The Heat is On! Karachi witnessed heat in more sense than one can think..
Players from all over the globe are here to win the coveted title. In the first-ever Under-23 World Squash Championship, it was heartening to witness the interactions between international players and the local youngsters.
Pakistan has a rich history in the world of sports, especially Cricket, Hockey, and Squash, where Pakistan stood proudly as the undefeated champion in the world of squash, such as the unbeatable Jehangir Khan. A squash legend, Khan won 555 matches for Pakistan, and is deemed as the greatest sportsman of the millennia.
Jehangir Khan is not the only one; squash legends like Jansher Khan, Qamar Zaman, Gogi Alauddin, and Maqsood Ahmed consistently made Pakistan proud in the global arena.
However, Pakistan lost the crown, and squash took a backseat only to be remembered in conversations as people relived the glorious past in their drawing rooms. This era was a dark time for the lovers of the game.
Now, one can safely say that the dark era has reached its end, and it is the beginning of a new dawn, as the first-ever Under-23 World Squash Championship kicked off, and Pakistan again witnessed girls and boys descend to the court to win the title for their respective countries.
It is to be noted that Pakistan was also in the forefront of the women's game; three girls participated in the tough matches, played against the world's strongest. This is a ray of hope that Pakistan needed.
Sports bring with them an electrifying energy, which is contagious. Seeing the sportsmen and sportswomen in action, one feels the burdens of life melt away as their focus is on the match.
This adds to the beauty of any sport, and it teaches us to focus on things that truly matter to us. During the week, this is what DHA Creek Club witnessed — an unwavering determination to win.
Pakistan as a country is known for its hospitality, and at the venue it was evident, as the foreign players and their coaches praised the food and the hospitality. They were treated to different cuisines, and they loved the culinary delights.
'I love the food here, it is a bit spicy, but the flavours are great. I love the hospitality of the people here,' said a player from Egypt.
South African, Malaysian, and Czech Republic players echoed the same sentiment.
'The food is great, and the hospitality of the people and the weather is lovely here. As we have cold weather, it's great to be in the sun,' said Tamara from Czech Republic.
The courts and the overall environment were greatly appreciated by the foreigners as well.
'The courts are great, it's easy to play here, and I love the environment. Everyone is treating us so well, it's like a family atmosphere here. I would visit Pakistan again for sure,' said Noa Romero from Spain.
CEO, World Squash Federation, William Louis-Marie, was very happy at the mega event, saying, 'It's great to be here and Pakistan, known for its hospitality, has lived up to its name. The courts here are world-class.'
DHA Karachi has taken the lead to provide a safe and secure environment for the foreign delegates. This mega event is hopefully the first of many to come in the future.
The successful hosting of the Under-23 World Squash Championship signifies that Pakistan is a sports-loving, peaceful country to host international sports events for the future as well.
Written By: Beena Khan
The writer is a Karachi-based journalist.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.
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