The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
REGISTRATION for this year’s Safeguard Zimbabwe Open Squash Championships to be held at Suburbs Squash Club early next month is underway, with the process to close on Wednesday.
This year’s tournament is being held from 1 to 4 August and the registration is being carried at the moment. In communication sent out to athletes, Melody Mwete, the Matabeleland Squash Association secretary said the closing date for entries is 24 July while entry fees must be paid by 29 July for them to be valid.
Entry fees have been pegged at $50 per player plus $20 for additional section entered. In terms of prize money, Mwete said these will be paid out in local currency in terms of Zimbabwean law. The total package for prizes is $6 000.
“In line with recent changes in Zimbabwean law all amounts are stated in and payments will be made in Zimbabwe Dollars. Further details on prizes to follow,’’ Mwete said.
Last year, South African Christo Potgieter claimed his second Safeguard Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship men’s title with a 3-0 win over Zambian Kundanji Kalengo in the final.
In one of the most one-sided finals in years, the 31-year-old Potgieter, winner of the top prize at the same competition in 2016, won 11-3, 11-3 and 11-5 to walk away with $1 000 in prize money. Potgieter came into the tournament as the top seed and never disappointed, while for the South Africa-based Kalengo it was a huge achievement to reach the final since he was seeded 10th at the start of the tournament.
Nigerian Yemisi Olatunji successfully defended her women’s title by beating her younger sister Busayo 3-1. Potgieter partnered with his compatriot Jimmy Schebusch to overcome the local pair of Neil Nesbitt and Mike Burns 3-1 in the doubles final. Paul Chanda defeated fellow Zambian Felix Chilufya 3-1 in the veterans’ final.
The tournament has over the years attracted squash players from Zambia, South Africa and Nigeria.
