The total level of financial compensation for squash players on the PSA World Tour was at an all-time high during the 2016/17 season after figures released today (June 20) by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) showed an overall growth rate of 5.2 per cent on the 2015/16 season.
A total of almost $5.8 million was awarded during one of the most competitive seasons ever, with the the total prize fund on the Men's Tour reaching $3,804,000 and $1,986,000 on the Women’s Tour - split across 220 events (149 Men and 71 Women) which took place in a total of 48 countries, with 78 different nationalities represented in competition this season.
The figures come off the back of a huge period of growth for professional squash, adding to the 13.6 per cent increase seen during 2015/16, while this season also saw eight new destinations added to the tournament calendar, six more than the previous year, namely: Costa Rica, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore and Wales.
“At the end of a hugely successful season it is encouraging to see that both the Men's and Women's Tours have continued to grow and that the professional sport is continuing to move in the right direction," said PSA Chief Commercial Officer Tommy Berden.
“It is a particularly important boost to see that we are closing in on our goals of achieving equality and parity in both playing opportunities and prize money across both genders on the PSA World Tour. And with events such as the 2017 AJ Bell World Championship in Manchester - which will be the first equal money world championship - still to come, the forecast for the remainder of 2017 is very positive.
"We now look forward to strengthening our relationships with our partners ahead of the 2017/18 season as we continue to drive the sport forward across all areas.”
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