The Oman Racket Sports Committee (ORSC) is preparing to launch its premier domestic squash event, the Oman Squash Open 2023, which will commence on Thursday. This three-day championship will be held at the squash hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Baushar.
In a groundbreaking move, the Oman Squash Open 2023 will be the first Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament in Muscat, organized by the ORSC in collaboration with the global organizations PSA and BWF. The primary category of the tournament will be the Men's Senior Championship. Numerous top local players, who already possess BWF rankings, will compete for the title alongside overseas players from Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, Philippines, India, and Tunisia.
The draw for the 2023 Oman Squash Open took place on Tuesday in the presence of enthusiastic squash fans. The draw followed technical rules based on the world rankings of the top eight players, with the remaining rankings determined by lots. The tournament will adopt a single-elimination format, with matches decided over the best of five games. A player must win three games to secure victory. Each game consists of 11 points, and the championship will utilize the Dunlop Double Dot ball. The draw ceremony was attended by the Secretary-General of the ORSC, Eng—Taher Taghlab al Barwani, along with national team players and participants.
The ORSC aims to organize a tournament where local players can compete for international points and improve their rankings. Additionally, the committee seeks to support and develop Omani players by attracting global expertise to enhance their performance and elevate the skills of domestic players.
The tournament, spanning three days, offers a generous cash prize of $1,900 to the top four performers. The first-place winner will receive $1,000 along with a prestigious trophy, while the second-place player will be awarded $500 and a trophy. Additionally, the third and fourth-place participants will each receive $250 and $150 respectively.
Dr. Abdul Rahim Musallam al Droushi, Chairman of (ORSC), emphasized the significance of this event as a stepping stone towards hosting international squash tournaments and paving the way for future participation in advanced international competitions. He expressed his gratitude to the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for their unwavering support.
Furthermore, he extended special thanks to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for elevating the status of this event. Through this collaboration, he expressed optimism for future initiatives and programs with these esteemed international organizations to foster the growth of Squash and expand its reach in the Sultanate of Oman. Lastly, he wished all the participating players success in their endeavors and the fulfillment of their aspirations through their involvement in this tournament.
