POWER'S OUT TO SHOE THE WORLD
WHO'S BOSS IN HONG KONG
By ALAN THATCHER
The two great rivals are seeded to meet in the Hong Kong final, and Power knows he can expect a more challenging time should the two meet again, with their personal head-to-head record at 15-15 wins apiece and Power on a roll of four consecutive victories over Nicol in major events. Power the businessman is also anxious for a good show in Hong Kong, as he ties in tournament commitments with meetings with the manufacturers of his self-designed signature squash shoe.
Power's manager, Jason Matthison, said: "Jonathon took the weekend off after the Commonwealth Games, but then it was back to the grindstone on the following Monday. There was very little time to celebrate and relax, as he expects all the players to be in top form coming into Hong Kong following the Games.
"He enjoyed his usual training programme, with the addition of Stefan Casteleyn, who flew into Montréal to train with him, and then the two of them went back down to Santa Monica for an exhibition last Saturday, and to train together for another week before Hong Kong."
Mathison added: "Hong Kong is one of JP's favourite tournaments, and after last year's unexpected hospitalization and eventual withdrawal due to severe tonsillitis, he has been extremely focused on erasing last year's horrible memories. He is arriving a few days earlier than in years past, to acclimatize, and spend some time with the manufacturer of his new signature shoe, which will be making its official PSA tour debut in Hong Kong. So you can expect him to be focused and moving well."
(For more information and a glimpse of his new shoe, go to www.jpsquash.com)
