Squash: Middle East tournament 'crazy'

By JULIE ASH

New Zealand's top squash players will cop fines if they choose not to attend next month's Qatar Open in the Middle East.

The $US60,000 ($149,000) grand prix event was up in the air after the terrorist attacks in the United States, but organisers the Women's International Squash Players Association have informed players the tournament will go ahead.

World No 1 and 2 Leilani Joyce and Carol Owens, along with world No 17 Shelley Kitchen, all of Auckland, were intending to compete in the Qatar Open from October 3-8 before the World Open in Australia from October 11-19.

But Owens said that after the terrorist attacks it was thought the tournament would be postponed.

"I can't believe they are holding it. It's just crazy, Qatar is only something like 600km from Afghanistan."

The world's top players are required to attend several grand prix tournaments throughout the year. If they miss one, they can be fined around $600.

"The organisers say there is no reason for the tournament to be postponed. If we don't play, we miss out on good money and good points, but I still maintain it is too risky," Owens said.

"If something happens and there are problems with flights, we are stuck there, which means we could also miss the World Open a few days later."

The tournament is the first women's event to be held in Qatar, and Owens said organisers were worried that if they postponed it there would be little chance of hosting an event there again.

Owens said one option could be for players to boycott the event.

"I am tempted to ring the British players and see what they think," she said.

"It is a hard decision to make, but you have to go with your gut feeling."

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