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Nicol reaches out for another milestone in British Open
KUALA LUMPUR: Nicol David has reached a new milestone in her remarkable squash career as the world number one for the 17th consecutive month and she will be out to add another feather in her cap by winning a hat-trick of British Open titles.
The prestigious tournament, which offers US$43,500 in total prize money, begins in Manchester on Friday.
The 24-year-old Penangite has won six Wispa titles this year to take her career total to 22 since February 2000.
She opens her campaign against unseeded Laura Lengthorn Massaro of England and is expected to play against fifth seed Natalie Grainger of the United States in the quarter-finals.
In her half of the draw is fourth seed Tania Bailey of England.
The second seed is Australian Natalie Grinham, who was beaten by Nicol in straight games in the semi-finals last year. Nicol went on to beat Natalie's elder sister Rachael to retain the title.
Natalie is the only player to have beaten Nicol this year |
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SEA Games: Seven squash men vie for two places
KUALA LUMPUR: The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) will conduct trials to pick two men's players for the Korat SEA Games.
The SRAM secretary, K. Sivanesen, said that seven players would be involved in the three-day trial, starting today at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.
揟he back-up players will feature in the SEA Games (Dec 6-15) as our top three men will be competing in the world team championships in Chennai, |
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Azlan clears first round of British Open
MANCHESTER: Malaysian 14th seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar was made to slog in the first round of the British Open yesterday before downing unseeded Borja Golan of Spain 12-10, 11-4, 3-11, 11-7.
Also through after a scare was Wael El Hindi, the seventh-seed whose recent improvement has made him a contender for the title. But the Egyptian then found himself the object of verbal attack from his opponent after the gruelling match.
The Giza-born player had to dig very deep to survive in a let-strewn five games against Cameron Pilley, the world number 23 from Australia, who afterwards complained about El Hindi's tactics.
揌e starts his usual blocking tactics and the referee won't do anything about it, |
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Squash: Beng Hee moves on
 | Matthew: The defending champion beats Malaysia's Mohd Azlan Iskandar in the second round yesterday
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MANCHESTER: Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee stormed into the quarter-finals of the British Open squash championships when he stunned eighth seed Stewart Boswell of Australia 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9 at the National Squash Centre here yesterday.
Beng Hee's hard-fought win make up for the earlier loss of Malaysian number one Mohd Azlan Iskandar to defending champion Nick Matthew of England in the second round.
Matthew, the sixth seed, won 9-11, 5-11, 4-11 to set up a quarter-final meeting against world number one Amr Shabana of Egypt, who defeated Lee Beachill of England 11-5, 7-11, 14-12, 11-3.
Beng Hee's opponent in the last eight will be either fourth seed Theirry Lincou of France or Mohammad Abbas of Egypt.
On Thursday, the 16th seed Beng Hee had to slog for 69 minutes before downing Alex Gough of Wales 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9 in the opening round.
In the women's category, two-time champion Rachael Grinham of Australia got her campaign off to a bright start, taking 51 minutes to conquer France's Isabelle Stoehr 9-5, 9-3, 5-9, 9-2 in the first round.
Third seed Grinham will face eight seed Vanessa Atkinson of Holland, who strolled past Alison Waters of England 9-7, 9-3, 9-6, for a place in the semi-finals.
Atkinson looked trimmer and more chipper than for a couple of years during her impressive win on a hot and bouncy outside court.
揑 was glad to finish it off in three, |
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Squash: Nicol, Beng Hee move into last eight
MANCHESTER: World number one and top seed Nicol David opened her defence of the British Open title facing some resistance from unseeded Laura Lengthorn Massaro of England at the National Squash Centre here on Friday.
Nicol, who is gunning to win the title for the third consecutive time, won the match 9-5, 9-6, 9-4 in 42 minutes to set up a quarter-final match against world number five and fifth seed Natalie Grainger of the United States.
Grainger advanced with a comfortable 9-5, 9-1, 9-1 win over unseeded Jaclyn Hawkes of New Zealand.
揑 played a good game in patches. My focus was coming in and out, I put in some good rallies but didn't follow up with them, |
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Squash: World No.1 Nicol struggles into semis while Beng Hee crashes out
MANCHESTER: Malaysia's Nicol David suffered an unexpected scare when she was taken to five games by American Natalie Grainger here on Saturday to qualify for the semi-finals of the British Open.
The world number one, who is gunning to win the Open for the third consecutive time, overcame the fifth seeded Grainger 9-3, 9-3, 7-9, 2-9, 9-0 and will play against fourth seed Tania Bailey of England for a place in the final.
 | On a quest: Nicol is out to win the British Open for the third straight time.
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Nicol is the only Malaysian challenger remaining in the championships after Ong Beng Hee lost to fourth seed Thierry Lincou of France 8-11, 2-11, 10-12 in a men's quarter-finals.
Nicol had won the first two games and appeared headed for a comfortable victory when she went up 4-1 in the third but instead she ran into trouble.
Grainger started to fire with her disruptive mixture of heavy drives and feathery drops, which began to slow Nicol down.
The Malaysian also lost focus, momentarily, after a controversial incident surrounding a no let decision at 2-2 in the fourth game. However, Nicol prevailed at the end of the day |
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British Open: Nicol makes it to final
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian squash ace Nicol Ann David defeated England's Tania Bailey, 9-1, 10-8, 9-3, in the semi-finals of the British Open in Manchester.
The match which lasted 41min saw Nicol proving her top seed position.
The final will be held on Monday. |
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British Open: Shock defeat for Nicol
KUALA LUMPUR: Australia's Rachael Grinham denied Malaysia's squash queen and world No 1 Nicol Ann David a hattrick in the finals of the 2007 British Open at the National Squash Centre in Manchester early Tuesday.
Nicol, the top seed and defending champion, went down to a 2-3 score in a gruelling 87-minute final match.
Grinham retained the title she won in 2003 and 2004.
The 24-year-old Penangite took the lead in the first two sets at 9-7 and 9-4 but Grinham clawed her way back in the last three sets, leaving Nicol down to 3-9, 8-10 and 1-9.
"Nicol knew what she had to do but from the third game onwards, she wasn't controlling Grinham anymore," said Nicol's coach Liz Irving.
"She was opening up the court too much and you can't do that against anyone at the top five level. Grinham seized the opportunities and took them well.
"Grinham was playing a lot of unconventional and high-risk stuff, which most players wouldn't be able to get away with, but she has been doing it all her life.
"Nicol has things to learn from this but she's really into learning. So, she's disappointed. She'll learn and improve from this," she added.
This is Nicol's second defeat in eight of her outings this year. -- Bernama
huhu...sedih la...:cry: :cry: :cry: |
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Nicol lets slip a hat-trick
MANCHESTER: Malaysia's world number one Nicol David came agonisingly close to nailing a hat-trick of British Open titles at the National Squash Centre here on Monday.
In the final of the world's oldest and most prestigious squash tournament, Nicol held match point but could not finish off Rachael Grinham in four games. Instead, the Australian went on to create the biggest upset in a Major for several years, wresting the crown away from the Malaysian with a 7-9, 4-9, 9-3, 10-8, 9-1 victory.
It was only the second defeat of the year for Nicol after the Seoul Open in April by Grinham's younger sister Natalie; her first against Grinham in 16 matches since April 2005; and her first in the British Open in three years.
The 24-year-old Nicol, the first Asian woman to reach the top and a celebrity throughout much of the continent, lost to the far less considered third seed who prolonged the rallies and made some extraordinary retrieves.
Said Grinham: 揝hocking. I think it's my best win ever. I've won the British Open twice but that was a long time ago and I have not won a tournament for a while and it was looking less and less likely.
揑t's incredible. In the beginning, so much was clipping the tin. Then I said hang on. Then I found I could hang on. I can't believe I've done it, really. |
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Nicol pilihan utama Terbuka Dunia
Oleh: ABDUL HAFIZ AHMAD
KUALA LUMPUR |
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Bad news for Azlan and Beng Hee in New York draw
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian men's squash players Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Ong Beng Hee are set for early exits in the US Squash Open which starts today at the Roseland Ballroom in New York.
The luck of the draw did not favour them as both players have been handed tough opponents in the early rounds.
Azlan, who was booted out in the second round of the British Open last week by Nick Matthew of England, is expected to face fifth seed James Willstrop of England in the second round.
In their last meeting, Willstrop downed Azlan 11-4, 11-10 (2-0), 8-11, 11-8 in last year抯 British Open first round.
Azlan opens his campaign today against top Canadian player Shahrier Razik in the first round.
Meanwhile, Beng Hee, who surprisingly reached the quarter-finals of the British Open, could end up as a first-round casualty unless he plays above himself.
Beng Hee, who is ranked 19th in the world, takes on 11th seed Lee Beachill of England in the opening round. The duo last met in the second round of the Tournament of Champions in New York in 2004. Beachill won that match 15-9, 15-14, 15-3. |
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Mohd Azlan clears US Open first round
NEW YORK: Malaysian number one Mohd Azlan Iskandar eased past Canadian Shahier Razik to reach the second round of the US Open squash tournament at the Roseland Ballroom here on Saturday.
The world number 16 took 75 minutes to beat Razik 11-4, 4-11, 11-8, 11-2.
Azlan, who is the 15th seed in the tournament, will face fifth seed James Willstrop of England today for a place in the quarter-finals.
Defending champion Gregory Gaultier of French was pushed hard before overcoming unseeded Australian Cameron Pilley 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8.
揑t was my first match since last week . He (Pilley) made work a bit more than I wanted. I just came back from ankle injury. I will take it one match at a time because there are many good players in this tournament, |
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Early exits for Sharon and Tricia in Canada
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's Sharon Wee and Tricia Chuah failed to live up to their seedings and bowed out early at the Elbow River Casino Squash Open at the Bow Valley in Calgary, Canada.
Fourth seed Tricia was eliminated in the quarter-finals on Saturday while second seed Sharon fared worse, ending up as a first-round casualty on Friday.
Sharon, the world number 18 and national number two, went down 5-9, 4-9, 2-9 to unseeded Canadian Alana Miller.
Tricia struggled in the first round before overcoming Karina Zuniga of Mexico 9-1, 9-2, 4-9, 3-9. But in a match for a place in the semi-finals, the national number three and world number 26 was beaten 9-6, 4-9, 1-9, 4-9 by sixth seed Louise Crome of New Zealand.
Crome went on to qualify for the final against compatriot Shelley Kitchen.
The next tournament for Sharon and Tricia is the Vassar College Open, which begins on Thursday in New York. |
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Squash: Beng Hee falls in opening match
NEW YORK: Malaysian number two Ong Beng Hee crashed to a first-round defeat in the US Open squash tournament at the Roseland Ballroom here on Sunday.
The unseeded Beng Hee went down 7-11, 6-11, 7-11 in a 54-minute match against 11th seed Lee Beachill of England.
Qualifier Omar Mosaad of Egypt, who is ranked 37th in the world, chalked up the first major upset of the tournament, beating seventh seed and world number nine John White of Scotland 6-11, 11-10 (2-0), 11-3, 11-10 (2-0).
 | Beng Hee: Went down to England抯 Lee Beachill in the US Open on Sunday.
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揟his is my biggest win ever. I am looking forward to the rest of the tournament. If I play well, I think I can beat Beachill innthe next round, |
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Azlan fails to enter last eight of the US Open
NEW YORK: Malaysian number one Mohd Azlan Iskandar failed to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open squash tournament at the Roseland Ballroom here on Monday.
Azlan, who is seeded 15th, went down to a tame 9-11, 9-11, 3-11 defeat by fifth seed James Willstrop of England in a 48-minute second round match.
There were no real surprises in other second round matches with top seeds Egyptians Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour making it to the quarter-finals. But world number one Shabana had to slog for a 11-9, 11-5, 10-11 (0-2), 11-7 victory over 13th seed Peter Barker of England.
揑 didn't play my best. It was scrappy squash. I think he (Peter) was suffering an injury, |
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Nicol now focuses on winning third world title
PETALING JAYA: World number one Nicol David suffered the disappointment of letting slip the chance to win a hat-trick of British Open titles in Manchester last week.
Her attention is now on making good the attempt to win the World Open for the third consecutive time in the championships, which will be held in Madrid from Oct 23-27.
At the prestigious British Open, Nicol failed to press home the advantage of holding match point in the fourth game of the final against Australian Rachael Grinham. She went on to lose 9-7, 9-4, 3-9, 8-10, 1-9 in an 87-minute match, which went into the record books as the longest British Open final.
It was Nicol's only second defeat of the year after the loss to the younger sister of Rachael, Natalie, in the Seoul City Open in April.
In the World Open, Nicol will open the defence of the title she won in Hong Kong in 2005 and in Belfast last year, against world number 18 Isabelle Stoehr of France. The 24-year-old Penangite has in her quarter fifth seeded American Natalie Grainger.
Her chance to avenge the defeat by Rachael can happen in the semi-finals.
Natalie is the favourite to reach the final from the other half of the draw.
The World Open features two other Malaysians |
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Women players crash out in 1st round
NEW YORK: National women squash players Sharon Wee and Tricia Chuah crashed out in the first round of the Vassar College Open here on Thursday.
Seventh seed Sharon was upstaged by unseeded Line Hansen of Denmark 9-6, 4-9, 7-9, 9-5, 9-7, while Tricia was no match for second seed Natalie Grainger of the United States, losing 3-9, 3-9, 1-9.
Event favourite Rachael Grinham of Australia was given a scare when fellow Australian Amelia Pittock, a qualifier, took the second game to level the score in their first round match.
Rachael, who won the British Open last week, prevented Pittock from scoring an upset, winning 9-4, 7-9, 9-0, 9-0. |
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tapi sedih gak bile nicol kalah ari tuh..pape hal pon dia dah buat yang terbaik..cume bukan selamanye kita boleh menang kan..go Nicol! u can do it girl!! |
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Nafiizwan will have to fight for place in squad for world meet
By S. SIVABALAN
PETALING JAYA: Top national back-up squash player Nafiizwan Adnan will be back from his training stint in London on Oct 29 to compete for a place in the Malaysian side for the World Team Championship in December.
A trial among the back-up players will be held for the third singles and reserve player slots from Nov 5-8 at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.
Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Ong Beng Hee are automatic choices for the first two spots for the championship, which will be played in Chennai from Dec 6-12.
Nafiizwan will have to compete with Choong Kam Hing, Mohd Asyraf Azan, Ivan Yuen and Kamran Khan.
Nafiizwan left for London last month to train with English coach Peter Genevar and to compete in local tournaments and league matches in Europe.
揑 am learning a lot here. I am training and staying with Azlan and there are plenty of players to spar with, |
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Post time 19-9-2007 04:13 PM
Post time 30-9-2007 05:32 AM
