Sealing the deal … Dr Assem Allam yesterday officially formalised his landmark three-year agreement to sponsor the Allam British Open Squash Championships at a special contract signing ceremony at the KC Stadium in Hull.
The signing was conducted in the presence of Nick Rider, the Chief Executive of England Squash & Racketball and underlines Dr Allam’s enthusiasm for the sport and commitment to its on-going promotion.
The Egyptian-born, East Yorkshire-based entrepreneur was joined by squash legend Jahangir Khan, ten times British Open winner, who flew in from Kuwait to attend the ceremony which took place at Hull Football Club, which is owned by Dr Allam.
Also present were Nick Matthew, the current world’s number one squash player from Sheffield who is between international engagements, and Jenny Duncalf, the top-ranked British female player and world’s number two.
After the signing, a group of budding young stars from the Humber Junior Squash Academy were invited to meet Dr Allam and the players.
A world class event, the Allam British Open is the world’s most prestigious tournament, bringing together the sport’s leading exponents from around the globe, and is affectionately regarded as a ‘national treasure’.
The tournament, which culminates at the O2 Arena in May next year, is set to move to East Yorkshire in 2013 when it will become the flagship event at Dr Allam’s planned multi-faceted Sports Village.
