‘World Series is here to stay in Dubai’
AL TURKI: DSC’S INVOLVEMENT WILL TAKE EVENT TO NEXT LEVEL
Ziad Al Turki, chairman of Professional Squash Association (PSA), hopes a new tie-up with Dubai Sports Council will ensure the season-ending PSA World Series Finals remain in Dubai for years to come.
“Dubai Sports Council now really understands it after its third year and they want to support us next year,” he said.
“In association with Dubai Sports Council hopefully, we can take it from a one-off tournament to a host of tournaments throughout the year that can lead up to this tournament so we can get more amateurs involved.
“We don’t just want to be one of those tournaments that comes over annually hosts a tournament and goes away again, we want to leave a footprint and in association with Dubai Sports Council we can hopefully do that.”
The PSA World Series Finals isn’t currently locked into a long-term fixed contract agreement with Dubai but has been coming back here on a ‘one-year at a time’ basis since 2016 thanks to a previous arrangement with Falcon and Associates.
It was first held in Burj Park under the Burj Khalifa in 2016 and then moved indoors to the neighbouring Dubai Opera last year. This year, it was held at Emirates Golf Club.
“I personally pushed for it to come to Dubai three years ago,” added Al Turki. “Dubai hosts the cream of sport, everything they do is the biggest and best and here we are among that elite.
“It’s a stamp of approval that we’ve reached this level. And partners here have understood my vision and why I want to bring this tournament to Dubai. I’ve put my heart and soul into it to make it the showcase event for professional squash.
“Dubai has got so many iconic venues and we had different venues in mind, but when we were contacted by Emirates Golf Club it was a perfect marriage. They’ve been very supportive so it was great. If you had asked me last year where I was going to host it I wouldn’t have said Emirates Golf Club but now that we are here and the way they have been supportive of us, it will be a great venue to continue.”