Award distribution and closing ceremony of the ‘Ispahani 4th Bangladesh Open Squash 2024’ held

The award ceremony for the ‘Ispahani 4th Bangladesh Open Squash 2024’ tournament, sponsored by Ispahani, was held at the Army Squash and Tennis Complex in the Dhaka cantonment. As on the previous three occasions, the largest squash tournament in the country, organised by the Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation, featured the participation of renowned male and female squash players from both home and abroad. This squash event included a total of three tournaments: two international tournaments and a national tournament. Courtesy of Ispahani, this tournament has been organised since 2021.

Through this four-day international tournament, held from October 1 to 4, 2024, Bangladesh has once again successfully hosted another PSA Challenge Tour-3 event. The PSA, or Professional Squash Association, is the global governing body for professional squash. In the PSA Challenge Tour-3 of the ‘Ispahani 4th Bangladesh Open Squash 2024,’ two of Bangladesh's top players competed alongside players from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. Additionally, in the Satellite Tour organised for women, six of Bangladesh's top female players competed against a professional player from Sri Lanka, Kuruppu.

It is noteworthy that national-level competitions were also held across various groups, involving 90 selected players from 19 clubs/institutions, including Rangpur, Chittagong, Gopalganj, Dhaka, and Jhenaidah Cadet Colleges. The matches of this tournament were held at the Army Squash and Tennis Complex in Dhaka.

In the competitive final match held on October 4, 2024, at the Army Squash and Tennis Complex in Dhaka, Ravindu Laksirifrom from Srilanka became the champion, while Al-Tamimi from Kuwait was the runner-up. Additionally, in the women's Satellite Tour competition, Yeheni Kuruppu emerged as the champion, and Marzan Monika was the runner-up.

The prize distribution ceremony of the ‘Ispahani 4th Bangladesh Open Squash 2024,’ was graced by the Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim, Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army. Special guests included the Vice President of the Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation and Chairman of Ispahani Group, Mr Mirza Salman Ispahani. Also present were Brigadier General G M Kamrul Islam (Retd), General Secretary of the Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation, along with the officials from the Federation and Ispahani Group, guests, journalists, and local and international squash players.

Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim, in his speech, thanked the Federation and the sponsor for organising such a wonderful tournament and expressed his interest in supporting Squash in the future.

Mirza Salman Ispahani, in his welcome speech, thanked everyone involved in the tournament and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the promotion and development of squash in Bangladesh. Brigadier General G M Kamrul Islam (Retd) also thanked the Bangladesh Army and Ispahani for their support and expressed hope that Bangladeshi players would achieve a better position on the world squash stage in the near future.

It is noteworthy that Ispahani has been consistently striving to increase the popularity of squash in Bangladesh. In recent years, the Ispahani Group has also sponsored various tournaments organised by the Bangladesh Squash Rackets Federation. Additionally, Ispahani supports other sports such as cricket, football, basketball, chess, bridge, and golf.