All set for Zimbabwe Open Squash tourney

ALL the top ranked players from Bulawayo and the country at large will take to the courts in the much-anticipated 2023 Zimbabwe Open Squash Championship which gets underway today in Bulawayo.

The tournament, whose registration took place yesterday, also attracted players from around the African continent.

Players from Zambia, South Africa and Botswana are expected to grace the three-day squash fiesta which comes to an end on Sunday.

Squash Rackets Association of Zimbabwe (SRAZ) chairperson, Lucky Mlilo said it is going to be an exhilarating tournament as they have an attractive prize for the winners.

“It will be a good tournament, we are expecting fireworks, it will be great. We have a prize from Ethiopian Airlines in which the top player will receive a return ticket to a destination of their choice and I’m sure everyone would like that,” said Mlilo.

Matches will be staged at Suburbs Squash Club and Old Miltonians. This morning, games will begin at 10am as there is another squash related event set top take place prior to the commencement. SRAZ and Bulawayo City Council (BCC) are set to launch the City Sports Economy initiative.

The initiative will be launched at the Large City Hall and seeks to develop the city into a vibrant and growing sports economy that will have spillover effects on the services sector including the tourism industry and also facilitate the hosting of international multi-disciplinary sports events.

Dignitaries set to attend the official launch include the Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Judith Ncube and the Mayor of Bulawayo Councillor Solomon Mguni.

SRAZ’s partnership with BCC came to life during this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) when the two organisations exhibited alongside each other in a move that Mlilo described as a good initiative which is a sign of good times ahead.

It was the first time that SRAZ exhibited at ZITF and their collaboration with BCC made it possible. – @brandon_malvin