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 World
Squash Awards 2009
Sat 28th Nov, RAC, Pall Mall, London |
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Darwish & David Are
World Squash Awards'
Players of the Year
Photos from
SquashPics.com
 Karim
Darwish and Nicol David were honoured as Players
of the Year at the annual World Squash Awards dinner, which
attracted more than 150 leading figures from the squash
world at the RAC Club in London at the weekend.
It was the fifth year of the prestigious awards event which
is hosted by Eventis Sports Marketing - the company
run by former players Peter Nicol, MBE; Tim Garner and Angus
Kirkland - and backed by PSA and WISPA.
Darwish, the Egyptian who has topped the PSA world rankings
for most of this year, received the PSA Player of the Year
award, for the first time, from the PSA Chairman Ziad
Al-Turki.
 "It
is a great honour to win this prestigious award -
particularly in a year when a number of my PSA colleagues,
like Amr Shabana, Gregory Gaultier and Nick Matthew, could
have done so," said the 28-year-old from Cairo who flew into
London especially for the occasion.
David, the Malaysian who this month celebrated her 40th
straight month at the top of the women's world rankings,
collected the WISPA Player of the Year award for the fifth
year in a row!
Unable to attend the ceremony, David sent a recorded message
from her home in Penang - which included thanks to her
fellow WISPA members for voting for her, and assurances to
the organisers that she would do her best to attend the
dinner in person next year!
 In
an evening dominated by Egyptians, Mohamed El Shorbagy
received the PSA Young Player of the Year award, from PSA
Chief Operating Officer Lee Beachill.
After winning his first World Junior Championship title over
a year ago, the 18-year-old from Alexandria immediately
burst onto the senior circuit - reaching the quarter-finals
of the 2008 World Open as a qualifier, and last month
celebrating a career-high No14 PSA world ranking.
 Nour
El Sherbini, also from Alexandria, won the WISPA Young
Player of the Year award, receiving her plaque from WISPA
Chairwoman Ingrid Lofdahl-Bentzer.
The Egyptian teenager inscribed her name firmly in the
sport's record books in August when, aged just 13 and seeded
only to reach the last 16, she won the Women's World Junior
(U19) Championship crown - becoming the youngest world
squash champion of all-time.
The award for the WISPA Most Improved Player of the Year -
presented by esteemed international squash journalist
Richard Eaton - went to Camille Serme, the
20-year-old from France who won the 'Young Player of the
Year' award two years ago.
 The
latest player to burst onto the international stage from the
country which also produced men's world number ones Thierry
Lincou and Gregory Gaultier, Serme followed her maiden win
of the French national crown early this year by picking up
three Tour titles in France, Switzerland and Egypt - and
this month celebrated a career-high No14 world ranking.
All five Player winners also received a year’s Gold Level
Membership to the Abu Dhabi national airline Ethiad.
 A
special Services to Squash award was made to WISPA
CEO Andrew Shelley. Presented by England Squash &
Racketball CEO Nick Rider, the award recognised "someone who
has worked tirelessly for the game of squash for nearly 35
years."
After 18 years at the then Squash Rackets Association, where
he was heavily involved with the transformation of the
British Open into an all-glass court championship, Shelley
moved to WISPA where his 15 years in charge have seen the
women's organisation "grow phenomenally both in terms of
players, countries and events," Rider pointed out.
A legendary figure of the sport in the 1930s was honoured
with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Widely considered
to be the first truly dominant player in the sport, Egyptian
F. D. Amr Bey won the British Open six consecutive
times from 1933-38 and became known as the first
'professional amateur' in squash, as his training for the
game became the key focus of his life.
The late Amr Bey also won the British Amateur Championship
six times, and never lost in the final of either British
Championships - a feat only matched by Jonah Barrington.
"He is widely considered to have raised the level of the
sport of squash to new heights through both his outstanding
racket skills and his exceptional speed & fitness - hence
his nickname the 'Human Streak of Lightning',” said event
organiser Peter Nicol.
"Combined with his championship squash abilities, he left a
legacy of sportsmanship, good will, and friendship with his
strongest rivals. He was the first building block that
created the foundation for Egyptian squash that has been
carried on - and is no better illustrated than by the
recipients of this evening’s other awards," added Nicol.
 An
additional award was made by PSA CEO Alex Gough to Sheila
Cooksley, the PSA's Tour Executive who celebrated 25
years with the Association earlier this year.
"Sheila has been with the professional game since day one. I
am sure if it wasn't for her knowledge and experience we
wouldn't have the successful Tour that we have today," said
Gough. "She has seen the good times and the bad times and
she has been unwavering about always wanting the best for
the Association and its members.
"The PSA is very lucky to have had someone like Sheila and I
feel very proud and fortunate to be working with her now."
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Malcolm's View
It was re-assuring to be at the RAC Club for squash's proper
World Awards, expertly organised by the Eventis team, led by
Tim Garner and Peter Nicol.
It was good, too, to see the event so well supported, with a
host of the sport's big names in attendance. Amidst the most
hectic of schedules, Karim Darwish, Nick Matthew and Peter
Barker, even though he lives locally, did well to attend and
Darwish was fittingly rewarded for his retention of the
World no.1 position for most of 2009 when he was named
Player of the year, though Matthew's and Amr Shabana's
recent achievements have been notable.
Nicol David took the Ladies' equivalent for the fifth year
in a row, a remarkable achievement and smiling as she always
is, sent a recorded message. The way things are going for
Jenny Duncalf just now, she may be a challenge to David's
supremacy in the next year.
France's Camille Serme won the improved player and deserves
credit not solely for the award but for her elegant speech
in receiving it.
Unsurprisingly the Young player awards went to the two
outstanding Egyptians, both World Junior champions, The
affable Mohamed El Shorbagy and the exceptional Nour El
Sherbini It was a proud moment, too for the Shorbagy family,
mum, dad and brother and for Nour's father, who were all
present.
Andrew Shelley, ever present and ageless, won the
prestigious Services to Squash Award and a special award was
also made to Sheila Cooksley for her invaluable work for PSA.
Finally the Lifetime Award went to another playing great
F.D.Amr Bey.
It was good to see Andy Bunting there, looking fit and well
after recent health problems. I still managed to see and
back the great Denman at Newbury earlier in the day and
nearly pulled off what would have been a sensational double,
when I was in the last three of Master Compere Adrian
Davies' heads or tails game, last man/woman standing.
However, having promised the cash to the Injured Jockeys
fund and with some mouth-watering winner-take-all prizes, Iwas beaten in a photo finish. A win would have rounded a
great day.
Life, though, only occasionally reaches such perfection and
as I often have I came up short!
Well done Tim, Peter and Eventis.
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Lifetime
Achievement Award: F D Amr Bey
The winner of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award is widely
considered to be the first truly dominant player in the
sport of squash. He was not a professional, but he beat all
the top professional players of his time and has been called
the first "professional amateur" in squash because his
training for the game became the key focus of his life.
He won the British Open six consecutive times from 1933-38,
In addition to these and numerous other titles, he also won
the British Amateur Championship six times and never lost in
the final of either British Championships, a feat only
matched by Jonah Barrington.
He is widely considered to have raised the level of the
sport of squash to new heights through both though his
outstanding racket skills, and his exceptional speed &
fitness, hence his nickname the “Human Streak of Lightning”.
Stories of his retrieval of virtually irretrievable shots
have given him legendary status.
Combined with his championship squash abilities, he left a
legacy of sportsmanship, good will, and friendship with his
strongest rivals. He was the first building block that
created the foundation for Egyptian squash that has been
carried on and is no better illustrated than by the
recipients of this evening’s other awards.
For this reason the winner of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement
Award is Amr Bey. Given the fact that he won the RAC’s own
Open Championship ten consecutive times I would like to
invite RAC squash chairman James Sandwith up to collect the
trophy so that it may sit alongside the silver statue of Amr
in the display cabinet downstairs.
Amr Bey on Wikipedia
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Services to Squash:
Andrew Shelley
 The
winner of the 2009 Services to Squash Award is someone who
has worked tirelessly for the game of squash for nearly 35
years.
Despite not always being the quickest to embrace technology
(a mobile phone was only a recent addition to his
collection), he has always moved with the times seeking to
move the game forwards be in new markets or with new
partners.
He worked for what was then the Squash Rackets Association
for 18 years being heavily involved in the British Open in
its hay day years at Wembley Conference Centre, but at the
same time overseeing juniors, elite, membership and so on.
He then chose a career path that took him to a role that
can’t have been a hard sell but equally a tough job being
the only male in an organisation of women. His 15 years in
charge of WISPA has seen it grow phenomenally both in terms
of players, countries and events.
Always unassuming but a deserving winner of this award the
2009 Services to Squash Award goes to …. Andrew Shelley.
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18-Nov:
World Squash Awards To Reveal
Official Tour Players Of The Year
The fifth annual World Squash Awards Dinner, to be held on
Saturday 28th November at the RAC Club in London, will see
the identities of the official Men's & Women's Tour Players
of the Year being announced, along with other general
international awards.
For the women, the full membership of the Women's
International Squash Players' Association has voted for the
WISPA Player of the Year, the WISPA Young Player of the
Year, and the WISPA Most Improved Player of the Year.
Similarly, the Professional Squash Association board has
voted on the PSA Player of the Year and also the PSA Young
Player of the Year.
"This year has been the most competitive year on the PSA
World Tour for some years," said PSA Chief Operating Officer
Lee Beachill. "Since the World Squash Awards last year in
Manchester, Amr Shabana, Karim Darwish and Gregory Gaultier
have all seen themselves at the summit of the Dunlop PSA
World Rankings - which has made this decision harder than
ever.
"The players continue to raise the bar year on year, adding
to the excitement for squash fans around the world," added
the former world number one.
WISPA Chief Executive Andrew Shelley said: "The World Squash
Awards Dinner, superbly organised by Eventis, has become a
great opportunity for our sport to fete its stars across the
spectrum. The awards are cherished and a great international
evening will doubtless be had by all."
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The Nominations
- cast your votes: |
PSA Player of the
Year:
43%: Amr Shabana
35%: Gregory Gaultier
12%: Nick Matthew
10%: Karim Darwish |
WISPA Player of the Year:
59%: Nicol David
28%: Nour El Sherbini
13%: Natalie Grainger |
The fun voting is over, thanks to
everyone
who contributed -
over 11,000 votes cast ... |
PSA Young Player of the
Year:
56%: Mohamed El Shorbagy
26%: Nicolas Mueller
18%: Aamir Atlas Khan |
WISPA Young Player of the
Year:
54%: Dipika Pallikal
41%: Nour El Sherbini
2%: Nour El Tayeb
1%: Amanda Sobhy
1%: Kanzy El Dafrawy
1%: Maria Toor Pakay |
WISPA Most
Improved Player:
53%: Camille Serme
17%: Donna Urquhart
16%: Annie Au
15%: Joelle King |
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Race Hots
Up for
PSA
Player of the Year
The icing on the cake for the winner of the Kuwait World
Open may well be sealing the award for the
Official PSA Male Player of the Year and there are
still a host of candidates still in the running.
The World Squash Awards is the annual occasion when the two
professional players bodies, PSA and WISPA, present their
players of the year.
This year it will take place in the stunning Mounbatten
Room at the RAC, Pall Mall, London, on Saturday 28th
November. Those in line to lift the coveted trophy are new
World no.1 Greg Gaultier, recent Hong Kong champion Amr
Shabana, British Open Champion Nick Matthew and not to
mention defending World Champion Ramy Ashour! Karim
Darwish’s Last 16 exit to last year’s PSA Player of the Year
James Willstrop may harm his chances when the winner is
announced.
Ziad Al Turki, PSA Chairman, pointed out: "‘as can be
seen by the array of talent that can still win the PSA
Player of the Year, this has been an incredibly exciting
year for squash. Not only will the players want to lift the
World title but victory would undoubtedly put them in prime
position to win our official player of the year title that
will be presented at the end of the month at the World
Squash Awards."
Information about the dinner, is available from Tim Garner
at
Tgarner@eventis-sports.com |
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5th ANNUAL
WORLD SQUASH
AWARDS RETURNS TO RAC
 The
world’s leading players will be honoured at the fifth annual
World Squash Awards which will take place in the stunning
Mounbatten Room at the RAC, Pall Mall, London, on
Saturday 28th November.
Last year’s PSA Player of the Year James Willstrop
and WISPA Player of the Year Nicol David will be
joined by the world’s top men and women who will be hoping
to win one of the sport’s most coveted awards.
Amongst the favourites for this year’s PSA Male Player of
the Year will be World no.1 Karim Darwish & British
Open Champion Nick Matthew, while Malaysia’s World
Champion Nicol David looks set to fact stiff competition to
retain her award from British Open Rachael Grinham
from Australia.
 The
glittering gala evening will be hosted by former top player
Adrian ‘Wizard’ Davies and a fun night is anticipated
for the 150 attending the awards ceremony which has rapidly
established itself as one of the off court highlights of the
squash calendar.
Peter Nicol MBE, Director of Eventis, the event
organisers said:
"We’re delighted to be returning to the RAC for the World
Squash Awards. It is magnificent venue and one loved by
everyone who attends be it for the first time or someone who
has experienced its history & splendour before."
Individual tickets or tables can be booked by anyone wishing
to attend and Nicol went on to explain “we really see the
event as the chance for people from all walks of squash to
get together from club players through to sponsors and the
worlds elite. Our aim is to make it a fun evening for all
concerned."
Categories and past winners
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PSA Male Player of Year –
2005 Thierry Lincou, 2006 and 2007 Amr Shabana,
2008 James Willstrop
PSA Young Male Player of Year –
2005 James Willstrop, 2006 and 2007 Ramy Ashour,
2008 Omar Moasaad
WISPA Female Player of Year –
2005 Vanessa Atkinson, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Nicol David
WISPA Female Young Player of the Year –
2005 Raneem El Weleily, 2006 Tenille Swartz,
2007 Camille Serme, 2008 Annie Au
WISPA Female Most Improved Player of the Year –
2005 Alison Waters 2006 Nicolette Fernandes
2007 Shelley Kitchen, 2008 Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
Services to Squash Award –
2007 Dicky Rutnagur, Jim Quigley
Lifetime Achievement Award –
2005 Jahangir, 2006 Jonah Barrington, 2007 Heather McKay,
2008 Geoff Hunt, Azam Khan and Hashim Khan
Information about the dinner, is available from
Tim Garner at
Tgarner@eventis-sports.com |
Previous Awards
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