WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Qatar Airways Develop New Route With WISPA

Women's professional squash is flying high with the announcement today (Monday) of a partnership between the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) and Qatar Airways, one of the fastest-growing global airlines.

The three-year agreement sees Qatar Airways taking on the mantle of television sponsor of the WISPA Grand Prix, as well as being featured in all the programmes produced from WISPA Grand Prix events.  These include the Qatar Classic in Doha and World Open in Hong Kong this year, before moving on to further Grand Prix events which will take place during 2004 onwards.

Qatar Airways will also take title sponsorship of the WISPA Grand Prix standings, the important listing that determines which players qualify for the annual World Grand Prix Finals.

Furthermore, Qatar Airways will also become the Airline Partner of WISPA as part of the package.

Finally, Qatar Airways will also host its own annual major WISPA World Tour event each year, featuring a prize fund of $70,000.   Discussions are underway with the Qatar Squash Federation, the enduring and cherished supporters of international squash, to host the first event early next year - with subsequent years moving to Qatar Airways' destinations.  As new routes include Shanghai, Moscow, Seoul, Rome and Johannesburg amongst others, there will be no shortage of venue options.

Mr Akbar Al-Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, said at today's signing ceremony in Doha:  "Qatar Airways is pleased to help support the World Women's Tour and women's squash.  We are excited that we have obtained this opportunity to support a new event on the circuit and play a part in showcasing the world's best women squash players.

"Qatar has established itself as a major venue for important sports events and, as Qatar's national carrier, we are keen to support our country in that development," Al-Baker added.  "The agreement that we have signed today will see the first Qatar Airways event planned for Doha early in 2004 and we envisage that in following years we will move to Qatar Airways destinations.  As we continue to add more and more destinations to our route network there will be no shortage of possible host cities for the Qatar Airways event."

WISPA Director Andrew Shelley, who was present at the signing along with WISPA Chairman Linda Charman, expressed his delight at the Qatar Airways initiative:  "This partnership is a huge boost for WISPA.  Dare I say that we have been increasing our speed down the runway recently and will now definitely be lifting off!  To have secured this arrangement with such a fast-growing and forward-thinking airline will be seen as a watershed.  Not only will there be a major

Pictured at the announcement in Doha are (L to R) Linda Charman, WISPA Chairman; Mr Akbar Al-Baker, CEO Qatar Airways; and Andrew Shelley, WISPA Director