Cash bonus for top three men and women
By ROSS SOLLY – Squash Mad Correspondent in Australia
Squash Australia, the National Organisation for Squash in Australia, have unveiled an Australian Squash Tour (AST) which will run next year in conjunction with registered PSA World Tour events in that country.
The new initiative aims to improve participation throughout senior tournaments across the country and the Australian Squash Tour will award the top three male and female Australian players with a share of a prize fund.
This fund will be put forward by Squash Australia and will be given as an addition to any prize money players may receive from the events.
Australia hosted 16 PSA World Tour events during 2016 and currently boasts three players ranked inside the top 20 across both the Men’s and Women’s Tours; Cameron Pilley at World No.14, Ryan Cuskelly at World No.16 and Rachael Grinham at World No.20.
Squash Australia CEO Richard Vaughan, the former badminton international from Wales, is pleased to see the introduction of the Australian Squash Tour.
He said: “It is exciting to see so many PSA events in Australia. The Australian Squash Tour aims to bring all these great events together, creating a circuit to benefit Australian players. Event organisers in Australia do a great job with their events. The circuit will help support them in their efforts of getting more players, especially Australians on the court.”
“Squash Australia will put up a significant prize for the top three male and female players at the conclusion of the Australian Squash Tour, for the players with the highest ranking. We anticipate that the circuit prize money will encourage more participation in AST events.”
Tournaments that wish to be on the Australian Squash Tour are to register their interest by September 1st, 2016 to [email protected]. Only PSA tournaments will be included on the Tour, and if tournaments register their interest by September 1, Squash Australia will provide the tournament will an early PSA registration discount.
This discount is 25% off their registration costs (not including fluctuation or conversion rates) which will only be applied if registered through Squash Australia.
Picture courtesy of PSA