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NEWS |
19-Mar-10:
KHAN INJURY GIVES RICHARDS A PLACE
IN SELL-OUT ISS CANARY WHARF CLASSIC
By ALAN THATCHER
 Rising
English squash star Tom Richards has been granted a place
in the first round of next week’s sell-out ISS Canary Wharf
Squash Classic following an injury to Pakistan No.1 Aamir
Atlas Khan.
World No.20 Khan suffered an injury during this week’s Malaysian
Open in Kuala Lumpur and Richards, 23, is delighted to bypass
the qualifying competition and go straight into the first round.
His presence in the main draw boosts an already strong English
presence in the tournament.
World No.33 Richards, from Guildford, plays Leeds-based world
No.12 Alister Walker in the first round on Tuesday. The
winner is seeded to face a quarter-final clash with world No.7
Peter Barker, who faces fellow Londoner, wild card
Adrian Waller, in the first round.
World No.2 Nick Matthew from Sheffield is top seed in
this prestigious PSA World Tour Five Star event which will be
played out in front of full-house crowds at Canary Wharf’s
spectacular East Wintergarden venue from March 22-26.
For the first time in the history of the PSA World Tour, a major
event has sold every ticket for every day of competition.
Co-promoter Peter Nicol said: “It’s a first for us in the
seventh year of the competition and we’re pretty sure it’s a
first anywhere in squash.”
The former world champion, a director of promoters Eventis
Sports Marketing, added: “It’s a sign of the quality of squash
on show, the fantastic atmosphere in the magnificent East
Wintergarden venue and the culmination of seven years’ hard work
by the organising team. I can’t wait for the first match on
Monday.”
Top seed Matthew is due to meet Yorkshire rival James
Willstrop in the semi-finals on Thursday. Willstrop has won
the event three times but Matthew, currently enjoying the best
form of his career, is determined to claim his first title.
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Full Draw
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