Pittsburgh Open to welcome some of world's top squash players this week

Since he was a young boy, Chatham University freshman Abdul Malik Khan has had a dream of being one of the top squash players in the world.

The 20-year-old Pakistani will get to face some of them in the Pittsburgh Open this week at the Rivers Club in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Chatham’s top player, Malik Khan was awarded a wild card to the Professional Squash Association World Tour Bronze-tier tournament.

Twenty-four players from 11 countries, plus Hong Kong, will play for $50,000 in prize money.

One of two wild cards, Malik Khan will take on Abdulla Al Tamimi, a 9/16 seed from Qatar, in the first round Wednesday. The winner will play sixth-seeded Cesar Salazar of Mexico in the second round Thursday.

“I am grateful for this opportunity,” Malik Khan said. “I am aiming to perform well and give my best.”

Tournament director Duilio Costa wants Malik Khan to be tested.

Among competitors, top-seeded Fares Dessouky of Egypt is 11th in the PSA World Rankings. Fourth seed and defending champion Gregoire Marche of France ranks 14th.

“Abdul (is) the best player in the city,” Costa said.

Chatham coach Larissa Stephenson plans to attend. She said university president David Finegold and athletic director Leonard Trevino probably will be there, as well.

“Having a player like Abdul head up our program is great,” Stephenson said. “He is 13-1 right now in college play.

“We definitely will bring the Cougar support to his matches. Duilio Costa has run the Pittsburgh Open for years; it’s a favorite stop on the PSA tour because of how how well it is organized.”

Malik Khan said Chatham prepared him.

“The university has an excellent sports environment,” he said. “Coach Stephenson is working hard with us to achieve our goals.

“Playing No. 1 for Chatham, I get to attend a lot of good matches around the (U.S.).”

In its 20th year, the tournament includes a Friday evening cocktail party. City and county officials will present a proclamation Friday at the tournament venue declaring it Pittsburgh Squash Day.

An amateur tournament, sponsored by local strategic marketing firm C-Leveled, will be held over the weekend.

A portion of the proceeds from the Pittsburgh Open go to Steel City Squash, an academic and athletic program that provides opportunities for city middle school and high school students through education, mentoring, travel, community service and squash. Program participants will get to hit with a professional player and serve as court attendants.

Admission to the tournament is free. Matches start at 5 p.m. Wednesday; 6 p.m. Thursday; 5 p.m. Friday; and 1 p.m. Saturday. The Rivers Club is located in One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant St., Downtown.

Play is capped with Sunday’s noon final.

“We’re happy to celebrate with Pittsburgh the longevity of the event,” Costa, of Upper Burrell, said.