The first open ranking squash tournament for 2010 was conducted at the CCC courts from 28th.March to 3rd April 2010. But parents, followers and enthusiasts noticed the unprofessional manner in which the tournament was handled.
The number of entries for all events were encouraging, and most of the players in all age categories, and open categories participated.
The Entry Form stated that entries will close on 24thMarch and the draw will be held on the same date. Matches were to commence on 29th.March.
However, without any notification to players the closing date for entries had been extended to 26thMarch (as per the poster which poster had been placed only at the CCC and at the SSC courts on the 27th of March). The tournament had also been advanced to 28thMarch without ensuring that all players were notified of the change.
Participants who did not go to the venue before the 27th.March would not have known of the changes, and would have come for their matches only on 29th.March.
The Sri Lanka Squash Federation (SLSF) should have ensured that all participants were informed of these changes at least by telephone or e-mail wherever possible. Maybe the SLSF was more concerned about the AGM which was held on the 28th.March and diverted their attention to canvassing votes to get their stooges into the committee, and couldn’t care less about the players.
What they should remember is that the No.1 priority should be the players and not themselves. If there are no players, then officials will not exist. They should get their priorities right.
During the course of the tournament, many of the results in most categories would have been reversed as the Refereeing was far below standard and in most cases severely biased towards favourites of the SLSF committee members, their preferred coaches, and their kith and kin.
In the Women’s Open Final and also the Girls under 19 Final which were close battles, several decisions were given in favour of the niece of the President of the SLSF who was victorious because the opponents seemed to be thoroughly disheartened and demoralized as they were playing against not only the opponent but biased refereeing.
The Men’s Open Final which was refereed by the ‘supposed to be’ No.1 referee in the country, who has repeatedly been sent to officiate at International Tournaments by the SLSF, gave at least four to five prejudiced decisions against the renowned top seed in the very first game which was obvious to players and educated spectators in an unsuccessful attempt to upset the player. However the player was of a different class and overcame his opponent (and the referee) by his superior skill, talent, fitness, and court craft, with embarrassing ease.
If the SLSF thinks that the levels of Squash could be raised to International standards by biased nature, they are mistaken. It is high time that the Squash fraternity and the Ministry of Sports take a serious look at what is going on in this sport and its administration and take immediate remedial action to eradicate corruption in the governing body, as this has been going on for a long period of time under the same set of officials. |
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