Squash: Owens leads Qatar boycott call

By JULIE ASH

World No 2 Carol Owens is urging the world's top players to boycott next month's Qatar Open.

The tournament organisers, the Women's International Players Association, have told players that the Open will go ahead, despite its closeness to Afghanistan.

The tournament is from October 3 to 8, just days before the start of the World Open in Melbourne, from October 11 to 19.

Auckland-based Owens has contacted world No 13 Cassie Campion, who said her fellow British-based players were not keen on playing.

Campion will discuss the matter with world No 3, Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the president of the association, and a few of the English men, who are playing in Qatar a few days before the women.

"No one wants to play," Owens said yesterday. "We should all band together, hopefully with Leilani [Joyce]."

But world No 1 Joyce, also based in Auckland, is leaving her decision until the last minute.

"There is still a whole week to go before it becomes an urgent situation," Joyce said. "I have been getting daily reports and have been reading the newspapers and watching the news. I really haven't made any decision yet."

The world's leading players are fined several hundred dollars if they do not attend grand prix events, and Owens has been advised the fine still stands.

"They said we will be given a fine, but I will refuse to pay," she said. "I am making a stand on this. How dare they make us play when so many other sporting events have been cancelled?

"They have said it's safe, but then sent an e-mail offering to pay for our lunches and dinners so we only have to leave the hotel for our games."