Squash / Skuasy -

kuihkoci

Nicol抯 back on winning track after lifting Qatar Classic title

PETALING JAYA: Women抯 world number one Nicol David proved that she is back at her best after securing her seventh World Tour squash title at the Khalifa Squash and Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar yesterday.

The top seeded Nicol scored a relatively easy win over fifth seed Natalie Grainger of the United States in the final of the Qatar Classic. Nicol won 9-6, 9-4, 10-9 in 43 minutes.

It was a morale boosting win for Nicol after she failed to live up to expectations in the previous two major events

kuihkoci

Nicol抯 back on winning track after lifting Qatar Classic title

PETALING JAYA: Women抯 world number one Nicol David proved that she is back at her best after securing her seventh World Tour squash title at the Khalifa Squash and Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar yesterday.

The top seeded Nicol scored a relatively easy win over fifth seed Natalie Grainger of the United States in the final of the Qatar Classic. Nicol won 9-6, 9-4, 10-9 in 43 minutes.

It was a morale boosting win for Nicol after she failed to live up to expectations in the previous two major events

dexa

Nicol mudah mara ke suku akhir

KUALA LUMPUR

dexa

Nicol terus hampiri gelaran


NICOL DAVID (kiri) mengumpan bola kepada Jenny Duncalf dari
England dengan pukulan perlahan pada aksi suku akhir Terbuka
Hong Kong di Pusat Skuasy Hong Kong, semalam. Nicol menang 9-3, 9-2, 9-2.

KUALA LUMPUR

dexa

Nicol, Natalie jadi penentu
Oleh: ABDUL HAFIZ AHMAD



NICOL David (kanan) cuba mengejar pukulan pemain England,
Vicky Botwright pada perlawanan separuh akhir Terbuka Hong Kong,
semalam. Ratu skuasy negara menang 3-1.

KUALA LUMPUR

puakaganas

Nicol sets up final date with Grinham in Hong Kong Open

PETALING JAYA: Nicol David advanced to her third straight Hong Kong Open final yesterday.

The world number one recovered from an opening game setback in the semi-finals to beat Vicky Botwright of England, winning 3-9, 9-3, 9-5, 9-0 at the Hollywood Plaza.

Botwright, who had upstaged world champion Rachael Grinham of Australia in the quarter-finals on Friday, surprised Nicol with her resistance to take the opening game. But Nicol recovered to wear down the sixth-seeded Botwright in the next three games.

Nicol, who is gunning for her eighth World Tour title, will meet second seed Natalie Grinham of Australia in today's final.

Natalie avenged her defeat to American Natalie Grainger in the Qatar Classic last week. The Australian won 9-5, 9-3, 9-0.

In the men's event, world number one Amr Shabana of Egypt defeated David Palmer of Australia 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 13-11 in the semi-finals.  

He will play Gregory Gaultier of France in the final. Gaultier stormed back to beat compatriot Theirry Lincou 9-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9.

Semi-final results

Men: Amr Shabana (Egy) bt David Palmer (Aus) 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 13-11; Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Thierry Lincou (Fra) 9-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9

Women: Nicol David (Mas) bt Vicky Botwright (Eng) 3-9, 9-3, 9-5, 9-0; Natalie Grinham (Aus) bt Natalie Grainger (Usa) 9-5, 9-3, 9-0.

w|nTer^GurL

so ape citer nicol masa separuh akhir?
berjaya melangkah ke akhir ke?

w|nTer^GurL

ish nicol...all d best 4 u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gajohz

congratulation nicol..merangkul juara kali ke 8 utk thn nie........

gajohz

8 kali jadi juara dr pada 11 perlawanan.....MALAYSIA BOLEH.......

dexa

2007/11/19
Squash: Sad end to women's quest
By : Devinder Singh

MALAYSIAN squash became a victim of its own success when women's squash was dropped from the Sea Games programme for lack of entries.

The event only attracted four players from two countries -- Malaysia and Thailand -- as Singapore's refusal to send their women players resulted in a certain loss of a gold medal for Malaysia.

Singapore, who are only competing in men's squash, cited budgetary constraints and minimal medal chances for skipping the women's event after Malaysia named World No 20 Sharon Wee and Tricia Chuah, ranked 26th, for the Games.

In essence, the Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia's disinclination to send their junior or back-up squad players for women's squash has backfired spectacularly.

SRAM president Datuk A. Sani Karim said he has relayed the decision of the Korat Sea Games organising committee to drop women's squash, one of 12 events to be axed, to the Asian Squash Federation for its immediate action but held out little hope that the event would be reinstated.
"Singapore remains an option as Indonesia and the Philippines do not have the players but I have not been able to reach the president of the Singapore Squash Rackets Association. If in the next two days there is no further development, then women's squash will likely be dropped," he said when contacted in Penang yesterday.

Besides women's squash, the other events dropped are skeet, trap and double trap in shooting (only Thailand and Vietnam), women's windsurfing in sailing (Thailand, Malaysia), women's weightlifting 48kg women and over 76kg (Thailand, Malaysia), equestrian eventing individual and team (Thailand, Malaysia), bantamweight and lightweight in Muaythai (Thailand, Philippines) and women's cycling downhill (Thailand, Malaysia).

The organising committees made the final decision to drop the events in accordance with the Sea Games Federation (SGF) rules but see no problem of making a mockery of the regulations by including obscure events like six-ball pool and sepaktakraw hoop while allowing for separate gold medals for all 10 dances in dance sport.

Malaysia would also have been strong contenders in eventing team and individual but the loss of these events could affect Malaysia's overall target of improving on the 61-gold haul in the 2005 Manila Sea Games.

Sharon, who was looking forward to end the year on a winning note, will be denied an opportunity to win back-to-back Sea Games individual titles after beating Tricia in the final in Manila.

Squash will be limited to the men's event where five countries will compete with national back-up squad players Nafzahizam Adnan and Elvinn Keo facing competition from Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

dexa

Azlan teruskan kemaraan

KUALA LUMPUR

puakaganas

Wee Wern falls at the final hurdle

KUALA LUMPUR: Top national junior Low Wee Wern failed to claim her first        professional title after losing in the women抯 final of the NSC Satellite No. 6 squash tournament at the KL Squash Centre in Jalan Duta here yesterday.

Wee Wern, the sixth seed, lost 4-9, 3-9, 8-10 to third seed Donna Urquhart of Australia in 31 minutes,

Meanwhile, Australia抯 Mike Corren lived up to his top billing by defeating Arshad Iqbal Burki of Pakistan 11-5, 5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-10 (2-0) to win the men抯 competition in 55 minutes.  

MEN

First round: Mike Corren (Aus) bt Asyraf Azan (Mas) 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6; Gaurav Nandrajog (Ind) bt Elvinn Keo (Mas) 11-3, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-10 (2-0), Max Lee (Hkg) bt Nafzahizam Adnan (Mas) 11-8, 7-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-10 (2-0), Fabien Verseille (Fra) bt Nathan Turnbull (Aus) 11-5, 11-9, 11-8; Naresh Kumar (Ind) bt Cheng Yao-huong (Tpe) 11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5; Arshad Iqbal Burki (Pak) bt Kamran Khan (Mas) 11-10 (4-2), 11-8, 11-10 (3-1), Anson Wong (Hkg) bt Parth Sharma (Ind) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8; Bilal Zaman (Pak) bt Jacob Lohrisch (Aut) 11-8, 11-7, 11-3.

Quarter-finals: Corren bt Gaurav 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, Verseille bt Max 11-9, 9-11, 2-11, 11-5, 11-5; Arshad bt Naresh 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, Bilal bt Anson 11-5, 11-9, 11-9.

Semi-finals: Corren bt Verseille 11-3, 11-2, 11-7; Arshad bt Bilal 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8.

Final: Corren bt Arshad 11-5, 5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-10( 2-0).

WOMEN

First round: Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt Choy Lin Juan (Mas) 9-1, 9-2, 9-0; Song Sun-mi (Kor) bt Nessrine Ariffin (Mas) 9-3, 5-9, 9-10, 9-2, 9-3; Donna Urquhart (Aus) bt Jonnah Yue (Sin) 9-0, 9-6, 9-5; Low Wee Nee (Mas) bt Josefa Bertilsson (Swe) 9-3, 9-2, 9-1; Park Eun-ok (Kor) bt Eman El Amir (Egy) 6-9, 5-9, 9-1, 9-7, 9-6; Siti Munirah Jusoh (Mas) bt P. Pushppa Devi (Mas) 9-7, 9-4, 10-9; Low Wee Wern (Mas) bt Joelle King (Nzl) 7-9, 9-7, 2-9, 9-1, 9-4; Lim Yoke Wah (Mas) bt Tan Yan Xin (Mas) 9-1, 9-0, 9-6.

Quarter-finals: Joshna bt Sun-mi (Kor) 9-5, 6-9, 9-2, 9-0; Urquhart bt Wee Nee 9-0, 9-2, 9-5; Eun-ok bt Siti Munirah 6-9, 9-5, 9-4, 9-4; Wee Wern bt Yoke Wah 6-9, 9-6, 10-8 (rtd).

Semi-finals: Urquhart bt Joshna 9-7, 9-5, 5-9, 6-9, 9-6; Wee Wern bt Eun-ok 9-4, 6-9, 9-5, 3-9, 9-6.

Final: Urquhart bt Wee Wern 9-4, 9-3, 10-8.

puakaganas

Gaultier earns second shot at winning world crown

  
HAMILTON: Gregory Gaultier produced a stunning effort to reach his second World Open final in a row, dismissing England's Nick Matthew in less than an hour on Friday to book a date with top-ranked Amr Shabana (pic).

Second-seeded British Open champion Gaultier won 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 against the seventh-seeded US Open champion, the Frenchman chewing up his opponent's defence with attacking variety but causing the biggest gasps from the audience with breathtaking retrievals.

The only concern about a performance in which Gaultier could hardly have played better is whether he can maintain such an exalted level in the final against Egypt's Shabana, who ended Australian third seed David Palmer's title defence 11-6, 3-11, 11-3, 11-5.

Not only has the man from Aix-en-Provence reached the final in a self-believing frame of mind, he got there without having dropped a game, perhaps giving him physical advantage as well.

揑t's wonderful to be in the final two years in a row

dexa

Shabana rampas semula gelaran dunia

BERMUDA

puakaganas

Amr抯 world title hat-trick

HAMILTON (Bermuda): World number one Amr Shabana regained the world title on Saturday, helping ease a painful memory by becoming the first squash player since Pakistani legend Jansher Khan to win a third World Open.

To do that the Egyptian had to beat his closest friend on the tour, Gregory Gaultier, and he did it with surprising ease

Halilintar

Lama plak rasa tak sentuh raket squash...

amazed

SQUASH:    Azlan prepares for new season

AFTER a brief sojourn in Malaysia, national squash No 2 Azlan Iskandarreturns to his London training base today to prepare for the start of anew season in less than three weeks.

[/table]Azlan had one of his better season's on the PSATour to date after winning two regular Tour events -- the MalaysianOpen and the North American Open -- as he maintained his record ofwinning at least one title a year since 2003.

The 25-year-old also claimed the scalp of World No 1 Amr Shabana ofEgypt in his first tournament of the year at the Canadian Classic, aSuper Series event, where he reached the quarter-finals.

Heended the year by helping Malaysia equal their best ever placing offifth in the Men's World Team Championship in Chennai, India, whichended on Dec 12. England beat Australia 2-1 in the final.

"It'salways an inspiration to play for my country and I'm not just saying itfor the sake of it. I won six of the seven matches I played and we camefifth. It was a great way to end the year," said Azlan, whose onlydefeat came at the hands of British Open winner Gregory Gaultier inMalaysia's 3-0 quarter-final defeat to France.

"I won two tournaments this year and it should have beenthree but I've had a good year. There were some good results and badones but you can't buy experiences like those."

Azlan is still searching for a major breakthrough in the Super Seriestournaments where he has yet to make a semi-final appearance.

"There were times when I wished I had done better but I'm always therechallenging (the top players). I started off well (by beating Shabana),then got sick but I came back well (to win two titles).

"I'mstill stuck at 18th (in the rankings) but I'm not in denial. I'm verywilling to hack it as I'm committed to the long haul.

"I'vebeen doing this for eight years and at the end of the day it comes downto what I love doing the most, which is playing squash," added Azlan,who will probably end the year ranked 18th, the same as in January,having risen to a 2007 high of 16th in September and October.

Ong Beng Hee regained his status as national No 1 from Azlan afterrising three places to 16th in the December rankings as Azlan paid theprice for an injury-affected November.
[table]

dexa

Nicol Pemain Terbaik Dunia 2007
Oleh ABDUL HAFIZ AHMAD

KUALA LUMPUR

amazed

2007/12/28

Squash: Beng Hee, Azlan to lose valuable world ranking points
By : Devinder Singh

Beng Hee (back) and Azlan will skip up to four PSA Tour events to helpMalaysia maintain their supremacy in the Asian Squash Championships inKuwait.

A CONFLICT of schedules will likely affect Ong Beng Hee's and AzlanIskandar's world rankings when they turn out for Malaysia at nextyear's Asian Squash Championships in Kuwait.

[table=200][/table]The Asian Squash Federation (ASF) has scheduledthe biennial continental individual and team championships formid-February, forcing Beng Hee and Azlan, Malaysia's top two menprofessionals, to skip up to four PSA Tour events in order to helpMalaysia maintain their supremacy in Asia.

Thewomen will not be affected as the WISPA Tour's first major tournamentof the season, the Apawamis Open in New York is on Feb 1-4 which shouldgive women's world No 1 Nicol David sufficient time to recover for theAsian Championships before returning for the Kuala Lumpur Open on Mar5-8.

The men do not have the same luxury leading World No 16Beng Hee to slam the ASF for scheduling the Asian Championships duringa busy February that would cost him valuable ranking points.

"Weface this problem every time the Asian Championships come around and italways is the same thing. They just don't get it that as much as wewant to play for our country, we also have to think of our ranking.
"The Asian Championships offers no ranking points nor prizemoney and we play not just in the individual event but also the teamevent.

"TheASF has got to be more professional with the scheduling of theirtournaments," said four-time Asian champion Beng Hee, 27, in KualaLumpur yesterday.

Among the tournaments Beng Hee and Azlan couldmiss are the five-star Swedish Open (Feb 7-10), Canadian Classic (Feb13-16) and Oregon Open (Feb 19-23), and the Virginia Championships, aSuper Series Silver tournament, on Feb 25-Mar 1.

In Kuwait, BengHee will be seeking his fifth straight individual Asian title besidesleading Malaysia in their bid for a hat-trick of team titles afterdenying Pakistan in the 2004 and 2006 finals.

Nicol will belooking to go one better than Beng Hee as she goes for her sixthconsecutive title while the women's team will hope to seal a fourthstraight team championship.