A tinge of sadness after a super tourney

One of the roles of the Professional Squash Association (PSA), of which I am the President, is to look for ways and means to improve the standard and quality of an event over the years. But, I must mention here that with regards to the Mahindra Open, our role is redundant.

They, on their own, have done so much for the tournament that even with some hard thinking from me and the PSA Executive Director John Nimmick, we have hardly found scope for improvement.

It began as a $ 55,000 event, and in five years, the prize money has doubled to $ 110,000. It has been this phenomenal growth that has merited Mumbai the $ 175,000 Mahindra World Open next year.

Jansher Khan, the world No 1, who had given this tournament a miss over the last editions, was so overwhelmed by the treatment he received here that he has vowed to return to India not only once a year for the Mahindra Open, but as many time as he is invited.

Wheels have already been set in motion to successfully host the World Open in Mumbai next year. An event of such magnitude needs a high level of preparedness and in this context, I must laud the efforts of Procam Sports, the promoters of this event for the past five years.

There is no doubt that Anil Singh and his brother Vivek will cope up with the World Open in the same efficient manner.

I must also thank the title sponsors Mahindra and Mahindra, and the people at Spa’kel Aqua Mineral, Hotel President, Head and Max Touch for their contributions.

Before I conclude, a special thanks to the crowd who thronged the venue throughout the tournament. Without them, I doubt if the level of the game would have risen to the heights it did at the Thunderdome.