The world’s leading female squash players descend on the southern Indian city of Hyderabad for the Qatar Airways Challenge, one of the biggest events on the Women’s International Squash Players Association World Tour. After…
The world’s leading female squash players descend on the southern Indian city of Hyderabad for the Qatar Airways Challenge, one of the biggest events on the Women’s International Squash Players Association World Tour. After two years in Doha, the Qatar Airways Challenge moves to India for the first time, with the six-day event-taking place in the historic city of Hyderabad between July 4 – 9. The tournament is the third biggest WISPA event on the women’s international circuit with total prize money worth US$80,000.
The early rounds will be played at the city’s Secunderabad Club. But in an exciting innovation that is expected to draw crowds, the final rounds will be played in an all-glass outdoor court specially erected in front of the Falaknuma Palace, an historic building set on a hill overlooking the city of Hyderabad.
Millions of television viewers from across India and rest of the world will be able to see the tournament beamed to their homes as 40 competitors from 16 countries compete for the winning trophy.
Defending champion and former World Number 1, Rachael Grinham, from Australia, who is currently the World Number 4, will be travelling to Hyderabad in a bid to retain the title she won in Doha last year.
The event will also attract the current World Number 1, Vanessa Atkinson, from Holland, and Malaysia’s Nicol David, currently ranked Number 2 worldwide. Also competing is Rachael Grinham’s sister, Natalie, the World Number 3 and triple gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne earlier this year.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the airline was delighted to continue supporting squash, a sport which is gaining huge recognition and reputation around the world.
“We are extremely thrilled to once again be hosting the Qatar Airways Challenge. After staging the tournament in Qatar over the past two years, we are pleased to be taking the event to India for the first time in the wonderful historic Hyderabad, a city Qatar Airways flies to four times a week. Qatar Airways looks forward to welcoming the world’s top women squash players for what promises to be an exciting event with excellent prize money on offer. Virtually all of the players will be flying to India with Qatar Airways and will experience our award-winning Five Star hospitality that we are renowned for around the world,” said Baker.
Added Al Baker: “Our sponsorship of the WISPA event is integral to Qatar Airways’ strategy of using sport to help spread our message as a leading international airline.”
WISPA Chief Executive Andrew Shelley added: “This is an exciting development of our enduring partnership with Qatar Airways. It was always the intention to move to international destinations served by the airline. The event has already stirred immense interest and we haven’t yet started playing. The Qatar Airways Challenge is a major WISPA championship and the setting in India will certainly do it justice this year.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
