Pat on back for Ross Norman

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 72

Pat on back for Ross Norman

NZPA staff correspondent London

Zealander retained the Antwerp trophy at the week-end. The 28-year-old Kiwi, who won the world championship in Toulouse in November, “has never asked for money to play here and neither has any other player,” Hagedoren said. “If I had to pay money to get players to appear I would stop the tournament. Jahangir is the only player to have asked for money and it is a pity for

The Belgian Trophy winner, Ross Norman, has been given a pat on the back by the squash tournament’s organiser, who refused to pay Pakistani maestro, Jahangir Khan, appearance money. “I am so happy Ross Norman beat him (Jahangir) in the World Open — it was a great thing for squash,” said Jeff Hagedoren after the New

squash he is so strong.” The Pakistani champion did not appear in the glittering Belgium event after Hagedoren refused to pay the $17,000 appearance fee sought by ‘his camp. The organiser said: “I am the first man to put him on the spot. If all promoters did the same thing it would stamp it out. “Paying appearance money could kill the game. Look at tennis,

where players take part in tournaments without any interest knowing they will get paid anyway. “We have proved we can do without Jahangir. We have had big crowds and a fine atmosphere. “We treat the players well, putting them up in the best hotels. Everybody behind the tournament are unpaid volunteers, so why should we pay one man just to turn up.” Norman, who beat a fellow New Zealander,

t Stuart Davenport, in the t Antwerp final, 9-8, 9-0, 9- ? 3, has been paid appearance money for other 5 events, usually as a per- . suader to go to a tournas ment that would otherwise not be an attractive 5 or convenient proposition, i The New Zealander i says such payments are t inevitable. for some ) tournaments if they are to 5 draw top players, but he is generally against them i because they could dirnin- , ish the prize money