Thaindian News

Manchester, Oct 17 (IANS) India’s N. Ramachandran is all set to take over as the new chief of the World Squash Federation (WSF) at the conclusion of the WSF annual general meeting here Saturday.Ramachandran, president of the Asian Squash Federation (ASF), is contesting for the post of WSF president against England’s Chris Stahl.

The Chennai-based Ramachandran, who is representing Asia has an overwhelming support from the most of the 50-odd delegates who will be voting the WSF elections Saturday.

Almost all of Asia is supporting Ramachancdran, who is the associate vice president of the Indian Olympic Association and vice president of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association. He is also the secretary general of the Squash Rackets Federation of India.

Sources in the WSF told IANS Friday that there are indications that Ramachandran, who is a Director of India Cements, would be elected as WSF chief unopposed as Stahl is more interested in getting elected as one of the federation’s vice presidents.

“We are supporting Ramachandran because he is from Asia and will support the sport in our region,” Asim Suleiman, senior vice president of the Pakistan Squash Federation told IANS.

If Ramachandran is elected, he will replace Pakistan squash legend Jahangir Khan, who has now completed his third and final two-year term as the WSF president.

But Jahangir, a record 10-time British Open champion, said that he would continue working with a new set of officials in a bid to help squash earn a place in the 2016 Olympic Games.

“For squash it is very important that it gets to the Olympic Games and I will provide all my support to the campaign in the coming months,” he told IANS.

Ramachandran said that he would do his best to convince Olympic bosses that squash deserves to be in the 2016 Games. “We will leave no stone unturned in our bid to get squash included in the Olympics,” he stressed.