PNG squash open set for end of month: Webb

THE PNG Squash Open recieved a boost with K25,000 from Moni Plus yesterday.
The open will be at the Port Moresby Racquets Club from Nov 30 to Dec 2.
Moni Plus sales and marketing manager Paiwa Baldwin and sponsorship manger Leroy Louis presented a cheque for K25,000 to PNG Squash Racquets Federation (PNGSRF) yesterday.
Baldwin said Moni Plus were excited to sponsor squash under their community development and sports engagement programme.
“Moni Plus sponsors many sports in the country and squash is just one of them,” Baldwin said.
PNGSRF president Eli Webb said the last PNG Open was in 2011 and seven years later they were pleased that it would be staged again thanks to their sponsors and the PNGSRF.
With the financial support from Moni Plus, Webb said the upcoming tournament would showcase the best players in the country.
“One of the primary purposes of this tournament is to serve as a selection and training process for the PNG team for the Pacific Games next year,” Webb said.
“We’re expecting male and female players from around the country and some from Australia be take part and try for places in the national team.
Elite players including members of the national team that made PNG proud wining gold and silver at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby are also expected to participate.
Webb said PNG’s top male and female players in Madako Suari Jr, and Lynette Vai would compete at the open. Webb, who won a medal at the 2015 Pacific Games, said she had sent invitations to squash players in the Oceania region as well and was expecting Oceania federations to send players to compete at the PNG Open.
She said the open would be a chance for the region’s best to test themselves in the lead-up to the Pacific Games.
The PNG Open Championship is a PNG Olympic Committee-sanctioned tournament Webb said she was expecting a high standard of squash to be on display.