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The Women’s World Squash Championship that is scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur from Dec 11-18 is cancelled.
The Men’s World Team Championship that was due to be played in Cairo, Egypt, from Dec 12-18 was called off on Friday.
World squash championship in Egypt called off for security reasons http://f24.my/1NydkAU
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5 December 2015
The level of security provided for Obama and Abe was the highest. Would the squash championships be protected at the same level?
KJ nails it! KL safe enough for Obama and Abe but not squash players? @PSAWorldTour @Khairykj http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/squash/2015/12/01/kj-explain-why-postpone-womens-world-squash-meet/ …
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Star
5 December 2015 | MYT 12:13 PM
Women’s world squash championship officially called off
PETALING JAYA: The Women’s World Squash Championship that is scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur from Dec 11-18 is officially called off.
The tournament was already in doubt after event promoters – Hallmark Events Group – cited security concerns on Monday in an attempt to postpone the event.
The players, many whom had already cancelled their flights and hotels to KL, received an email from the Professional Squash Association (PSA) on Saturday morning, notifying them of the event cancellation.
Youth and Sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin also confirmed that Hallmark replied to his ministry, admitting that they actually lacked the funding to host the tournament.
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Squash Stars Shocking revelations as @Khairykj calls bluff on Hallmark’s claim of security threats in Malaysia.
Squash Mad
Squash reporting and analysis from the front line
KL cancellation leaves players angry as govt blast promoters
By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor
The PSA have finally confirmed that the 2015 Women’s World Championship, scheduled for Malaysia, has been cancelled. At the same time, a furious sports minister has accused the promoters of “preposterous blackmail”.
With some players stranded in Hong Kong, having booked flights to Kuala Lumpur and paid for hotel accommodation, the final confirmation of the situation nails any lingering doubts that the event could somehow be saved.
Players feel angry, insulted and treated with a lack of respect by the promoters, the Hallmark Group. The PSA will now ask players to submit claims for expenses incurred in heading to Malaysia.
In the latest revelations published by The Star, a furious Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin accused the promoters, the Hallmark Group, of attempted blackmail.
He said: “In the email they sent, they said they can proceed with event next week if the Malaysian government can provide sponsorship, including RM3.5mil ($850,000 US), for private security arrangements,” said Khairy.
“I do not appreciate that, being blackmailed by the organisers in using the issue of security and painting Malaysia in a bad light when a large part of the reason why they decided to postpone this was because of sponsorship. This is preposterous, absolutely preposterous. I’m not going to be blackmailed by an international event organiser.”
The event was due to go ahead from December 11-18 at the National Centre and a city centre site close to the Petronas Towers.
It is an embarrassing episode for squash, coming in the same week as the postponement of the Men’s World Team Championship because of security fears in Cairo, highlighted by a city-centre bomb killing 16 people yesterday morning.
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Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/12/115617/womens-world-open-squash-championship-organisers-blackmailing-govt
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Squash Stars Retweeted The Star
Sports Minister @Khairykj said there was no security threat in Malaysia that would jeopardise an i/national event.
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Regina Lee .@Khairykj refutes claims by organisers of World Women’s Squash Championships that Malaysia unsafe to hold event. Demands clarification.
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weehingthong 