Women’s World Team Squash C’ships is off

PETALING JAYA: The Women’s World Team Squash Championships in Kuala Lumpur is the latest sports event to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The World Squash Federation (WSF) and the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) decided yesterday that the meet scheduled from Dec 15-20 has been postponed.

SRAM revealed that they are not able to hold the biennial event as the government has extended the recovery movement control order (RMCO) until Dec 31.

The WSF will continue to work with SRAM to reschedule the event next year.

SRAM director Major (Rtd) S. Maniam said the Covid-19 situation has made it hard to plan things.

“It would be difficult even to host an event as big as this as some of the top teams from the United States, Europe and South America are badly affected by the virus and have travel restrictions in place, so they will most probably be unable to come,” said Maniam.

“Our players can only look to the national championships from Oct 6-11 in Bukit Jalil.”

At the last meet in Dalian, China two years ago, 16 teams took part and Egypt emerged champions for the fourth time when they beat England 2-1 in the final.

Malaysia, then led by eight-time world champion Nicol David, finished sixth.