elias will be coming to Pakistan to feature in international squash events which begins at the refurbished DA Creek Club glass courts on Tuesday.

Gawad and Elias will be making their appearance only in the men’s Pak Open. They have been seeded No 1 and 2 respectively in the 32-man draw and if nothing unforeseen happens will face each other in the final.

Pakistan Open that takes place from Nov 28 to Dec 2 has attracted 20 foreigners including the top two seeds.

World No 24 Yathreb Adel and world No 29 Nadine Shahin, both from Egypt, are seeded No 1 and 2 respectively in the women’s event that runs alongside men’s competition.

An all-Egyptian final will be on card if one goes by their world rankings and seedings.

As many as 17 foreign players will be seen in action in the women’s World Open.

The Pakistan Open will be preceded by the DHA Cup International Squash Championship – men’s and women’s – at the same venue from Nov 20 to 24.

Egyptians are likely to dominate the men’s event of the DHA CUP as Karim Al Fathi tops the seeding and is followed by Mohamed Reda.

The former is ranked 42nd in the world while the latter is at 52nd spot.

Altogether 11 foreigners will show their acumen in the DHA Cup for men’s.

Pakistan’s Madina Zafar, ranked 85th in the world, tops the women’s seedings in DHA Cup and drawn in the upper half while Malaysian world No 94 Ooi Kah Yan is seeded second and placed at the bottom of the lower half. Both have got a first round bye.

The local players have a chance to prove their mettle as there are only five foreign players in the women’s event.

The venue shifts from the DA Creek Club to the Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex when the 13th Chief of the Naval Staff International Squash Championship that marks culmination of the back-to-back events takes place from Dec six to 10.

According to draws, Mexican Arturo Salazar, the world No 45th, is seeded at the top while world No 77 Asim Khan of Pakistan is placed second.

The event that is restricted to men’s will see 12 foreigners fight for honours.

Besides the players, former World and British Open champion and one of the greatest players in the games history Geoff Hunt of Australia is also coming to the country with his pupil as coach.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2018