|
|
28-May, Hong Kong:
Wong wins 3 in a row &
Chiu takes her 10th title
Both the women's and men's defending champions retained their
respective titles in the Crocodile Hong Kong Closed Championships.
Asian Games gold medalist and world no 17 Rebecca Chiu
captured her 10th title beating promising youngster, 16 year old
Annie Au, 9-2, 9-3, 9-0. World ranked no 67 Wong Wai Hang
defeated 12 times champion Faheem Khan 9-3, 10-8, 9-7 to make it 3
in a row for Wong.
Following on from this first time successful title sponsorship by
Crocodile they will again title sponsor a women's/men's satellite
competion, Crocodile Challenge Cup 2005 in Hong Kong from the
12 - 17 July.
Chiu and Hang are currently competing in the
Mamut Dutch Open. |
|
Hong Kong
Squash announces the HK$180,000 sponsorship of Crocodile
Garments Ltd. of the “Crocodile Hong Kong Closed
Championships” and the “Crocodile Squash Challenge Cup”. |
30-May, Malta:
Malta National team
to face Poland
The Polish National squash team are visiting Malta from 30th
May - 5th June to take part in an intensive training camp
with National squash coach Paul Lake.
On Tuesday 31st May the Polish players were guests at
Cynergi health studio. A full mornings on court
training, complemented with a work in the gym and a relaxing
cool down in the pool was the days program.
The Polish players all expressed there gratitude to
Cynergi's General Manger Martin Azzopardi and were extremely
grateful for the chance to train at Cynergi.
In the evening, the Polish team were guests at LivingWell
Hilton, to participate in a friendly match against a team of
Malta based British players. All the matches were extremely
close, with 3 games being decided in the 5th & final set!
The final result however was very clear with Poland beating
'the Brits' 5 - 2
The Polish team were using this as a warm up to Thursdays
match at the Marsa Sports & Country Club where they will be
playing against the Malta National teams (men & ladies)
On Friday all the Polish squad will be participating in this
years Malta Open. Play starts on Friday evening & continues
all day Saturday.
Maltamedia Daily News |
26-May, Brazil:
Pan Ams Postponed
The Pan Am Federation Cup, scheduled to be held this
week in Rio de Janeiro, have been postponed at the last
minute and rescheduled for 26-Aug to 04 Sep.
The move is believed to be due to the desire of the FPS
(Federation Panamericano de Squash) to lobby effectively for
Squash's inclusion in the 2007 Pan Am Games. Although
included in the last two Pan Am Games, squash is not on the
list for 2007 and the new dates coincide with a crucial
meeting in Rio of the Pan American Sports Organisation which
will decide the final list of sports. |
26-May, India:
Delhi squash
players cleared
By: Amitoj Singh
The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order to the Squash
Racquets Federation of India to forward the names of the four Delhi
squash players to the May 31-June 4 Milo All
Star Squash Championship organisers in Malaysia.
Subsequent to SRFI refusing the sanction, the players from Delhi
approached the Delhi High Court for relief.
The SRFI was ordered to forward the names yesterday itself and have
been issued a show cause notice. The squash body will have to file
its reply by July 18.
Mid-Day |
|
26-May, India:
Squash academy becomes a boon for
players
The India Cements Sponsored Squash Academy in Chennai has been
fostering the game for years, helping improve the level of
sport in the country.
For the juniors, it's now time for a two-week summer camp. And
some of them are on their way to compete in Junior level
tournaments in Malaysia next week.
At every level of play, the participants are benefiting from
this programme.
 "I
want to be world champion one day. I've not got there yet and
training is an important ingredient and the India Cements
Squash academy in Chennai is I'm sure the best place to be in
the country," said Saurav Ghosal, men's junior national
champion.
But the Academy functions throughout the year picking out
promising students from every type of school.
Trained, qualified coaches get to work, teaching not just the
rudiments of squash but all that goes into the making of a
champion.
 "We're
really working scientifically and we are making a structured
training programme for our athletes - not just for the summer
camp, it's round the year - that's what we do," said Cyrus
Poncha, The Squash Rackets Federation of India.
The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu is a valuable
participant in these development programmes making the Academy
the finest and most professional in the country.
The Academy has nurtured many a champion over the years but
its main focus remains spotting new talent and then training
and fostering that with the latest techniques available in the
country today.
NDTV.com |
|
27-May,
Bulgaria:
Petros takes BTC title
Magi Maleeva handed over the cups to the winners of this year’s
second BTC Squash Tournament. The winners were Petros Tzamaloukas
of Greece and Maria Atanasova of Bulgaria. The host of the
tournament was Easy Club in Sofia. Presiana Ribarova, marketing
specialist in Bulgarian Telecommunication Company, handed over the
cash prizes, amounting to 1850 euro.
The next tournament for 2005 will be in September. The organisers
have not yet chosen a host. A BTC representative said that BTC was
planning to sponsor a training camp for some of the best Bulgarian
players, to encourage and develop the players to be able to take
part in further international tournaments, and to take top positions
in world rankings.
Sofia Echo |
26-May, Australia:
Boswell ‘surprised’ by
Title Triumphs
 Australian
comeback king Stewart Boswell collected his fourth PSA Tour
title in six weeks at the WA Squash Open in Perth, but admits his
recent run of success has been a total surprise.
The former world No.4 from Canberra returned to the Tour in New
Zealand last month following a two-year layoff due to a mystery back
ailment and says his aim was simply to win a few matches and remain
unscathed.
“It’s been a bit of a bonus to win these tournaments, I wasn’t
expecting it, and it’s given me some confidence which is really
important,” said the 26-year-old, who continued his triumphant
return when he took out the Merredin Open in WA last weekend.
“I was more worried about just getting through the three tournaments
than winning them and I hoped to continue that form at the WA Open
but I had to pre-qualify which is never easy.”
His success in 2005 has seen his ranking rise from 262 in the world
to a respectable 137.
Boswell’s plans for the second half of the year are to gain
admission to qualifying for the big events such as the Hong Kong
Open and British Open and then return to gaining direct entry to the
main draw of the major tournaments in 2006.
“I’m still a fair way off the mark, I’ve got a lot of improvement to
make to take on the top guys in the world but I’m at least going in
the right direction,” said Boswell, who has yet to drop a game
during his opening three tournaments of 2005.
“I’m doing a lot of maintenance work and exercises to help my back
but there have been no flair ups and once I start a match I’m not
thinking about my back.”
Boswell had spent most of the past two years between the Australian
Institute of Sport in Brisbane and living with his parents in
Canberra. During this time he visited various physiotherapists,
doctors and spinal specialists – without any real success.
That is now becoming a memory and he can concentrate on doing what
he does best – winning tournaments.
Squash Australia |
26-May,
Pakistan:
Naeem, Mahad clinch
junior squash titles
QUETTA, May 26: Favourite Kashif Khan of Sindh fell to
unseeded Farzan Rasheed of Punjab in straight sets in the
U-19 final, however, M Naeem and Mahad Javed won the U-17 and U-13
titles respectively for Sindh on the final day of third Balochistan
National Junior Squash Championship at PSB squash Complex on
Thursday.
Kashif, who created a major upset when he squashed top seeded in the
semifinal was not in fine touch, lost the match 9-1, 9-5, 9-0 in
mere 23 minutes. It was Naeem who first won the medal for Sindh in
the U-17 event by beating his counterpart Shehzad Khan from PAF in
straight sets.
He smashed deadly drops and brilliant volleys to overpower his rival
9-3, 9-3, 9-4.
The second medal winner for Sindh, Mahad Jawad had to fight hard
after winning two sets 9-1, 9-5 easily.
He dropped the next two sets 7-9, 4-9 as promising boy Ahmed Amin
(Punjab) bounced back in the match with great drop shots. The last
set of the match ended in a thriller as the score reached eight all
at one occasion, but Jawad held his nerves to win the last set 10-8
after 73 minutes.
It was a great acheivement for Sindh as we had not won any Junior
medal since 2000, a Sindh Squash Association official said.
Results:
U-19 Farzan Rasheed (Punjab) beat Kashif Khan Sindh)
9-1, 9-5, 9-0
U-17 M Naeem (Sindh) beat Shehzad Khan (PAF)
9-3, 9-3, 9-4
U-15 Auranzeb (Punjab) beat Shaikh Saquib Punjab)
9-4, 9-1, 3-9, 9-4
U-13 Mahad Javed (Sindh) beat Ahmed Amin Punjab)
9-1, 9-5, 7-9, 4-9, 10-8
Dawn |
 |
Squash
SHORTS
News extracts from around
the world,
extracted by Steve Cubbins ...
contribute |
Issue 8
w/e 22-May-05 |
21-May, Dubai:
Al Habtoor
Motors claim
Dubai 3s trophy
Tracy Brand/Gulf News
DUBAI — Al Habtoor Motors Internationals, led by Renan Lavigne
of France, overcame Raymond Sport International 2-1 in the final to
win the Dhow Trophy of the Dubai Squash 3s which concluded at the
Dubai Country Club here yesterday.
Lavigne, ranked 24th in the world, showed his class in the opening
match against Phil Barker of Raymond Sport with an easy 15-8,
15-11, 15-8 to put his side on the way to victory.
Hadrian Stiff, also pursuing his ambition to be in the world
top 30, made it 2-0 for the new champions after some resistance from
Del Harris. Stiff, who has a current ranking of 15 in the UK,
took the opening game 15-8.
But Harris, the youngest player to win the British Championship when
he was 17 year-old, stretched Stiff in the second before surrendering
11-15. He put up the same fight in the third but that could not save
the game as Stiff won the game 15-10 and the match.
The match between Lee Drew of Habtoor Motors and Paul
Johnson of Raymond Sport provided a fitting finale to the
championship. It was a match between two-left handers where Johnson
had to draw on all his resources before scraping to a hard-fought 3-2
win.
 Johnson took the opening game 15-11 but Drew came back strongly to
level 1-1 after taking the second game 15-9. Johnson, a former top
five in the world and UK No.1, again took the lead 2-1 after winning
the third game 15-13. Though Drew took the fourth 15-11, Johnson
recovered to capture the fifth game 15-11. Raymond Kelly gave away the
trophy to Habtoor Motors.
"I knew it was going to be tough," Johnson said. "I was happy to use
my experience while playing a younger player like Lee. I think it was
my experience that made the difference in the end."
The event, in its
21st year, is one of the highlights of the squash calendar organised
each year and currently is the largest competition in Dubai
featuring professional world-ranked players.
The competition is so named because of the number of players on each
team which traditionally pits the professional teams against top
amateur teams.
Andy Staines, chairman of the 3’s committee said during a Press
conference at the Country Club yesterday: “This year we have top
ranked teams from France, Pakistan, Austria, Germany, and South
Africa — so we have some very talented up and coming players who are
very exciting to watch”.
Khaleej Times |
20-May, Pakistan
Never gave up in tough circumstances,
claims Jansher
 Legendary
Squash player Jansher Khan has said that he hung to top spot
in squash for a long time through sheer hard work and
commitment.
While talking to a private channel, Former World Squash
Champion Jansher Khan said that during his squash career he
had to come across various problems but he came out of them
successfully.
Replying to a question, he said that his parents wanted him
to continue studies but he jumped into the field of squash.
He said that in the initial stage he had to struggle a great
deal, as he had no money even to buy squash rackets, balls
and even joggers.
"I never gave up in hardships", he claimed.
Responding to a question, Squash Maestro said that his ideal
players were legends Jahanghir Khan, Atlas Khan, Mohibullah.
They helped him a lot during his career, he stressed.
He opined that if the players are not trained properly then
he or she cannot win laurels for the country as it is a
tough field.
Pak Tribune |
19-May, Australia
Mongolian Squash Team in Visa Mixup
The Mongolian squash team failed to make it to the 2005 Arafura
Games in the Northern Australia city of Darwin, due to a visa mix
up.
Because there is no Australian embassy in Mongolia the team had to
cross the Chinese border to make their visa application.
The team phoned Chinese officials about when they could collect the
visas.
But Arafura Games event director, Salli Cohen, says someone forgot
to tell them about a national public holiday and the visa office was
deserted.
Ms Cohen said the team had to return home empty handed.
"They were so keen to come and we were so keen to have them," she
said.
The Arafura Games were officially opened on Saturday night at
Darwin's Marrara Stadium.
Almost 3,000 athletes from 30 nations competed in 31 sports from
athletics and swimming to the southeast Asian favourite sepak
takraw, or volleyball, played with the feet.
Radio Australia |
|
19-May, Malaysia
Malaysia backs Squash and Karate
Five sports are bidding to gain acceptance into the Olympic
Games programme but Malaysia will have a keen interest on only
two of them – karate and squash.
 The
IOC executive board will review the programme for the 2012
Games on July 8 with a voting process and the Olympic Council
of Malaysia (OCM) president, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku
Ja’afar, hopes that karate and squash will get the nod.
“We already have athletes who have reached world standards in
these two sports,” said Imran.
“It will be good for Malaysia if these two sports make the
list. It will help lessen the burden of delivering medals on
the badminton players each time it comes to the Olympics.”
The Star |
|
19-May, England
Great season for Small Club
NEWBIGGIN Squash Club members are celebrating its most
successful year ever as the 2004/05 squash season comes to an
end.
Playing in the Northumbria Squash Leagues, the club completed
a remarkable treble, with the first team winning the
prestigious Premier league title for the first time ever, the
second team gaining promotion to the Premier League by
finishing runners up in Division One and the third team
gaining promotion to Division Two from Division Three.
If all that were not enough, two club stalwarts have been
picked to represent England in this summer's Home
Internationals.
Newbiggin, despite being a small club, have a history of
turning out strong and competitive first teams, but the
ultimate prize of the Premier League title has always eluded
them until this year.
News Post Leader |
17-May, England
Potters Bar returning to squash
glory
By Paul Wreyford
 Potters
Bar Squash Club are beginning to relive the glory days.
The club, now part of DHC Potters Bar Health Club, in Mount
Grace Road, are once again winning top honours in the world of
squash.
From being one of the top clubs in the country in the 1980s,
their prominence on the national squash circuit diminished
significantly over the years.
But now the good days appear to be back. The club's first team
won the Hertfordshire League this season, while the Vintage
side (Over-50s) won the Middlesex County League.
The first team had a fantastic season and lost just one match,
despite the fact that four regular players were missing.
The season culminated in a final title decider against
Harpenden Squash Club at Mount Grace Road, which they won
comfortably.
Edgware Times |
19 May, India:
Manchanda appointed Squash Observer
 The
Government of India has appointed Brig (retd) Raj Manchanda
as Observer for Squash.
His duties will include ensuring fair play during tournaments,
selection of teams representing India and various other areas
pertaining to Squash Racquets Federation of India.
Brig Manchanda became national champion at the age of 32 and
retained the crown for six years in succession in the 1980s.
He continues to win titles in the senior age groups.
He has represented India, and once took on Jehangir Khan in
the final of the Asian Team Championship in Pakistan.
Manchanda matched Jehangir well in the first game with several
stunning winners.
Mid-Day Mumbai |
19-May, Trinidad & Tobago
Champions Upset
in Opener
DEFENDING champions QPCC (Queen's Park Cricket Club) Hard Core
were slaughtered when Division A of the National Squash League
served off Wednesday night at the Queen's Park Oval Squash
Club.
A battle royale was expected between Hard Core and a new-look
QPCC Old Navy. But last year's winners, led by former multiple
national champ Richard Hart, proved no match for Old Navy and
were soundly whipped 4-1.
Rick Avey, a former Davis Cup tennis player who only joined
the side this season, won the only match for Hard Core when he
upset Marc Pontifex 7-9, 9-6, 9-1, 7-9, 9-5.
New members of the Old Navy roster, Josh Pinard, the national
under-19 champion, and Adam Alkins, just out of juniors,
joined Ryan Jagessar and national champ Paul Jerome De
Verteuil in winners' row.
Trinidad & Tobago Express |
|
20-May, England,
Times Online:
Khan's quest for Olympic inclusion
By Matthew Syed
 Matthew
Syed outraged the squash world with an article published in The
Times during the British Open ... he went some way to making amends
with this new article ...
DO YOU, like me, shudder at the prospect of golf or rugby union
joining the Olympic Games? It is bad enough having to put up with
the likes of football and tennis, whose athletes seem to regard the
greatest sporting event on earth as a second holiday.
Which is one of the reasons why squash ought to be at the top of the
ballot paper when the IOC votes on July 8 as to which sports, if
any, to add to the Games of 2012. If members of the blazered brigade
bestow their favours upon this cruelly overlooked sport, they can at
least be assured that the players will express their gratitude by
fighting for gold as if their lives depended on it.
Jahangir Khan, who went unbeaten for five years, seven months and
one day during the 1980s, summed up what Olympic status would mean.
“It would give the sport an unbelievable boost,” he said. “The
Olympics would instantly become the most prestigious title, which
would make for a great spectacle in 2012. Unlike some of the other
candidates for inclusion, squash is a game of real athleticism.”
 It
certainly is. I met Khan at the Brit Insurance Super Series Finals
in London and within minutes of sitting down with the great man to
watch Lee Beachill against James Willstrop (two of the world’s top
players, both from Pontefract, Yorkshire) I found myself wincing in
sympathy. Each rally is a mini epic, transporting the players to the
outer limits of exhaustion as they dance around each other in
elaborate semicircles. It is near- impossible to kill a rally — the
harder the ball is hit, the more it seems to bounce.
Full article on Times Online |
19-May, England
Anger after squash club
battlers are kicked out
TWO protesters fighting against the development of a famous squash
club have had their memberships terminated.
Clan Real Estates applied to demolish the popular Lambs Squash
Club in Lamb's Passage, Finsbury, and replace it with a
nine-storey block of flats.
The club - sold to the developers for £4million by former club owner
Mike Corby - is considered by enthusiasts to be the squash
equivalent of Wimbledon.
Club member Ken Pottinger set up a campaign to save it,
gaining support from former Islington South and Finsbury MP Chris
Smith.
And earlier this month Islington Council's assistant director of
planning, Graham Loveland, threw out the application after more than
200 objections.
Mr Loveland said: "The existing sports facilities on site contribute
to the character and liveliness of the area, and play an important
role in the borough and the wider area in the provision of indoor
sports facilities."
 But
the protesters received a blow when Mr Pottinger and ladies' captain
Tania Loughran's memberships were terminated.
Mr Pottinger said: "Thanks to the success of the campaign, Mike
Corby has thrown us out of the club. This is totally unacceptable.
As president of Squash England, he is responsible for developing the
game at grassroots level. It's a little invidious to start chucking
out members just because they've voiced their opinions."
Mr Corby said: "Tania Loughran has had a free membership for the
past 18 months because she is meant to be helping us. It was
terminated because she said and wrote things that are creating
confusion and bewilderment among our staff.
"It's a shame but the campaigners have to accept that squash at
Lambs is dead. Even if the planning permission is refused again the
courts will be turned into a gymnasium."
Islington Gazette |
Wales, 17-May
Squash played a winning role
in Leeke's expansion
Gareth Morgan, Western Mail
THE millionaire head of the Leekes family business has told how
sponsoring a squash tournament helped his retail empire skyrocket.
Gerald Leeke, 63, said his commitment to the sport was a
turning point that helped take the family name on a journey from
Rhondda builders' merchants to the national out-of-town chain
recognised nationwide today. Squash may not be as high-profile as
football or rugby but it has helped the company spread its profile
far and wide.
And Mr Leeke, who is ranked 17th most wealthy Welshman on The Sunday
Times Rich List, said that while he has invested a lot of money in
sport over the years, it has given a lot back to his business
interests. The Leekes empire is now worth an estimated £70m.
In 1989, Mr Leeke was approached by Adrian Davies, a young and cocky
professional squash player from Llanelli who had a vision of
establishing a world-class team in South Wales.
Within two years they were regularly winning the UK premier league
title.
 Then
came the clincher.
"We decided it would be good to bring the British Open down from
Wembley - it is like the Wimbledon of squash," he said.
"I am an enthusiastic follower, and played a lot of sport, from
cricket to rugby to squash.
"But I still liked to think that if we were spending money then we
would be getting some credit for it. This was a way of getting the
top 50 players in world squash down to Cardiff, and just for a
couple of hundred grand." At the time it offered the largest prize
money in the world of squash.
 That
investment brought big names like the legendary Jahangir Khan of
Pakistan to South Wales, attracting huge attention.
Mr Leeke, who qualified as a chartered accountant before joining the
family business in Treorchy, said, "At the time, Leekes was becoming
known as the out-of-town department store and the idea was to get
national coverage, way beyond South Wales."
Although when the company opened its three stores across Wales and
the West Country it would have more money available to invest in
sport, this relatively modest start had a huge impact.
The company was instrumental in helping establish a contract between
Sky Sports and squash governing-body the PSA, and of course there
were company logos plastered all over the event.
"Soon enough people were noticing this and thinking, 'Gosh, I did
not think Leekes was as big as that'."
Despite pumping in excess of £2m into squash sponsorship between
1989 and 1997, Mr Leeke is convinced it started a beneficial
relationship between his company and sport.
"It has been a two-way process," he said. "You can spend a lot of
money on advertising; to spend a couple of hundred grand on sport
and spend that in the public eye is a good investment.
"If I was not interested in sport I would no doubt have found other
things to invest in.
 "But
as a company we are very interested in sport - it is a chance to
enjoy yourself too."
Leekes has gone on to become a huge retail success and recognisable
chain in its own right, while Mr Leeke's links with sports did not
stop there. He went on to establish new interests like the Vale of
Glamorgan Resort and Spa - home of two top-quality golf courses.
Last weekend it hosted the annual Challenge Tour, a major golf
tournament, on its first visit to South Wales.
And next week it will welcome the British and Irish Lions squad
after coach Sir Clive Woodward was impressed by the facilities on
offer. "Sir Clive was over the moon when he came here. The Lions
have already stayed here for a couple of days and the English lads
said they could not believe the facilities on offer," added Mr
Leeke.
IC Wales |
Squash
SHORTS
News extracts from around
the world,
extracted by Steve Cubbins ...
contribute |
Issue 7
w/e 15-May-05
SHORTS ARCHIVE |
14-May, South Africa:
Hansen and Swartz
take SA Titles
 Johannesburg
- Adrian Hansen and Tenille Swartz have emerged
triumphant after the completion of the SA National Squash
Championships.
For Hansen victory was very sweet particularly after a disastrous
2004 when he was involved in two car accidents suffering injuries
which forced him to scratch in the final against Craig van der Wath
and put him out of the Test series against the Netherlands in June.
Hansen, who became the first Kwazulu Natalian to win the national
title in 2003 when he defeated Rodney Durbach, lost the first game
5-9 but his relentless retrieving had Durbach at sixes and sevens as
the Kwazulu Natalian slipped through the second game at 9-7.
Both players struggled to gain control in the fourth game but it was
Hansen who again notched it at 10-8.
More confident and willing to take chances, Hansen dominated play in
the fourth game which he pocketed 9-3 against a surprisingly out of
sync top seed, who is ranked 32 in the world.
Swartz's victory although perhaps slightly unexpected was the cherry
on the top of her 18th birthday celebrations.
In the first game Nitch held game ball twice at 8-6 but tenacious
play by the Grade 12 learner saw her win it at 10-8. Unforced errors
by Nitch, who has won the title a record nine times, together with a
string of attacking shots by Swartz saw the second seed pocket the
second game 9-6 and race to a 7-0 lead in the decider.
Nitch clawed back to trail 4-7 but Swartz sensing victory applied
more pressure and won the match on her fifth match point.
To add to her delight Swartz was named as captain and number one
player in the SA National under-19 side which will participate in
the World Junior Team championships in Belgium from July 21 to 31.
Third place in the men's event went to Mike Tootill who reversed his
defeat in the Men's 35-39 event by beating Craig van der Wath 3-2
with Farrah Fenner finishing third in the women's event when Nadine
Harber was forced to scratch because of a knee injury. - Sapa
Independent Online |
10-May, South Africa
SA players for
Squash Games
 Johannesburg
- Rodney Durbach and Tenille Swartz have been
selected to represent South Africa at the World Squash
Games in Duisburg, Germany, from July 16 to 19.
Some 15 countries including Australia, Great Britain, and
Egypt will be seen in action where the qualifying criteria
was a finish in the top 10 in either of the Men's World Team
or Women's World Team Championships.
The competition will be fierce with Australia's Rachel
Grinham and Vanessa Atkinson, ranked one and two in the
world respectively, heading the women's seedings and
France's Thierry Lincou and Peter Nicol of England, also
ranked one and two in the world respectively, topping the
men's.
Manager of the SA team is Richard Castle who has recently
been appointed national coach. Castle's appointment has been
made possible by funding from the Lotto.
Squash South Africa, because of financial constraints, has
not had a national coach since 1994 and as with all
federations competing in the international arena, this
position is vital in taking the sport forward.
Castle, presently based in Somerset West, is ranked in the
country's top 20 and has coached Adrian Hansen, Glenn
Whittaker and Farrah Ferner as well as a number of the
country's up-and-coming juniors. He coached the
KwaZulu-Natal men's squad when they swept to victory in the
2003 Jarvis Cup - the annual interprovincial - winning all
three sections.
News24 |
11-May, USA:
Corporate Squash Emerges in New York City
The second “MSRA Corporate Squash Challenge” has kicked-off
in New York City. The tournament is taking place across various
clubs in Manhattan between April 29th and May 22nd. The event will
be held across a number of facilities in the New York City area,
including the Harvard, Yale, Princeton and New York Sports Clubs in
Manhattan.
The second “MSRA Corporate Squash Challenge” has kicked-off in New
York City. The tournament is taking place across various clubs in
Manhattan between April 29th and May 22nd. The event will be held
across a number of facilities in the New York City area, including
the Harvard, Yale, Princeton and New York Sports Clubs in Manhattan.
Leveraging on the success of the inaugural tournament which received
10 firm entries, the second round of the tournament will include 13
firms and about 26 teams (a firm may submit multiple entries for
different divisions). The 13 firms include the pre-eminent
investment banking and financial services firms in the world (in
alphabetical order):
1. American Express
2. Bear Stearns
3. Citigroup
4. Credit Suisse First Boston
5. Deutsche Bank
6. Goldman Sachs
7. JP Morgan
8. KPMG Corporate Finance
9. Lehman Brothers
10. Morgan Stanley
11. Prudential Financial
12. UBS
13. Warburg Pincus
eMediaWire |
|
09-May, Malaysia:
Sally shows her class
By D. MAHESHWARI
 SALLY
LOOI continued to dominate the SportExcel Premier Squash
Championships when she clinched the girls’ title for the
second consecutive time at the National Squash Centre in Bukit
Jalil yesterday.
After her victorious outing last month in the first leg, the
18-year-old national junior from Petaling Jaya was once again
in her element as she whipped Hong Kong’s Joey Chan 9-0, 9-5,
9-0.
Sally recently scored a first for herself when she advanced to
her first ever quarter-finals – in the Taranaki Open – since
turning professional this year.
Fourteen-year-old Penang- born Low Wee Wern (left) beat Leung
Shin Ngu of Hong Kong 9-4, 2-9, 9-4, 9-6 to finish third.
While Joey and Shin Ngu failed, their male compatriot Anson
Kwong was crowned champion when he beat Ivan Yuen 9-1, 9- 2,
9-4.
Meanwhile, Penang’s Jesmond Low and Misaki Kobayatsu of Japan
were crowned the boys’ and girls’ Under-19 champion in the 3rd
leg of the SportExcel- NSC-Milo-MSSM National Championships.
Jesmond downed Mithran Selva of Perak 9-5, 7-9, 9-0, 10-8
while Misaki upstaged Zulhijjah Azan of Kuala Lumpur 9-3, 9-7,
6-9, 10-8.
Results (All finals)
Boys’ Under-13: Kala Devan (Sel) bt Al Ardy Ally (Phg) 9-3,
9-3, 9-2
Under-11: Al Nick Ally (Phg) bt Shaun Kwan (KL) 9-2, 10-8, 9-2
Girls’ Under-13: Leong Sue Ann (Sel) bt A. Logana (NS) 9-1,
9-2, 9-7
Under-11: Celine Yeap (Pg) bt Cheryl Lee (Sel) 9-2, 9-7
Malay Mail |
13-May, Barbados:
Top men in Barbados Quarters
ACTION heated up on Wednesday night in the Men's Open of the
Barbados Olympic Association sponsored national squash
championships currently being played at Marine House courts.
Seven of the top eight men's seeds made it safely through the
first round to advance to the men's quarter-finals.
The top seed and defending men's champion, Shawn Simpson,
had few problems in disposing of national junior player, Alex
Garcia, 9/1, 9/6, 9/2. Simpson will next take on the local
Under-17 and Under-19 champion, Bryant Cumberbatch, the
number five seed who eased past Roger Martin in straight games
9/7, 9/6, 9/1.
Number three seed, Nigel Griffith, easily defeated Tim
O'Neal 9/2, 9/6, 9/3 and will face Craig Archer in the
quarterfinals. Archer enjoyed a fortuitous walkover when his
opponent, number eight seed Fabian Goodridge, failed to show
up for his match. In the bottom half of the draw, number two
seed, Marlon White looked comfortable against former
Barbados' junior representative, Ryan Truss, and won 9/5, 9/7,
9/2.
In the quarters, White will meet number seven Richard
Moorjani who dropped the second game against Orson Simpson
before closing out strongly to win 9/1, 4/9, 9/3, 9/0.
Barbados Advocate |
|
11-May,
England:
Islington refuses developers application to
demolish Lambs:
The determination was made May 10, 2005. A summary provided to the
Lambs Action Group by Cllr Steve Hitchins Leader, Islington Council,
says in part: The reasons for refusal relate to: design of the
proposed scheme; standard of the proposed residential units within
the scheme; impact on neighbouring properties; setting of the
adjacent listed building; and the loss of sports facilities.
The loss of the Squash Club as a reason for refusal was considered
at length ... (as) this issue is not clear cut in terms of the
Council's policies. However having considered our polices,
those of the London Plan and the national planning guidance
PPG17 (recreation and leisure, it was considered that a reason for
refusal along these grounds could be sustained. Further weight was
given to this reason for refusal by the receipt of 200 letters of
objection, including letters from Sport England and the Corporation
of London (as an adjoining Borough).
|
13-May, Pakistan:
Jahangir pushes Olympic Bid
World Squash Federation (WSF) president and former Pakistan legend
Jahangir Khan said the body was pushing for the game to be included
in the 2012 Olympics.
Jahangir, who with compatriot Jansher Khan dominated international
squash in the 1980s and 1990s, said the game should replace one of
the 28 existing summer Olympic sports which are due to be put to a
vote later this year. “The WSF is lobbying hard for squash getting a
place in the Olympics,” he told AFP. “We were disappointed when it
was not included for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.”
Squash along with golf, rugby, roller-sports and karate, will vie
for a possible place at the 2012 Games if any of the existing 28
Olympic sports is removed by the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) on July 8. The IOC earlier this month decided that all 28
Olympic sports will face the vote in Singapore in two months time
and must win a majority vote from IOC members to avoid being
dropped.
The decision is opposed by some of the IOC members but if the voting
comes about and any sport is axed, the IOC Executive Board will
select a replacement from the five applicants. No sport has been
axed from the Olympics since polo from 1936 Berlin Olympics. “I am
very hopeful because some of the Olympic sports do not have any
appeal for the public as well as for the television audience and I
hope squash is on the verge of an Olympic place,” said Jahangir.
“Squash is played worldwide and the choice of venues in squash
offers more charms than a lots of other sports to earn a place in
the 2012 Olympic Games,” he said. The IOC is likely to decide in
July the host city of the 2012 Olympics with London, Paris, New
York, Moscow and Madrid in hot pursuit. “All those cities who are
bidding to host the 2012 Games have exciting venues for squash,”
said Jahangir, who has won six world and a record ten British open
titles. afp
Daily Times |
10-May, New
Zealand:
Bay woman to take on the big boys
Shane Hurndell
 Hawke's
Bay women's squash player Shelly Te Uki will set a first for
the province's Super League which begins tonight.
The Hastings A2 grader will play in the men's section of the third
annual More FM Super League. Unbeaten in the top women's berth last
year, Te Uki, has the No.3 men's spot in the Hawke's Bay
Refrigeration side.
"I don't want the switch to be seen as a put-down of other women in
the competition ... I'm making the move in the hope it will motivate
me to do a bit more," she said.
"Hopefully, it will see me better prepared for the district
eliminations later in the year and the Squash Eastern rep team
should I have time to play for them," said the mum of three girls -
a 10-year-old and three-year-old twins.
Hawkes Bay Today |
 10-May,
England:
WISPA Introduces Mentoring
A mentoring initiative intended to smooth the early years for
younger players on the women's world squash circuit has been
introduced for the membership of the Women's International Squash
Players' Association (WISPA)
The scheme, which will be managed by England's world No8 Jenny
Tranfield (a PhD in Sports Psychology), WISPA Executive Director
Andrew Shelley and consultant Bob Morrison, will link
a mentor (i.e. an experienced Tour player) with a newly-joined one
(which WISPA is calling a mentee).
 "The
advantages for the mentee include advice, of course, but the
benefits extend beyond this," explained Shelley. "The overall goal
is greater enjoyment and overall an improved Tour experience for
WISPA members." Full Details |
May 11, India:
Squash Gains Ground in India
Squash in India is a sport that is slowly but surely making its way
up.
The Indian Oil-Otters Open Squash Tournament is one of the
few showcases for national squash talent.
A constant complaint from the senior players has been that besides
the national there is a lack of opportunity to play squash and make
a living off the sport.
 However,
the younger bunch is slightly more optimistic. India's future squash
prospects are bright with the likes of Ritwik Bhattacharya
and Saurav Ghoshal who are already ranked on the
international circuit.
They agree that there isn't enough backing for the racket game but
say it is up to them to do well.
"If we can perform at senior level also, then maybe the priorities
of the sports ministry will change, they will start supporting us. A
lot depends on us and on how we perform. After all the government
does have its limitations, it cannot support all sports," said
Sourav Ghoshal, winner, Indian Oil-Otters Open.
 Top
ranked women's player Joshna Chinappa has been in the
limelight thanks to some recent success. She believes once Indian
squash comes of age, it will be on par with international standards,
giving Indian players a level playing field on world courts.
There's plenty of work still to be done for Indian squash to be able
to create an impact on the world scene. But the success of
tournaments like the Otters Open with prize money of about Rs 3
lakhs indicate the future of the sport might be well served in the
country.
NDTV.com |
Squash
SHORTS
News extracts from around
the world,
extracted by Steve Cubbins ...
contribute |
Issue 6
w/e 02-May-05 |
30-April,
England
WISPA Launch
On-Line Entry
 WISPA is launching a new service which will enable its members
to make their WISPA World Tour event entries directly on-line.
Additionally, they will be able to withdraw their name before
entries close and instantly view current entry lists.
"By entering the Members Area of the WISPA website and logging in
with their personal password they will be able to manage their
entries at any time of the day from anywhere in the world without it
needing to be processed by the office during our business hours,"
commented WISPA Executive Director Andrew Shelley.
The arrival of on-line entry is another facet of the general
enhancement of services for members and promoters that is being
taken forward by the Women's International Squash Players'
Association.
|
 Squash
in the (Island) Games
While squash is still hopeful of inclusion in the Olympics,
one milestone has been reached with its inclusion for the
first time in the Island Games, which features 15
sports from Archery to Volleyball. The Island games are
called the "friendly games", but are taken very seriously by
the participating islands.
To be held this year in Shetland from 9-15 June, nine
islands have confirmed their participation: Bermuda,
Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey,
Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles.
The Cayman Islands were hoping to compete, but due to
Hurricane Ivan they have been without squash courts for the
last six months so cannot make it.
Scottish squash are supporting the games, and sending a
technical team up to Shetland. The squash will take place on
three new courts at the Clickimin Centre, which feature
moveable walls to provide two doubles courts.
Full details on
www.shetland2005.info
|
28-April, England
End of an era as squash club closes
A sports club which has been a focal point of a Shropshire town for
more than 35 years will close its doors for the final time today.
Shifnal Squash Club is set to be demolished to make way for a
housing development
Owner Brian Downing said: "The staff are sad and I am sad, but it is
a bit of both really, it's a mixture of sadness and excitement."
The building, off Aston Street, will be bulldozed as part of a
multi-million pound scheme to build 41 homes, including a mixture of
two and three-storey apartments and houses.
Developer Westbury Homes is expected to move in next week and work
is likely to last for about a year.
Mr Downing, who has owned the club for 18 years, said that the last
few years had been difficult and he was pleased that he was now able
to look to the future.
Shropshire Star |
|
28-April, India
Top players for
Otters squash
 India number one and men’s top seed
Saurav Ghosal and women’s top
seed Joshna Chinappa will seek to defend their titles when the
Indian Oil-Otters Open Squash Tournament to be held at the Otters
Club from May 1 to 7.
Ghosal will face a strong challenge from the formidable Manish
Chotrani of Mumbai and Gaurav Nandrajog and Amjad Khan of Delhi.
Ghosal will also have the added responsibility of defending the
boys’ under-19 title, where he faces another challenging line-up
that includes local lads Manek Mathur, Rushabh Vora and Vikram
Malhotra.
Joshna Chinappa will be up against the likes of fancied Dr Deepali
Anvekar.
Mid-Day Mumbai |
|
25-April, Barbados
Marlon White wins another Over-35 title
MARLON WHITE continued his good form on Friday night, making claim
to another title in the Barbados Olympic Association sponsored
Veteran s Squash Championships.
The top seed and defending champion, White carried off another
National Over-35 squash title as the competition continued at the
Barbados Squash Club s Marine House courts, Hastings.
In his final round robin match White faced some stern resistance
from Jason Small, who managed to win a close second game before
White turned up the pressure and won at a canter 9/5, 7/9, 9/0, 9/1.
In other action on Friday night, the top two seeds in the men s
Over-40 event safely swept through to the final in sharply
contrasting fashion.
Number two seed Mark Sealy imperiously dismissed the number four
seed, Craig Archer, in 20 minutes for the loss of only five points,
9/2, 9/1, 9/2.
On the other hand, top seed Nigel Griffith, who is the defending
Barbados Southern Caribbean and Caribbean Over-40 champion was
severely tested in a marathon semi-final by number three seed, John
Cumberbatch. He bravely clawed his way back from 0-2 down in games,
to two all, and then led Griffith 5-0 in the fifth and deciding
game.
However, the indomitable Griffith then dug in deep down to somehow
find another gear and called on all his reserves of stamina and
bravery to reel off nine straight points to defeat his opponent 9/7,
9/6, 3/9, 5/9, 9/5 in 55 minutes, the longest match of the
tournament.
Barbados Advocate |
|
 30-April,
Netherlands
Mamut
goes Dutch
The Dutch Open has found a new sponsor in Mamut, the business
software company that last year sponsored the English and Oslo
Opens.
To be held in Almere on 31st May to 5th June, the event features PSA
and WISPA draws, with an exceptionally strong entry expected for the
$31k women's event.
 Frank van Loon, director of Squash Bond Nederland, is very
content with the promotion squash in the Netherlands. "With half a
million regular squash players the Netherlands belongs to one of the
leading squash countries in the world.
"Last year we had the World Team Championship for females and this
year we have the European Team Championship for men and women and
the Mamut Dutch Open Squash 2005."
Full details |
 US
Professional Champs adds women's event
Bob Hanscom, LAAC Squash Professional reports ...
The 2005 United States Professional Squash Championships will again
be hosted by The Los Angeles Athletic Club, over the weekend of
June 23-26, 2005.
George P. Sape, Managing Partner for the law firm of Epstein
Becker & Green has confirmed that his firm will once again be
the Title Sponsor.
Celebrating its fifth-year, the event will have a new format this
year, with a women’s professional division being added. In addition
to the top eight U.S. male professional players, the event will
feature eight of the top female players living in America today as
well. The event is sanctioned by both the USSRA and WISPA.
Full details |
28-April, Australia
McKay backs Squash for Olympics
 Squash is on the program for next year's Melbourne Commonwealth
Games but the sport's greatest ever player Heather McKay believes it
should also be included in the 2012 Olympics.
McKay, recently inducted into the nation's Squash Hall of Fame, says
the sport's inclusion in the Olympics will propel it to greater
recognition in Australia, a country that has already produced an
abundance of champions.
Michelle Martin and Sarah Fitz-Gerald, two former world champions
who followed in McKay's giant footsteps, won gold medals for
Australia at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur and 2002 Manchester Commonwealth
Games.
But squash is still battling for credibility at the Olympic level
and is currently locked in a dogfight with rugby union, golf and
roller sports for inclusion in the 2012 Games.
"I hope it'll keep growing and when we get into the Olympics, and
I'm sure we will, I think that'll give it a tremendous boost," McKay
said.
"That will certainly drive it on a little bit more throughout the
world and give it a lot more recognition."
Sydney Morning Herald |
01-May, Pakistan
PSF
disciplinary committee
to probe Rehmat, Farhan clash
 ISLAMABAD: The disciplinary committee of Pakistan Squash Federation
(PSF) will meet in a few days to probe differences between squash
coach Rehmat Khan and player Farhan Mahboob.
The national coach a few days ago had exchanged hot words with
Farhan at the sports complex when Farhan reportedly refused to
follow the coach’s instructions during the training.
Reports said that assistant coach Ayyaz Khan, who is a nephew of
senior coach Rehmat Khan, also had a physical clash with Farhan.
Other players present at that time, however, prevented a fight.
An official of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) said that the
matter was not that serious as it was made out to be.
Secretary PSF Wing Commander Zulfiqar Ahmmed said that the matter
had been brought to the notice of Air Marshal Rashid Kaleem, Senior
Vice President PSF, and he would soon call the disciplinary
committee meeting to sort it out.
The members of the disciplinary committee are Wing Commander M
Zulfiqar Ahmed, Secretary PSF, Secretaries of provincial squash
associations and two Pakistan Squash Federation Vice Presidents
Qamar Zaman and Mansoor Khan - both former squash players
Pakistan Times |
01-May, Canada
Edmison & Pritchard
win national junior squash titles
Third-seed Stephanie Edmison of Toronto upset number-one seed Neha
Kumar of Oakville, Ont., to win the women's under-19 final Sunday at
the 2005 Canadian junior squash championships.
Edmison overcame a 0-2 deficit to win 8-10, 6-9, 10-8, 9-1, 9-5.
Last year the two players met in the under-17 final with Kumar
taking the title. Edmison also fought back from 0-2 in that game but
lost the fifth game.
"I wanted revenge," said Edmison, a 17-year-old high school student.
"In the first two games today I felt really nervous. So I tried to
focus on the aspects that got me to the final such as my speed,
endurance and determination."
 In the men's under-19 final, top-seed
Keith Pritchard beat Patrick
Bedore fellow Calgarian 9-7, 9-6, 5-9, 9-1. Bedore, seeded seventh,
also impressed this week eliminating the number-two and three seeds
on his way to the final.
"I know Patrick well and I wasn't surprised to see him in the
final," said Pritchard. "He had been playing well leading into the
tournament. He does a lot of talking with the refs so I tried to
stay away from that and keep focused. I was pleased with how I
overcame the pressure to win as top-seed in my hometown."
The Canadian Press |
Squash
SHORTS
News extracts from around
the world ... |
Issue 5
w/e 24-Apr-05 |
Australia, 23-Apr:
Indian Juniors Down Under
3 top Indian Juniors (Dipika Pallikal, Anwesha Reddy &
Harita Omprakash) accompanied by National Coach Cyrus
Poncha arrived into Adelaide on 13Apr on a 25 day tour. We will
participate in the Australian national junior series (15-23 April)
and undergo a 2 week (25 April - 7 May) training stint at the
Victorian Institute of Sports.
The first of the 2 tournaments started on the 15April and the Indian
girls did very well to clinch 2 titles, the under 13 title claimed
by Harita Omprakash playing only her 2nd international event and the
under 15 title went to Dipika Pallikal, claiming her 2nd title in
2005 after winning the French Junior in Feb.
Anwesha Reddy claimed the 5th place in the Girls u15 losing only to
team mate Dipika.
All girls train at the India Cements Squash academy in Chennai.
While the path to the no 1 positions were not all that easy the
INDIAN too made short work of their opponents winning the finals in
straight games.
We now look forward to the next tournament and have great
expectations and hopes that the second one would be as good as the
first.
The link for the tournament is
www.squashsa.asn.au
Girls u-13
R 1- Harita Omprakash beat Kathryn Cousins(SA) -
9-0,9-0,9-0
QF- Harita Omprakash beat Alyssa Mcimerney(SA) -
9-7,9-0,9-0
SF- Harita Omprakash beat Crystal Tahata (NZ) -
9-7,10-8,9-10,9-5
Finals - Harita Ompraksh beat Moana Mclelland (NZ) -
9-7,9-3,9-6
Girls u-15
R 1- Dipika Pallikal (bye)
Anwesha Reddy (bye)
R 2- Dipika Pallikal beat Cassie Reilly (WA) -9-0,9-1,9-2
Anwesha Reddy beat Catherine Carlson (NZ) -9-0,9-1,9-3
QF- Dipika Pallikal beat Anwesha Reddy -9-6,9-1,9-3
SF- Dipika Pallikal beat Lana Harrison (NZ) -9-4,9-1,9-4
Finals - Dipika Pallikal beat Zoe Petrovansky (QLD) -
9-1,9-2,9-6
5th - 8th place - Anwesha Reddy beat Mikayla Maricic(WA)
-9-3,9-0,5-9,9-4
5th -6th place - Anwesha Reddy beat Grazia Gudia ((VIC)
9-2,9-4,9-0
|
England, 21-Apr:
SAD END TO OUR SQUASH CLUB
Some readers will know of the very sad demise of Frome
Squash Club, essentially to make way for more housing (see
shorts #1)
It has existed in Adderwell Road for nearly 40 years and has
been a gem of a sports facility, largely ignored save for
the many who have passed through to play squash.
The club has been hanging by a knife edge for a number of
years. The owners of the site were asked for a stay of
execution to allow for the fact that Westbury Homes is some
way off developing the Cuprinol site.
It has to be said that the owners have been quite
philanthropic over the years but at the end had the
requisite merciless streak.
Frome has now lost a very valuable sports facility which has
no comparison. The fact it catered for several junior
England players has gone ignored. The fact that it catered
for several schools and other children has also been
ignored.
Little effort was made to determine how such a facility
should be replaced. Less sports facilities and yet more
housing.
Mendip District Council has absolved itself of
responsibility by remarking that all the Section 106 monies
were allocated to affordable housing and there were other
plans for a similar facility in Frome which were a
non-starter.
All very ironic considering the agreed need for children in
particular to take up sport and the current political clap
trap about health and the drain on the NHS of unhealthy
people.
Welcome to fat Frome.
MAX DELLWHITE
Tytherington
Somerset Standard |
Pakistan, 23-Apr
Pakistan Open
Back On
The Pakistan Open Squash Championship will be held in
Karachi from 22 July to 29 July 2005, with a $65,000 prize
fund.
James Willstrop wins 2004 event |
|
Germany,
21-Apr:
Olympic Sports to be put to the Vote
Each of the 28 sports in the Summer Olympics will be put to a
vote in July when the IOC decides whether to make changes in
the program for the 2012 Games.
The International Olympic Committee finalized the procedures
Wednesday for the vote, which will be held when the general
assembly meets in Singapore.
The IOC is considering whether to drop any of the existing 28
sports and add any of the five sports hoping to get into the
Olympics golf, rugby, karate, squash and roller sports.
No sport has been cut from the Summer Olympics since polo in
1936.
 IOC
president Jacques Rogge maintains the Olympics must continue
to have a maximum 28 sports, 301 medal events and 10,500
athletes. No new sport will be added unless one is dropped.
"We can have no more than 28 sports, but there is no
obligation to have 28," Rogge said Wednesday. "We could end up
with 26 or 27."
Under the system adopted Wednesday by the IOC executive board,
IOC members will vote by secret ballot July 8 on each of the
28 sports contested in Athens last summer. The IOC has 117
eligible voting delegates.
To stay on the program, a sport must receive a simple majority
of 51 percent. Any sport failing to get a majority will be
dropped for 2012.
If one or more sports go out, the IOC executive board will
meet later on July 8 to decide which of the five sports on the
waiting list should be proposed for admission. The next day,
the IOC assembly will vote by secret ballot on whether to
accept the new sport.
A two-thirds majority is required to be admitted as an Olympic
sport. That would be followed by a simple majority vote for
official inclusion in the 2012 program.
In 2002, Rogge proposed that baseball, softball and modern
pentathlon be removed, and golf and rugby added. But IOC
members resisted and no vote was taken.
The IOC is now carrying out a review of all sports after each
Olympics.
ESPN Sports News |
|
Malaysia,
24-Apr:
| |
