By NATHAN CLARKE
The 2016-17 PSA Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year are set to be crowned on June 5 during the annual PSA Awards Dinner, which takes place on the eve of the season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Finals, staged at the Dubai Opera House from June 6-10.
The annual awards ceremony, which this year will take place in Dubai’s Vida Hotel, recognises the outstanding achievers of the season across a multitude of categories, as chosen by the PSA Awards Committee – a group consisting of selected influential former players, members of the media, tournament promoters and PSA Board representatives – PSA players and an online fan vote.
For the first time ever, this year’s awards will see squash fans contribute directly to the outcome of the prominent Player of the Year awards, with a dedicated social media vote set to count alongside the selections of the PSA Awards Committee members – while other awards such as the Shot of the Year and Match of the Year will be decided exclusively via an online fan vote.
A Services To Squash award – chosen by the PSA Foundation’s Board of Trustees following the creation of the PSA’s official charity earlier this year – will also be re-introduced to celebrate an outstanding commitment and service to the sport during the past 12 months.
PSA 2016-17 Player Awards:
The full list of honours to be presented is as follows:
PSA Men’s Player of the Year
Awarded to the male player who best demonstrated supreme athletic performance and achievement during the 2016/17 PSA World Tour season. Chosen by the PSA Awards Panel in conjunction with votes cast on social media.
PSA Men’s Young Player of the Year
Awarded to a male player Under-23 who best demonstrated great achievement and potential during the 2016/17 PSA World Tour season. Chosen by the PSA Awards Panel in conjunction with votes cast on social media.
PSA Women’s Player of the Year
Awarded to the female player who best demonstrated supreme athletic performance and achievement during the 2016/17 PSA World Tour season. Chosen by the PSA Awards Panel in conjunction with votes cast on social media.
PSA Women’s Young Player of the Year
Awarded to a female player Under-23 who best demonstrated great achievement and potential during the 2016/17 PSA World Tour season. Chosen by the PSA Awards Panel in conjunction with votes cast on social media.
Spirit Of Squash – Men’s
Chosen by his fellow players, this award is presented to the player who best demonstrated sportsmanship like behaviour throughout the season both on and off court.
Spirit Of Squash – Women’s
Chosen by her fellow players, this award is presented to the player who best demonstrated sportsmanship like behaviour throughout the season both on and off court.
Services To Squash
Awarded to a player, coach or other individual involved in the game to honour an outstanding commitment and service to the sport during the past 12 months. Chosen by the PSA Foundation Board.
Shot of the Year – Men
Chosen by fans via a social media vote.
Shot of the Year – Women
Chosen by fans via a social media vote.
Match of the Year – Men
Chosen by fans via a social media vote.
Match of the Year – Women
Chosen by fans via a social media vote.