For the first time ever the cash prize for male and female competitors at next year’s World Squash Championships in Manchester will be equal.
World class players will come to Manchester in December 2017 with prizes of $45,000 (around £34,000) each on offer.
The early stages will be held at the National Squash centre before moving to Manchester Central for the quarter-final onwards.
England Squash director Eamonn O’Rourke said: “Already we have pushed the boundaries with delivering both the men’s and women’s event concurrently, and ensuring equal prize money.”
Newly appointed championship director Paul Walters added that England Squash, Manchester City Council, UK Sport and the Professional Squash Association were pushing for an even better event than in 2013.
“We share an ambitious vision to deliver a hugely successful and memorable championships that widens the reach and appeal of the sport,” he said.
“It’s a great privilege to be working with these stakeholders to help deliver a wonderful showcase for squash at such an exciting time for the sport.”
The prize being made the same for both men and women shows some progress being made in terms of gender quality in sport.
In 2014 a report by BBC sport revealed that 30% of sports still did not pay women the same amount of winnings for major tournaments as men, and that squash alongside football, snooker, darts, golf and cricket had the biggest disparity in pay.
Previously for winning the world championships, squash dished out £28,600 to men and only £12,300 to women.
Manchester also staged the men and women’s championships in 2008.
For more information about the world championships visit: www.psaworldtour.com
Image courtesy of TravelingCanuck via YouTube, with thanks.
