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TODAY in Kuwait
Fram & Steve report from the Kuwait Open ...
Tue
22nd - Day TWO
Day ONE |
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Qualifying Finals:
Renan Lavigne (Fra) bt Dylan Bennett
(Ned)
11/7, 11/2, 11/9 (45m)
plays Darwish
Julian Illingworth (Usa) bt Ritwik
Bhattacharya (Ind) 11/7, 11/4, 11/9 (42m)
plays Barker
Tarek Momen (Egy) bt Davide Bianchetti
(Ita)
11/7,11/6, 11/8 (41m)
plays Abbas
Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy) bt Amr Swelim
(Egy)
11/3, 14/12, 11/4 (45m)
plays Anjema
Daryl Selby (Eng) bt Saurav Ghosal (Ind)
11/8, 5/11, 11/5, 11/6 (65m)
plays Lincou
Alister Walker (Eng) bt Jan Koukal (Cze)
11/5, 11/9, 6/11, 11/6 (50m)
plays Iskandar
Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak) bt Farhan
Mehboob (Pak)
8/11, 11/8, 11/6, 11/8 (50m)
plays Shabana
Kashif Shuja
(Nzl) bt Joey Barrington (Eng)
11/8, 7/11, 7/11, 11/6, 12/10 (68m)
plays Willstrop |
Shuja
saves the best till last
Just as in the first round of qualifying, the last match of the
day at the Kuwait Squash Federation Complex was the longest, and
this time it produced the biggest upset of the day too.
Pakistani-born New Zealander Kashif Shuja came from 2/1
down against the Englishman set to make his European Team debut
next week, then saved two match balls in a tense ending to the
deciding game before sealing his entry into the main draw on
extra points. Shuja's reward is a meeting with the in-form James
Willsrop.
The other upset came earlier as Egyptian youngster Tarek
Momen eased past third Davide Bianchetti in straight games
with the Italian looking 'a bit flat'. The Egyptian contingent
in the main draw was further boosted as Omar Abdel Aziz
won his all-Egyptian clast with Amr Swelim.
The English pair of Daryl Selby and Alister Walker
both won through in four games, to be joined by Frenchman
Renan Lavigne, American Julian Illingworth and
Pakistan's Aamir Atlas Khan, whose defeat of compatriot
Farhan Mehboob earned him a meeting with world number one Amr
Shabana.
The main draw gets under way at noon tomorrow ...
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Renan Lavigne (Fra) bt Dylan
Bennett (Ned)
11/7, 11/2, 11/9 (45m) plays
Darwish
DYLAN STILL FIGHTING
 After his very long encounter yesterday against Mark Krajcsak,
over 70 minute, Dylan thought he was going to be just fine.
Well, he wasn’t at all, and especially not against French
“dog-with-a-bone” Renan Lavigne, worldly famous for never giving
up, and making the rallies last as long as they need to be.
If the first game was very close indeed up to 8/7, with the
French just finding his best shots at the end of it to take the
opener 11/7, the second was pretty much one sided, with the
Dutch having more and more problems to move.
Still, he came back, and stuck to Renan all through the game,
3/3, 6/6, 8/8, 9/9, finding some great shots, forcing the
Frenchman to make a few uncharacteristic errors (I counted three the
whole match for my compatriot). Still, Renan believed in himself
a bit more, had much more left at the end, and was able to
finish off one last very very long rally…
 I
cracked two racquets during the warm up earlier today, and broke
a string of my last racquet, ended up playing with somebody
else's , but I thought I was playing better actually…
Yesterday’s match was just too much really! I thought I was ok
this morning, the legs felt fine, but after the end of the first
game, they became soooo heavy…
I starting playing better in the third, still didn’t move that
well, but my shots were just better, and that way I got to 9…
Still, very disappointed…
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 Dylan
has got some pretty good shots in the racquet, and I had to be
careful to keep possession of the T, but I succeeded to keep
strong and prevented him to attack by playing straight.
We’ve got a lot of respect for each other on court, and he is a
very clean player
The first game was crucial, I didn’t want to go on and start a
big match. In the third, he started to get some great shots in,
and I got impatient, tried to force the issued, and made a few
unforced errors.
We were lucky to have more than a month to stay and rest/train
at home, eat good food, that was a great plus. Then with
Thierry, we went to the mountains like we do each year, with our
families, and we trained. No interruption… These are really
optimal for this event and for the Europeans…
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Julian Illingworth (Usa) bt
Ritwik Bhattacharya (Ind)
11/7, 11/4, 11/9 (42m) plays Barker
 Yes,
it was a bit of a physical match, but I don’t mind, I used to
play soccer, and I guess I’m used to it, and I quite like it,
although I don’t feel I created it.
I don’t have a game plan really, if I’m hitting it well, I go
for it, if not, I’m not going to force it, whatever the
body/racquet tells you on the day. But today, I was shooting
more than I would normally do, because at the back, he is pretty
strong…
 Disappointed.
Julian played very well, and I was a bit off the pace, a bit
slow. I’ve been working very hard these past months, and maybe I
was expecting too much of myself. Maybe I should have relaxed
and not try to go for too much.
I’m not happy, obviously, as this was such a good event to
qualify for, the difference between the qualifiers and the main
draw is so huge…
Now, moving to the next event, in Liverpool, the British Open,
and I’m going to work very hard for that…
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Alister Walker (Eng) bt Jan
Koukal (Cze) 11/5, 11/9, 6/11, 11/6 (50m)
plays Iskandar
 "We
played so many times in juniors, we had a real rivalry there and
these things never change. If you come off the pace against him
he can play some awkward, tricky shots and that's what he did in
the third, but I managed to reassert myself in the fourth.
"It's a relief to get on and play, after what happened in Cairo,
I had a lot to think about after that, so it's just a relief
really, and I'm looking forward to playing another top player."
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Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak) bt
Farhan Mehboob (Pak)
8/11, 11/8, 11/6, 11/8 (50m)
plays Shabana
 "It
was a very good match, very fast, long rallies. We train
together all the time so we know each other's games well.
"I recovered from 7/3 down in the fourth and that was the
turning point for me. I was returning all his hard-hit shots
from every corner, if you can't do that you won't beat him.
"I hope for a good performance in the main draw, which may move
me into the top twenty after my win in a two and a half star
last month.
 "It
was a very good match. After I won the first he came back, he
changed the game and picked every ball up. After the third I
relaxed and went 7/3 up in the fourth, then made two or three
mistakes at the front with my favourite shot.
"I'm not tired, but he ran so much, picked up so much, I would
have confident if it had gone to a fifth.
"I'll do some work before the British, some skill work and front
of court work, and I'll play better next time."
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Daryl
Selby (Eng) bt Saurav Ghosal (Ind)
11/8, 5/11, 11/5,
11/6 (65m) plays Lincou
 "I
wasn't finishing it off when I got a chance as well as I would
have liked, but I was pleased with how I hung in to win the
crucial points when it was tight in the middle of the games.
"I'm ecstatic to qualify for such a big event again, there's
always pressure on the top eight seeds in qualifiers, and it's
such a big difference in points and money if you get through –
I've just got a new flat with my girlfriend, so she can have a
trip to Ikea now!
"For the main draw I don't mind who I get as long as it's not
Peter Barker – I've played him in four of the last five events,
and he's the only player I've lost to in PSA since December."
 "He
played well, he's very strong, picks up a lot, but in the three
games I lost I just made to many errors at the end, which was
very bad. I've got my final exams in Leeds coming up, then I'll
maybe play the new Super Series in Egypt …"
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Tarek Momen (Egy) bt Davide
Bianchetti (Ita)
11/7,11/6, 11/8 (41m)
plays Abbas
DAVIDE A BIT FLAT…
I
missed the first game, as ever, as I was typing away about the
previous match, but I was told by the boys that Tarek made the
Flamboyant Italian run and run. Well, I guess that he maybe got
a bit tired, our Davide did, because from the moment I arrived,
I thought he looked a bit less fiery than normal, lacking his
normal bite.
 Proof
is, he didn’t get a conduct stroke, or even a warning! And that
doesn’t happen that often…
Joke apart, I felt that Tarek was more in control, more
aggressive, and much more in the front than his opponent. Still,
Davide never let got, sticking in there, and even taking the
lead in the third, 8/7. But Tarek found some stunning shots yet
again, and the Italian determination was just not enough today
for the Egyptian hunger for victory. |
For the past month, I went for too
short too early, I was trying to finish the point too soon, I
think that during the qualifiers in Hurghada, I made maybe 70
tins! So today, I told myself –well, actually, it was advice
from Karim and all the boys – to go for a basic game, and only
go for my shots when the opportunity was really there.
Also, I tried to use my speed to my advantage. And I’m
very happy with the results, because last time we played, he
beat me 3/0.
To finish, I just wanted to thank my parents for all their help…
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Kashif Shuja (Nzl) bt Joey
Barrington (Eng) 11/8, 7/11, 7/11, 11/6, 12/10 (68m)
plays Willstrop
 "That's
a good win, one of my best. I've played Joey in a few
professional matches, so I know how tough he is and I knew I
would have to maintain it physically to beat him.
"I controlled the games I won, the court was playing a bit cool
which was to my advantage, but there was nothing in it at the
end, it could have gone either way.
"I lost in the qualifying finals here last year, so it's great
to go one better, especially after saving a couple of match
balls in the fifth …"
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Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy) bt Amr
Swelim (Egy)
11/3, 14/12,
11/4 (45m) plays Anjema
EGYPTIAN SHOCK
 It’s
so hard for those boys, you know. It’s hard enough to win
matches, but when you’ve got to break your best mate’s heart to
do so, mustn’t be that easy.
Those two know each other since junior squash, they travel
together, share a room together, and really are best of friends.
Still, today, they had to compete, and it’s Omar who took the
best start, Amr scoring only points in the first game.
But cleverly, Amr speeded up the pace, put much more weight in
the ball, and zoom, we had a match on our hands, and a beautiful
one, both playing a perfect balance between attacking shots,
patience, and traditional game.
Still, Swelim is the attacker, and was by definition more prone
to the error. And errors he made, far too many at important
points. And the Gods of Squash were smiling on Omar when at his
third game ball, his crosscourt just found a funny nick that
surprised Amr, to give Abdel Aziz a crucial lead 2/0, that he
quickly transformed in a 3/0 victory.
 I
had such a bad start in the first game, I thought it was better
to slow down the pace against him, and that was a big mistake.
In the second, I was playing better, but I made too many
unforced errors, whereas he was so consistent and made so few
mistakes.
We are such good friends, I was hoping to be happy for me today,
but now, I’m happy for him because he’s now in the main draw. I
just hope that next event, I’ll do better.
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 Today,
my game was only consistent, whereas his was an attacking one.
We know each other’s game inside out, we’ve been playing each
other since juniors, and we travel, and we share a room all the
time.
If I had the control in the 1st and 3rd game, I knew I needed to
keep close to him in the 2nd, because in all the games he plays,
he always gets to his peak on the second. And I was counting the
points, 8/8, then 9/8, when he got ahead for the first time of
the match.
And I’m so lucky on that game ball, because if I
hadn’t won it, we would still be playing now, and I would be in
big trouble, had he taken the second game.
I’m happy to be in such a big event, this has been the best
month of the year for me, I qualified for two events in a row…
I’m so happy, my hard training is showing on court…
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Mon 21st - Day ONE |
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Qualifying Round One:
Locals bow out ...
The 2008 Kuwait Open kicked
off at the KSF Squash Complex today with the first round of
qualifying. Visa problems meant that top seed Mansoor Zaman was
absent, Renan Lavigne and Joey Barrington received
byes into tomorrow's qualifying finals, leaving 14 matches to
play.
With many of their players in Bahrain for the Gulf
Championships, five Kuwaiti juniors joined the experienced
Badr Al Hussaini in representing the host nation. While the
juniors all gained valuable experience without taking a game,
Hussaini, encouraged by a sizeable crowd, pushed young Egyptian
Tarek Momen, coming so close to winning two of the three
games.
The two longest matches – both contested on the same court – saw
Dutchman Dylan Bennett squeeze past Mark Krajcsak in five
games and 72 minutes, and US number one Julian Illingworth
come from behind in the decider to beat Mohd AA Reda, this time
in 83 minutes.
The only upset came as Ritwik Bhattacharya, returning to
the venue where he played the Asian Championships in February,
overcame Australian Aaron Frankcomb in three well-contested
games, the Indian triumphing in 53 minutes.
Tomorrow's qualifying finals will see eight players earn slots
in the most valuable draw of the year so far, which gets under
way on Wednesday …
Qualifying Round One:
Renan Lavigne (Fra)
bye
Dylan Bennett (Ned) bt Mark Krajcsak (Hun)
11/8, 11/13, 11/7, 9/11, 11/9 (72m)
Julian Illingworth (Usa) bt Mohd AA Reda (Egy)
9/11, 15/13, 11/5, 4/11, 11/9 (83m)
Ritwik Bhattacharya (Ind) bt Aaron Frankcomb (Aus)
11/4, 11/9, 11/6 (53m)
Davide Bianchetti (Ita) bt Jesse Engelbrecht (Rsa)
11/8,
11/8, 11/2 (35m)
Tarek Momen (Egy) bt Bader Al Hussaini (Kuw)
16/14, 11/4, 11/9 (46m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy) bt Adil Maqbool (Pak)
11/8, 11/9, 10/12, 11/8 (49m)
Amr Swelim (Egy) bt Shamlan Ahmad (Kuw)
11/1, 11/4, 11/2 (15m)
Saurav Ghosal (Ind) bt Mohd Al-Tuwary (Kuw)
11/5,
11/0, 11/3 (29m)
Daryl Selby (Eng) bt Amar Tameemi (Kuw)
11/5,
11/2, 11/2 (28m)
Jan Koukal (Cze) bt Ali Miski (Leb)
11/1,
11/3, 11/3 (16m)
Alister Walker (Eng) bt Omar Abdulatir (Kuw)
11/1,
11/3, 11/1 (17m)
Farhan Mehboob (Pak) bt Yasser El Halaby (Egy)
11/5,
11/6, 11/9 (29m)
Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak) bt Amr Mansi (Egy)
11/4, 11/9, 11/7 (34m)
Kashif Shuja (Nzl) bt Ahmed Al-Randy (Kuw)
11/7, 11/1, 11/6 (25m)
Joey Barrington (Eng) bye
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Day ONE Gallery
from David Barry
Almost Here ...
Preparations are nearly complete, the players are arriving, and
Kuwait is set to stage the biggest event of the year so far,
with a massive $200,000 prize fund on offer.
The qualifying draw takes place at 14.00 and action gets under
way at 17.00 on four courts at the magnificent
Sheikh Salem Al Sabah International Squash Complex (we'll
shorten that to 'the complex") for future reference.
On the subject of names, we refer to the event as The
Kuwait Open, which is the international name, but here in
Kuwait it's known as the H.H Sheikh Saad Abdullah
Al Salem Al-Sabah. The Patriarch Amir Trophy- Squash (Kuwait
Open Tournament) in recognition of the support given to
the sport by said Sheikh and the ministry of youth and sport.
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Davide
Bianchetti (Ita) bt Jesse Engelbrecht (Rsa)
11/8,
11/8, 11/2 (35m)
 "Considering
I nearly had a bye, playing Jesse really wasn't a good draw.
I've beaten him comfortably before, but he's improved a lot and
the first two games today were really tough. I was struggling to
get a length, but as it went on I started to get it deeper and I
was moving better – I'll have to move well tomorrow against
Tarek."
 "I
hurt my foot playing Yasser in Egypt, and although I've had a
few days rest, by the middle of the second I started to feel it.
That's not an excuse, he was too good today, but it plays on
your mind, you don't want t make it worse.
"I always seem to get a really good or really bad qualifying
draw, and today was the hardest I could have got."
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 "Some
of our players are in Bahrain for the Arab Championships, but
that was a good chance for some of our juniors, they will all
benefit from the experience.
"Badr played well, he could have won that match, he was so close
in two of the games.
"We had our best results ever in the Asian Championships, we
have a wonderful new centre, so events like this are great for
our players to learn, and for the PSA players to come here, show
us how good they are and earn a few dollars.
"We'll be hoping for a good performance from Abdullah in the
main draw, if he plays like he did in the Asians it will be a
good match against Olli."
Kuwait National Coach |
Dylan Bennett
(Ned) bt Mark Krajcsak (Hun)
11/8, 11/13, 11/7, 9/11, 11/9 (72m)
 "It
was just a matter of who could relax better and find the back of
the court. If I could get it to bounce off the back wall I was
ok, but in the games I lost my lengths and crosscourts were too
short.
"It was very even in the fifth, but I managed to get a lead and
finish it off. I felt tired from the middle of the third but I
knew I had to just keep pushing, and I saw sis of tiredness in
him towards the end. It was a tough draw, but that's good,
that's the sort of games I need."
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Omar Abdel Aziz
(Egy) bt Adil Maqbool (Pak) 11/8, 11/9, 10/12, 11/8
(49m)
 "I
tried to keep the pace high and keep it tight and it was
working. At the end of the third he hit two great overhead
flicks, just like all Pakistanis can, but I managed to get the
pace back into the fourth and it worked again."
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Ritwik
Bhattacharya (Ind) bt Aaron Frankcomb (Aus)
11/4, 11/9, 11/6 (53m)
 "I'm
happy with how I played, I've been doing a lot of training in
Holland and India in the last two months, so I'm excited to get
back playing tournaments again.
"I played on these courts in the Asians, so that helped me, and
I'm looking forward to tomorrow, with no pressure on me …"
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Jan Koukal
(Cze) bt Ali Miski (Leb)
11/1,
11/3, 11/3 (16m)
 "I've
been in PSA for three years but this is very much the biggest
event I've managed toi play in. My aim is to gain experience and
make contact with good players. He's so fast in the court, but
it was a great experience. Hopefully I'll do better in my next
tournament in Perth, then go back home and fix my mistakes …"
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Tarek Momen
(Egy) bt Bader Al Hussaini (Kuw)
16/14, 11/4, 11/9 (46m)
 "I'm
making so many unforced errors at the moment, I don't know why,
but I'm glad I managed to overcome the errors and win. Bard
played the best I've him play today, he really made it hard.
"I hope I can find improvement and a better performance
tomorrow, I really need to step it up against Davide."
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Farhan Mehboob
(Pak) bt Yasser El Halaby (Egy)
11/5, 11/6, 11/9 (29m)
 "I
hadn't played him before but I knew he was a very good player,
and older than me, so I prepared well for the match. I watched
the ball well, and tried to keep the ball on the backhand, I
think my backhand is stronger than his. I managed to take a lead
in the first two, then defended well in the third to pull back
his lead."
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Saurav Ghosal
(Ind) bt Mohd Al-Tuwary (Kuw)
11/5,
11/0, 11/3 (29m)
 "I
played here in the Asian Championships, so it's just a question
of getting used to the courts again. I've played Daryl twice, in
Qatar and Hong Kong, and lost from 2/0 up so hopefully I can go
one better tomorrow."
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