Egypt will next month host the world's sixth biggest Professional Squash Association tournament. Addicts will be on a date with nine days of intense squash from 2 to 10 April in El-Gouna. That's where the top 56 squash champions of the world will get together in one of the toughest battles of all time, to win the mighty $150,000 tournament prize. There is more glamour to come. Even though Egypt is already famous for open air squash courts – as one in the shadows of the Pyramids attests to -- this one is even more special. This time, the glass court will be located by the sea where fans can watch their top PSA players with the Red Sea in the background. In 2010, the El-Gouna International Squash Open was born, created by former squash player Amr Mansi and supported by Orascom Hotels and Development. The tournament made a fantastic impact back then, and despite the instability and revolutions the country went through during the last several years, the organisers worked hard to bring the tournament back to life in 2012 and 2014. Working with the same diligence, and encouraged by the political and economical stability Egypt is experiencing these days, the tournament organisers represented by Mansi succeeded in signing an agreement with the PSA to host the event for the next three years in El-Gouna, meaning that the tournament will be a regular calendar event for all PSA players starting from this year to 2017. Egypt's Karim Darwish, the recently retired former world No 1, had a chance to win the first edition of the tournament in 2010. Tournament favourite Rami Ashour, also of Egypt and current world No 4, remains the prohibitive favourite with two titles in 2012 and 2013. “We are delighted to host the International Squash Open in El-Gouna as it helps promote tourism and proves that Egypt is capable of organising such big events,” said Nabil Rashdan, Orascom Hotels and Development vice chairman. Minister of Youth and Sports Khaled Abdel-Aziz expressed his pride and support for the tournament, praising the organisers' efforts, which he believed will indeed benefit sports and tourism. Abdel-Aziz added that the ministry was keen to enhance squash infrastructure in Egypt ever since it became a winning sport in the country. In the same context, Abdel-Aziz said the ministry had recently opened new squash courts in the Marine Sports Club in Sharm El-Sheikh and is building new courts in the Gezira Youth Centre. Commenting on the upcoming tournament, the president of the Egyptian Squash Association Assem Khalifa told Al-Ahram Weekly, “We all know Egypt is dominating the world of squash, so once we host a tournament, we attract the world's top players, which technically produces a strong tournament in the end.” Apart from the athletic side of the story, such events help the country attract tourists from around the world as well as the participating players who will come from 18 countries, including France, Holland, India, Pakistan, Germany, Italy and Spain. Job opportunities and touristic activity are expected to make their presence felt in El-Gouna next month as they accompany the International Squash Open. So fans and vacation seekers are advised to book their accommodation and match tickets in advance. The writer is a freelance journalist.
