JAHANGIR WANTS JUNIOR SERIES 31-Dec
WSF president Jahangir Khan says that Pakistan needs an international junior squash series either against England or Egypt as part of the national team’s build-up for the challenges ahead in the world squash.
Taking to Pakistan's Daily Times, Jahangir Khan said the young players needed more international competitions for sharpening of skills and assessment of their progress against the foreign players.
“We can approach both the English and Egyptian associations to send their Under-19 teams for international matches. In case England is not prepared to come to Pakistan because of its heavy commitments, Egypt is equally good for the international juniors series”, said the record holder of ten successive British Open titles. “Moreover, the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) can easily hold a junior and senior series at different centres of the country. The five-match series would not only be of immense benefit to the juniors but will also help promote the game when the matches are played at different centres”, he added.
Jahangir said both Khayal Muhammad and Majid Khan, members of the victorious World Junior (Under-19) Team Trophy, had crossed the age limit for the 2004 Championship. “They are talented but have to go a long way to make a mark in the international circuit. They need further hard training to face tougher challenges”, he maintained. “We should give maximum exposure to the youngsters provided they fully discipline themselves to strenuous training”, he concluded.
I FAILED, ADMITS BENG HEE 30-Dec
With just one tournament win in 2002 and still at number eight in the world rankings , Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee has declared his season a failure, reports the Star from Malaysia.The 22-year-old Beng Hee, who turned professional in 1995, only won one tournament – the Swedish Open in January. Beng Hee had set himself the target to break into the top four by end of this year but he is now in eighth spot. He was one rung higher during the same period last year.
After winning the Swedish Open, he had poor outings over the next five months, making just one semi-final in the Tournaments of Champions, the Pakistan Open in March, the British Open, the PSA Masters, the Hong Kong Open, the Qatar Classic and YMG Capital Classic. In the last three tournaments he lost to Australian Stewart Boswell. In the recent World Championships in Antwerp, which was his last tournament for the year, Beng Hee was beaten by another Australian, Anthony Ricketts in the third round.
Beng Hee, who is based in London and trains under Englishman Neil Harvey, said: “I failed to achieve my target get among the top four. “One of the reasons for failing to do well was my fitness level. I had to play in too many tournaments and could not sustain my fitness level”.
Beng Hee said after a training session at the National Sports Council (NSC) courts in Jalan Duta under the guidance of national elite coach Jamshed Gul that he needed to do more gym work to improve his fitness level and strength.
“I also am not too happy with my game strategy and needs to play a more attacking game if I hope to get the better of the other top players next year,” said Beng Hee, who will leave for London on Jan 7. “By improving on my fitness and game, I hope to achieve my target by breaking into top four by next year.’’Beng Hee has a RM1 million sponsorship deal with Dunlop Slazenger to help him achieve the target. The deal, which was signed last month, is believed to be the biggest to be secured by a Malaysian athlete thus far. To get the full amount, Beng Hee will have to break into the top four by next year and remain in the bracket for another two years. He will receive a third of the money if he achieves the target next year.
The first tournament next year for the Manchester Commonwealth Games silver medallist and Busan Asian Games gold medallist is the Swedish Open from Feb 4-9. “I want to start the year on the winning note with a successful defence of the Swedish Open title,’’ said Beng Hee.SQUASH TAKES OFF IN SHANGHAI 30-Dec
Thwack, thwack, thwack. That's music to the ears of squash players, the sound the hard rubber ball makes as it connects with the racket and ricochets off the four walls of the court. And now that sound is becoming popular with local athletes as more courts open in the city, writes Susan Zheng in China's EastDay.comFew people know that squash, one of those sports like polo that reeks of elitism, began as a game played by inmates at a debtors' prison in London in the 19th century. How it made its way from inside a prison's walls to the ivy-covered walls of exclusive English boarding schools and gentlemen's clubs is anyone's guess.
Like anything with whiff of exclusivity, squash has found favour with the emergent well-heeled executives of Shanghai.
With the establishment of affordable squash courts and an amateur club, Shanghai Squash, the sport that was once considered the preserve of expatriates, is becoming popular with locals like Ding Li.
Ding, a 32-year-old buyer for a local company, likes the all-weather aspect of squash (it's played indoors), but that's not all. "Squash is amazing. Unlike tennis, which favours taller and stronger players, squash is a body-mind game which requires both stamina and strategy," says Ding. "After one year of practice, I'm very confident that I could beat a well-built male beginner."
According to Anthony Fong, chairman of the amateur club, half of the 200 people who participate in the Shanghai Squash League and ad hoc competitions are locals - a remarkable increase from three years ago, when the club was set up by a handful of expats.Full report from China's EastDay.com ShanghaiSquash.com
CARLA STEPS UP BID TO EMULATE GRANDAD 22-Dec
Carla Khan, the grand-daughter of the legendary four times former British Open squash champion Azam Khan, is advancing her bid to emulate him by joining the same training base as the men's world number one, Peter Nicol, at the Connaught club, just north of London, reports the Independent on Sunday from South Africa.
British-born and raised, but the national champion of Pakistan, Khan hopes to climb from her current world number 36 into the top 20 during next year, although she remains undecided which country to give her loyalty to. She was once a part of the England junior squad, but was denied her chance to play for Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in July only 24 hours before the event was due to start.
However, last month Khan became the first Pakistani woman ever to win a Wispa tour title in El Salvador, and this week reached the last eight of the Dutch Open. Now Khan will share Nicol's coach, Neil Harvey, and also benefit from the sparring skills of a number of top quality male players, including the world number eight from Malaysia, Ong Beng Hee.
"I rate her quite definitely," said Harvey. "She has a lot of ability, but just needs to get fitter. If she can commit herself to the life of a squash player here, she can do very well indeed."
That may mean the 21-year-old living away from her parents' luxury home in the small town of Beaconsfield, to the west of London, and her father Wasil Khan, who has been coaching her.
"I've been needing, for some time, to find someone to help me," she said. "I have the ability to go a lot higher but I have some catch-up work on my fitness to do. My dad is fine about it. I have to do something to push myself a little bit more. I am really looking forward to the new arrangement," she said.
PSA BOARD LAUNCHES NEW PLAYERS' COMMITTEE 19-Dec
The new PSA Board has formed a new Players Committee, designed to enhance liaison between the board and the association's grassroots members.New board member Mark Chaloner, the world No10 from England, has been appointed President of the PSA, with fellow new member Alex Gough, the world No16 from Wales, the Vice-President. American businessman Jack Herrick continues his role as Chairman. Explaining the significance of the new Players Committee, Executive Director Gawain Briars conceded that lines of communication needed to be improved between the PSA's worldwide members and its board, and hoped that the establishment of this five-man committee, chaired by board member Tony Hands, would help to achieve this.
"Almost three times the usual votes were cast in the election of the new board at the recent AGM, which we believe reflects the success of the recent reforms we have introduced to encourage greater participation from members," said Briars. "But hitherto members appear to have been reluctant to air their views about the organisation of the association to the members of the board who could pursue their points." The committee will comprise Tony Hands and Mark Chaloner, together with Egyptian Omar Elborolossy, Australian Glenn Keenan and Irishman Liam Kenny.
"We hope the cosmopolitan make-up of this group, both geographically and in terms of their ranking status, will make it an easier channel via which member issues can be conveyed through to the board," Briars added. "Furthermore, we hope that the committee will also be able to help us conduct research in the field for advances in the game of squash."
The PSA board also revealed a review of the year-end results which showed that the Association recorded a 4% increase in income in its overall world operation in 2002 over 2001, marking a third successive year of growth.
WSF BACK REFEREE AFTER QATAR CONTROVERSY 19-Dec
The World Squash Federation claimed that the removal of South African referee Harvey Bowlt during the Qatar Classic semi-final between David Palmer and John White was 'unjustified'.
The statement follows a meeting of the WSF Management Committee held in late November to consider reports on the controversy. Submissions were prepared by three WSF International Referees, who were present during the match, and one other witness, described by the WSF as "a knowledgeable and unbiased spectator".
According to the WSF: "All four reports stated that the official had correctly and efficiently refereed the match up to the time he was removed by the Tournament Referee. Under Rule 15.5 of the Rules of Squash, produced by the WSF, 'players are not permitted to request a change of Marker or Referee' and therefore his removal from the referee position was both unjustified and in contravention of the Rules of Squash.
"The WSF fully supports the referee, Harvey Bowlt, in this matter. The findings have been reported to the PSA and discussions will be held to ensure that a similar situation cannot arise in the future."
PALMER SET FOR BERMUDA 18-Dec
New World Champion David Palmer, just days after winning the world title in his adopted home town of Antwerp, is set to move to Bermuda. Matt Westcott reports fro the Royal Gazette, Bermuda:
Bermuda's squash chiefs have pulled off a major coup in attracting world champion David Palmer to the Island. Australian Palmer, who beat Scotland's John White in a thrilling World Open final in Antwerp, Belgium over the weekend, has been granted residency and will be used to boost the profile of the Island on the global stage. Currently living in Belgium, he will arrive in Bermuda early in the New Year.
Australia 's leading squash player, Palmer has been a Professional Squash Association player since 1994. In 1997 he won four successive PSA Tour titles. He strode into the top ten in February 2000, claiming two PSA titles from six final appearances in 1999, and then seized the No. 3 ranking in May 2001 - beating world champion Peter Nicol - and going on to reach the PSA Masters final in Egypt. He triumphed at the Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong and attained the World No. 1 ranking in September 2001.
Until this weekend Palmer was also President of the Professional Squash Association, the body that runs the men's tour. He was replaced by Englishman Mark Chaloner. Ross Triffitt, Bermuda's director of squash, was understandably delighted to have acquired the services of such a high profile star.
"He is currently based in Antwerp but for various reasons he has become a resident here," said Triffitt. "The squash association is very excited about the move because David has agreed to be very active and involved in the development of our players here." Full story
MICHELLE MARTIN BACK TO WINNING WAYS 08-Dec
Back on court after a two year absence, former World Champion Michelle Martin won both men's and women's titles at the Flour Mills of Fiji Open. Martin bags $2000 at squash meet from FijiLive
WSF ISSUES NEW REFEREE GUIDELINES 05-Dec
The World Squash Federation (WSF) has acted swiftly to introduce new measures to curb the increasing occurrence of unacceptable on-court behaviour by players, particularly in connection with referees' pronouncements.
Following last weekend's first meeting of the new Management Committee elected in Malaysia in October, the WSF has produced a new 'Guideline For Referees' which has been communicated to both the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) and will be implemented by all WSF International Referees from today (5th December). The document will also be recommended to WSF Member Federations as standard procedure for National Referees.
The behaviour of a minority of players which is deemed to be unacceptable includes showing constant dissent at decisions; undermining the authority of the referee; intentionally distracting their opponents; giving themselves unjustified recovery time; and deliberately disrupting matches for their own advantage.
The following procedures will be introduced:
1. Under Rule 15.5, players are not permitted to request a change in marker or referee. Players who do so should be quickly informed that they have no such right. If they persist, the referee should apply an appropriate Rule 17 penalty for "delay of game".
2. As directed in Guideline G19, a referee may explain a decision to a player, but no further discussion on that decision is permissible.
3. If a player constantly and unjustifiably asks for explanation of decisions the referee shall issue a warning or apply a Rule 17.3 penalty.
4. If a player attempts to engage the referee in a discussion, following explanation of the reason for the decision, the referee shall issue a warning and advise the player of the fact that no discussion will be permitted. Thereafter the referee will apply Rule 17.3 penalties as appropriate.
5. Under Rule 15.4 players are not permitted to leave the court during a game without the permission of the Referee. Where an enclosed court makes an explanation of the decision impossible a player may open the court door to improve communication, but abuse of this freedom will result in Rule 17.3 penalties after due warning.
In a supporting letter to the appropriate bodies, Graham Waters, Director of the WSF Rules & Referees Committee, stated: "As you all know, there has been an issue with player behaviour and the amount of interaction between players and referees. This has sparked much discussion within the squash community and in the press. Olympic Officials who visited the squash competition at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester were appalled at the amount of player backchat that was allowed by the referees.
"Our new Management Committee has addressed this issue and has issued the attached advice to WSF Referees on how to deal with such behaviour from this point forward. They would like this to take effect immediately, which means that it must be implemented at the World Junior Championships in Chennai and the World Open in Antwerp. They have also recommended that all National Associations adopt it as a standard practice within their countries.
"I would like to add a word of caution to the advice provided from ManCom. There are times when players on court make some very witty comments on court and these are enjoyed by the spectators and add to the spectacle of the encounter. We must be careful not to sterilise the game by crushing these exchanges and applying heavy-handed penalties. However, we should be able to detect the tone of the voice and the degree of malice inherent in the players' behaviour. Whenever the tone is hostile and/or threatening, then we must apply Rule 17 immediately and not let the situation develop into something worse.
"Rule 17.1 actually states that the referee SHALL penalise the player whenever an infraction has occurred. A polite question as to why a certain decision was given is fine, but any vocal tantrum, argument, throwing or smashing a racket against the court must be penalised immediately," Waters pointed out.
SINGAPORE HOPES TO HOST WOMEN'S WORLD OPEN 30-Nov
SINGAPORE has been given the chance to host next year's World Women's Squash Championships, reports the Straits Times.
But the Singapore Squash Rackets Association might have to forgo the opportunity if it cannot find sponsors for the event, estimated to cost $250,000. At a press conference yesterday, SSRA president Desmond Hill said: 'Singapore was given the opportunity at the World Squash Federation's annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur last month.
"The last time we hosted something similar was the World Team Championships in 1989. If we hold this, it will be a big boost for the sport. But we need the money, and we'd like to appeal to sponsors to come forward."
Hosting the event will help revive a sport which had its heyday in Singapore during the 1970s and 1980s. Then, players like Zainal Abidin, Peter Hill and Mah Li Lian were ranked among the best in Asia.
But interest declined and last year's national championships were cancelled due to a lack of funds, and youth events have not been held since 1997. The final blow came when squash was dropped from the Singapore Sports Council's list of Merit sports this year - meaning a drastic cut in funding. Full report from the Straits Times
PSA PICKS UP PAKISTAN VISA CASE 29-Nov
Latest - World Open promoter Robert Decant reports: "I received a letter from the Ambassador of the Belgian Embassy that he will issue tomorrow 4 visas for the Pakistani team. The request for the other 2 is being handled by another embassy office in Pakistan. I was not informed about the names yet."The Professional Squash Association (PSA), together with the Belgian promoters of the World Open, have been pulling out all the stops to enable five of its Pakistani members to obtain visas in order to compete in the most prestigious event on the PSA calendar next month in Antwerp.
The feverish activity was prompted by a letter to the PSA by the Pakistan Squash Federation, reporting that its players had been refused visas by the Belgian embassy in Islamabad. Wing Commander Sajid Waheed, Secretary of the PSF, told the Dawn Newspaper in Pakistan that "it was a big blow not only to the players, but it had also brought embarrassment to the Federation."
Sheila Cooksley, the PSA's Tour Director, said: "We have despatched an urgent letter to the authorities in Pakistan, endorsing the players' application for visas for the World Open. Furthermore, our promoter Robert Decant has spoken personally with both the Interior Minister in Belgium and the Belgian Ambassador in Pakistan. The Ambassador confirmed that he is
looking into the matter himself and understands the importance of the event and will do his utmost to resolve the issue.
"It is possible that some of the players in question have only ever played local PSA events and this will be their first occasion to travel outside of Pakistan," Cooksley added.
"Robert is working extremely hard on this and is now sending over additional information to the Ambassador, but in the end the decision may be one over which he has no control."
Ms Cooksley points out in her letter that "Pakistan squash players have made a considerable impact in the World Open, with their two greatest players Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan holding 14 World Open titles between them from 1981 to 1996 - a record no other country comes near."
The issue coincides with the return of Pakistani representation in the PSA World Rankings for the first time for more than two years. In the December list, announced today (Friday) by the PSA, Mansoor Zaman makes his top twenty debut at a career-high No18. Also in the Pakistan squad seeking visas for the World Open are cousins Shahid Zaman and Farrukh Zaman, together with Shamsul Islam Khan and Ajaz Azmat.BELGIUM REFUSES VISAS 27-Nov
KARACHI: The Belgian embassy on Wednesday refused visas to the five internationally-renowned Pakistani players and an official who intended to participate in the World Open squash, starting in Antwerp on December 4th, reports Pakistan's Daily Times.
The participants had applied for visas more than a month ago. “The embassy gave no reason, but it said a formal letter would be sent to the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) in a day or two”, informed PSF secretary, Sajid Waheed, on telephone from Islamabad.
He said it was the first time in World Open history that a host nation had refused visa to players from Pakistan, once a great power in international squash. The world of squash had been dominated by two legends, Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, who together won the World Open titles no less than 14 times. Jansher is a record holder with eight World Open titles.
Sajid said he had informed the PSA chief executive Gawain Briars about the refusal of visa to the participants and sought his help to intervene to resolve the issue by taking up the matter with the interior ministry of Belgium. “The PSF has also informed the WSF and World Open organizers about the refusal”, he concluded.
JAHANGIR: PSA MUST HELP SOLVE VISA PROBLEMS 24-Nov
Following yesterday's news that Pakistan players have yet to obtain visas to travewl to Belguim for next month's World Open (see World Open buildup #1) , WSF President Jahangir Khan has stepped to say that it's up to the PSA to help solve these problems, as the World Open is a PSA event with the WSF having no involvement.Report from Pakistan's Dawn:
ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: Jahangir Khan, president of the World Squash Federation (WSF) has stepped in to help five Pakistani players compete in next month's World Open , a tournament the quintet is in danger of missing because the Belgian embassy in Islamabad has yet to grant them visas.
Elected only last month as the WSF chief, Jahangir has approached the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and asked them to contact the tournament organisers on this matter.
The players - Mansoor Zaman, Shahid Zaman, Farrukh Zaman and Ijaz Azmat are to feature in the main round of the $160,000 tournament that opens on December 4. Shamsul Islam, the fifth player is to appear in the qualifying round of the elite event.
All five had applied for visas through the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) more than one and a half months ago but the response from the Belgian embassy has not been encouraging. Jahangir is said to have spoken to the Tournament Director of PSA and instructed her to apprise the event organisers of the seriousness of the matter.
The organisers reportedly sent a letter to their embassy in Islamabad informing them about the plans of the Pakistani players of attending the tournament but that has clearly not worked. Jahangir now wants that the organisers dispatch a letter from their interior ministry to the embassy here so that the players get the visas. Only on Friday Jahangir had said that the WSF could not interfere with a country's visa policy while adding that not granting visas was being unfair to the players.
The PSF officials were keeping their fingers crossed and waiting for the weekend to pass by so that they could know of new developments, if any, on Monday morning. Meanwhile, the PSF has submitted with the Foreign Office, cases of players who would be taking part in next month's World Junior Championship in the Indian city of Chennai.
Squash secretary Wing Commander Sajid Waheed said that the applications for visas had to be routed through the Foreign Office. Six players and two officials will be going for the championship.
JAHANGIR VOWS TO RESTORE PAKISTAN'S GLORY 21-Nov
From Pakistan's Daily Times
The newly-elected World Squash Federation (WSF) president, Jehangir Khan, has vowed to help Pakistan improve its squash infrastructure.
“Though I’ve to represent all the member countries and chalk out a collective policy, but being a Pakistani I will do my best to ensure that Pakistan gets the fair benefits from my post”, said Jehangir during the programme of the Progressive Sports Journalists Association “Sports Chat” here on Wednesday. Jahangir, a record 10-times British Open champion, had hitherto been vice president of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) but was made advisor to PSF president a couple of days back so as he could more freely fulfill his commitments as head of the world body.
“I will try to convince International Olympics Committee (IOC) for the inclusion of squash in Olympics. The WSF is facing a tough resistance as the Olympics already have a big load of games to handle and organizers are trying to reduce the number of games instead of enhancing”, Jehangir said.
He said the WSF succeeded in getting squash included in the Asian Games and he was hopeful of the inclusion of the sport in Olympics as well. “The WSF may achieve this target by 2008 or 2012”, he added.
Jahangir observed that WSF had 119 members but all of them were not actively involved in its affairs. “My task will be to get them involved and also to introduce ways and means to further popularize the sport”.
He said his other objective was promotion of squash in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and America. “As WSF president, I am working hard for financial assistance to less developed countries. I am planning to allocate a fund for Pakistan to develop the infrastructure in smaller cities and districts”.
The former world champion praised the comeback of Jansher but showed deep concerns about his fitness: “Jansher will take more time to have fitness although it is a matter of pleasure for squash lovers that such a great player has made his way back into the international squash. I am hopeful that he will win the international titles soon”.
He said: “Pakistan has immense talent and the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) is providing facilities to the players. However, the players do not work hard. This is why Pakistan squash is deteriorating day by day. We should hunt for fresh and young talent. The upcoming players should train more than nine hours a day. This is the only way that can guide us to the path of success and to regain lost glory.”
FITZ-GERALD MELBOURNE'S GREATEST STAR ?? 19-Nov
The talents of Australian squash star Sarah Fitz-Gerald have been further recognised in her home country, with the record five-times World Open champion being nominated as a candidate for the title of ‘Melbourne's Greatest Ever Sports Star’ in a gala event organised on behalf of the Victorian children’s charity Kids Under Cover. Fitz-Gerald is already Australia's Sports Personality Of The Year.
Sarah is nominated alongside a host of top sports stars including cricketers Shane Warne, Merv Hughes and Keith Miller, tennis star Pat Cash, renowned athletes Cathy Freeman and Ron Clarke, and fellow squash player Geoff Hunt. Freeman, of course, was a fellow Australian team member at the Commonwealth Games, with Hunt the squash manager, while Clarke is well known in squash circles following his spell as owner of the famous Cannons Club in London, which has spawned into one of Britain’s major leisure groups since he sold it on.
Fitz-Gerald has also been invited to be an Australia Day Ambassador. This will entail attending ceremonies and celebrations held throughout Victoria, and where possible, delivering an Australia Day address and presenting community and citizenship awards. Ambassadors are also asked to assist with the promotion of Australia Day, attending various functions including the Australia Day lunch in January 2003.
“Being nominated as one of Melbourne's Greatest Ever Sports Stars is a huge honour considering the amazing list of sports people among the contenders,” said Fitz-Gerald, who won her record fifth world title earlier this month.
“Being a proud Aussie, I also feel very honoured to be invited to become an Australia Day ambassador. I will enjoy the responsibility and opportunity to be a part of the celebrations.”
EVENT ENGINE SIGNS TV DEAL WITH THE TENNIS CHANNEL 18-Nov
Squash in the USA received a major boost today, with the announcement of a TV deal between John Nimick's Event Engine and Cable TV company The Tennis Channel. The deal will bring North America's top tournaments, the Tournament of Champions, US Open and YMG Classic to the screens of viewers for the first time.
“When we first announced, we promised to pursue broadcast rights to other major racquet sports, and we are thrilled that squash has found a home with The Tennis Channel,” said Steve Bellamy, The Tennis Channel President and Founder. “This deal allows us to show the absolute apex of a sport that is incredible to watch and never seen on television in America. There are 15 million squash players in 122 nations around the world and more than 400,000 players in the U.S. We think it is incredibly important to service this extremely fanatical niche because they are so passionate about their sport and it is so complimentary to tennis.”
"This is a landmark step for squash,” said John Nimick, President of Event Engine, Inc. “The Tennis Channel is giving our exciting and dynamic sport a chance to promote itself to a broad audience in a way never possible before. By partnering with The Tennis Channel to broadcast a regular schedule of squash programming, we can reach the hundreds of thousands of national squash players out there, while introducing the sport to millions more.
"In places like England, Pakistan and Egypt, squash packs giant venues,” added Nimick. “While the sport has gone largely unnoticed in the United States, the recent rise of talented American players coupled with the broadcast reach of The Tennis Channel will quickly raise awareness of this compelling game." Full press release (pdf)
AMSTERDAM FACES MALAYSIAN INVASION 18-Nov
The Malaysian SRA (SRAM) is looking to set up a training base for its top players in Amsterdam, who may compete in the Dutch and other national leagues under the "Malaysian Squash Team" banner, according to reports in the Malaysian star.The SRAM’s executive director, Wong Ah Jit, said that they would set up the pilot project in Amsterdam and besides the Dutch League, the players may also compete in Belgium or Germany under the “Malaysian Squash Team” banner.
“So far, we have only sent players for attachments to European clubs but starting next year, they will go as a team and play as a team,” said Ah Jit. “We believe that for our players to improve, we have to send them where the action is. For squash, Europe is seen as the centre and we think it is justified to have a base there.”
Currently, three players are based in Europe. Ong Beng Hee and Mohamed Azlan Iskandar are training under Neil Harvey in London. Sharon Wee is on a one-month stint at Liz Irving Squash Academy in Amsterdam. The project will consist of Under-19 players who will stay in Europe for a season, from September to March.
“The project is a part of a bigger picture. We hope to make our presence felt in the European circuits more regularly,” said Ah Jit.
Costing about RM100,000 a season, the scheme is among the development programme submitted to the National Sports Council (NSC) last week for approval.
POHRER SET FOR USA SWITCH 11-Nov
Natalie Pohrer, who reached this month's final of the Qatar Women's World Open Squash Championship as an Englishwoman, will compete as a USA player in future WISPA World Tour events.
Daughter of British champion Jean Wilson, Natalie Grainger was born in Manchester, England, and raised in South Africa where she won a number of national titles. After representing South Africa in the World Team Championships and the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, where she won two bronze medals, Natalie switched her allegiance to her country of birth in
September 1999. The world No4 married US citizen Edward Pohrer in June last year and has now been based in St Louis, Missouri, for more than two years.
"Despite the fact that I have never represented England, I am not yet eligible to play for the United States as I have not attained my citizenship, only residency," Pohrer explained. "However I plan on competing for the United States as soon as possible. My life and future are in the States and I am excited about being involved in growing squash there.
"Recently I was appointed assistant national coach for the US junior women and I am thrilled to be able to help in this way. Juniors need to be the focus and I hope to give them all the experience I have gained so far," Pohrer added.
PRESIDENT JAHANGIR TO ACT ON REFEREE DISPUTE 08-Nov
Newly-elected (WSF) President Jahangir Khan has confirmed that the Federation is investigating a recent issue in which a player complaint led to a match referee being changed.
The incident took place at last week's Qatar Classic, a PSA Super Series event in Doha, Qatar, in which Australia's world No3 David Palmer contrived the replacement of the referee during his semi-final against Scotland's John White.
Khan arrived at the Doha event, which also included the Qatar Women's World Open, just two days after being elected President of the WSF at the Federation's AGM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"Whilst it is clear from the established rules of squash that players are not permitted to request a change of marker or referee, we have requested reports from all parties involved so that the issue can be resolved as soon as possible," said the former ten-times British Open champion and six-times World Open champion from Pakistan.The incident, as reported on SquashPlayer's Qatar Classic coverage:
REF SENT OFF!
David Palmer, the Super Series champion and President of the Professional Squash Association, achieved the rare feat of getting a referee sent off while reaching the final of the Qatar Classic in Doha.
Palmer lost his temper with Harvey Bowlt after the South African had awarded a penalty stroke against him at 14-14 in the third game for restricting his opponent John White's swing. The decision decided that game.
"I want him out - we're both agreed on that. I want the tournament referee," bellowed the Australian, and after the PSA Technical Director Robert Edwards had consulted with Bowlt, with the marker, Jack Allen, and with an observing referee, Ian Allanach, Palmer got his way.
Bowlt stepped down to be replaced by Allen, an Ulsterman, with Allanach, a Scot, taking over as marker. Earlier Bowlt had given a conduct warning to White for bouncing his racket off the wall, while Palmer had three times over-ruled decisions in favour of his opponent, a former fellow Australian who represents Scotland. However it had not been an unduly contentious match.
Palmer eventually won 15-13,15-7,14-15,15-5 to earn a final against Peter Nicol, the world champion. Nicol reached the final by winning 15-8,15-12,11-15,7-15,15-2 against another Australian, Stewart Boswell, in a hard 95-minute match.The incident has created much comment on points of view
JAHANGIR'S PAKISTAN PROMISE 04-Nov
New WSF President Jahangir Khan has vowed he will make all out efforts to promote squash around the world, and also in Pakistan. In a Karachi press conference he stated his election was an honour for Pakistan as well as for himself.He also confirmed his intention to continue the push for Olympic inclusion: “WSF is endeavouring hard for the inclusion of squash in Olympics but so far it could not succeed. We are persuading the IOC for the inclusion of squash and its more than ten years by now but the game’s inclusion to a great extent depends on the host nation. We had a chance in 2000 Sydney Olympics but hosts Australia thought otherwise.”
“Squash is not in the 2004 Athens Games and there is no chance of it in the 2008 Bejing Olympics also,” he said and added, “now we are hoping for the squash entry in the 2012 Olympics.”Jahangir is also reported to be hoping to hold the next WSF management committee meeting in Islamadab. Full story ftom the Daily Times
JAHANGIR ELECTED WSF PRESIDENT 26-Oct
Jahangir Khan, one of the sport's greatest ever players, has been elected President of the World Squash Federation at today's Annual General Meeting of the Federation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The 38-year-old from Karachi in Pakistan, a Vice-President for the past four years, succeeds New Zealander Susie Simcock who stands down after serving her maximum terms of six years as Vice-President and six as President. In a close-fought election, Khan beat fellow Vice-President Mike Corby, a former British squash and hockey international, to become the Federation's seventh President. Full Story
NICOL TAKES A BREAK 26-Oct
World No.18 Nicol David is taking a break from the WISPA Tour until next year. The former world junior champion from Malaysia has been finding life on the senior tour a little difficult and has been unhappy about an enforced split from her coach, Richard Glanfield, on the orders of the Malaysian SRA. Full storyCHANGES IN PROSPECT FOR NICOL DAVID 23-Oct
The saga of Nicol David's coaching arrangements continues, but changes are definitely in the offing, according to Nicol herself."There will be many changes in the future and I need time to readjust. It is a shame to part ways with Richard (Glanfield) as he has contributed significantly to my development," said Nicol at a Press conference at Pan Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
"NSC and SRAM have given me the opportunity to be among the best in the world, and I hope to make my dream come true, which is to be the world champion. But I'm looking to improve and there are several options open to me. Everything is good. There are no problems with my family, coach or myself. Everybody wants to do the best for me. But after everyone has had their say, a decision will be made," said Nicol.
"But there are some big plans for the future and it is all geared towards making me a better player." Full story from the New Straits TimesSRAM sacks Glanfield New Straits Times, 24-Oct
SRAM don’t want Glanfield and it’s all up to NSC now the Star, 24-Oct
MACAU CANCELLED 17-Oct
The Macau Open a US$50,000 event that was to be held immediately before the PSA Grand Prix finals in India has been cancelled. The cancellation of the event is a blow to a PSA tour that has been struggled for high level events.The event was scheduled from the 19-24 of November while the Grand Prix Finals in India is to be held from the 26-30 with the qualification event from the 24-25. The cancellation can be expected to affect the plans of some players to travel to the sub-continent.
The $18,000 WISPA silver tour event that was to run alongside it has also been cancelled.
Nicol David's Coaching woes 15-Oct
Nicol David's coach, Richard Glanfield, has demanded an explanation from the Malaysian SRA (SRAM), who have decided to terminate his contract after his protege's failure in the Asian Games, reports the New Straits Times.“I want an explanation on what grounds SRAM want to sack me as I don’t think they can find anything wrong with my personal record,” said Glanfield. “I did not receive any official letter to attend the centralised training nor was I coaching Nicol since March. I was verbally told by SRAM not to coach Nicol way back in March and she is the one who has suffered."
Glanfield demands explanation for sacking from the New Straits Times
After David's shock defeat to Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu in the final of the Asian Games David's coach Richard Glanfield claimed that her loss of form was due to the Malaysian SRA's decision to ask Glanfield to stop coaching her several months ago.
"I have not been coaching her for the last seven months and that is why she is playing badly. Nicol is the best athlete in the country but her training has been disrupted since I was asked not to coach her," Glanfield, whose contract with the SRAM runs for another 18 months, told the Malaysian Star. "She has not been doing well now because lack of training," said Glanfield. "She is training on her own. Due to that, she has gained weight slightly. The SRAM should have given her an alternative when I was asked to stop coaching her. But they did not provide her with a new coach. She is lost now and basically falling apart," he said.
Don't blame me for Nicol's failure from the Star
Then it emerged that there was an even deeper rift. Malaysia's New Straits Times reported that SRAM have wanted Glanfield to move from Penang to Kuala Lumpur for several months, and served him a "showcause letter" for failing to report for duty in KL.
"It was issued sometime ago and this matter will be solved once and for all when we return to KL [from the Asian Games]," said NSC director general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad, declining to comment further.
Glanfield given 'showcause' letter from the New Straits Times
However, Nicol has, in several meetings with SRAM president Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir and the NSC, insisted that she wants to continue with Glanfield as her coach. SRAM and NSC, not wanting to jeopardise Nicol's career, have even asked her to shift base to KL but the player, citing her family, won't do so.
Only moments after Nicol was beaten by Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu in the women's final, Mazlan said NSC was even willing to send her to London to train alongside Ong Beng Hee and Azlan Iskandar at the Neil Harvey training centre in Chingford. In fact, Nicol had a one-week stint there sometime ago but came back. NSC is even willing to send her to a training centre for women players in Holland but the choice is Nicol's.
That Nicol has tremendous potential is something no one disputes but she has to remember that she is no longer in the junior ranks. The senior circuit is of a different class and Nicol has to make some adult decisions and adjustments if she hopes to progress, claims the report.
Jansher's Qatar boost 11-Oct
Pakistan squash legend Jansher Khan's comeback bid has been given a further boost by an agreement by the board of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) that he be given a "local" spot in the qualification of the $140,000 Qatar Classic in Doha at the end of the month
Full story
WISPA reveal Return of Women's US Open 09-Oct
WISPA has confirmed an agreement between the USSRA and the Heights Casino in New York which will result in the Carol Weymuller Open being elevated to the US Women's Open from November this year.
One of the sport's longest-established events in the USA, the Carol Weymuller Open was first played in 1973 and joined the WISPA World Tour in 1993, staged at the Heights Casino in New York. Winners of the event include the four most recent world number ones - Michelle Martin and Sarah Fitz-Gerald of Australia; Leilani Rorani of New Zealand; and England's Cassie Jackman.
The Heights Casino in Brooklyn Heights is a premier US Rackets club with a great squash heritage. "Associating the title US Open with The Weymuller further underscores the popularity of squash in our community," said Edward Cerullo, member of the club's Board of Governors. "We hope to draw the best WISPA players to compete for the USA's most prestigious title and offer the community the most exciting squash possible," he added.
The 2002 US Open, to be played between 12-17 November, will be titled the Weymuller US Open to retain the link with the original event creator: "Carol Weymuller, the former club professional, was a great contributor to the promotion of squash in North America," Cerullo points out.
The championship will also be the last WISPA Grand Prix event for 2002 and should see several players scrambling for places in the finals which will be played next April.
MACREE ACCEPTS WISPA BAN 30-Sep
WISPA have confirmed that England's world No12 Rebecca Macree has begun to serve a suspension imposed upon her. The WISPA statement reads:
"The three-month ban and £400 fine, both of which have been half suspended for two years, were imposed following the player's behaviour during and immediately following her match against Tania Bailey in August's semi-finals of the Singapore Open. The action, which has not been contested, will prevent Macree from participating further on the WISPA World Tour until 9th November - the result of which is that the only significant event she will miss will be the Qatar World Open beginning on 28 October."An agency report last night confirmed that Macree's punishment has been endorsed by the World Squash Federation, who mastermind the World Team Championships. England coach David Pearson was quoted as saying: “We probably would have selected her but for the ban. She feels harshly treated but I don’t think she has been. She needs to understand that you can’t behave like that and get away with it. She feels the whole world’s against her, but it’s not like that.”
Macree furious at missing World Open
how Grapevine broke the story on Sep 11th
LEILANI CONFIRMS RETIREMENT 26-Sep
The former Leilani Joyce, who married Mormon missionary Blair Rorani on the eve of the Manchester 2002 Games, has revealed that she is expecting a baby and will therefore not now represent New Zealand in next month's McWil Courtwall Women's World Team Championship in Denmark.
Leilani rose to the top of the women's world rankings in November 2000 after winning two successive British Open titles. The 28-year-old from Hamilton claimed her 16th and last WISPA World Tour trophy in September last year when she won the Hong Kong Open, beating Australia's four-times world champion and current world No1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald on the way to the final.
In December, Rorani ruptured her Achilles in training and was forced to withdraw from the circuit until making her highly successful comeback at the Commonwealth Games in July.
"Not only has Leilani had a superb playing record but she has been a real professional and great ambassador for women's squash," said WISPA Director Andrew Shelley. "She has also been a really popular member of the WISPA Tour. Had she asked permission to leave the Tour we would not have given it!
"We all wish Leilani and Blair well as they enter this exciting new phase of their life together," Shelley added.Rorani to retire after World Teams 13-Aug
Steps to a Champion
Ian McKenzie interviews Leilani after her 1999 British Open victory
CARLA CONSIDERS ACTION OVER ASIAN GAMES BAN 18-Sep
Carla Khan, the former England junior international and grand-daughter of the legendary Azam Khan, is taking legal advice after being prevented from playing for Pakistan at the Asian Games at Busan, reports the New Straits Times
Carla, who is British born and bred but wants to play for the land of the world-beating Khans who are her ancestors, claims it is inhumane for her to be made to live in Pakistan as it is at the moment. After being denied playing in Manchester on the very eve of the Commonwealth Games, she was again led to expect that she would be included in a Pakistan squad, only to be rejected because she doesn’t live there.
The Pakistan Squash Federation claims the rules of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Asian Squash Federation prevent Carla from playing and says that "we at the PSF have great sympathies and her absence will be felt by all of us here."
However, her father Wasil Khan is now seeking to discover whether the decision can be contested as a human rights issue."I want to live up to my heritage," the 20-year-old said. "And I want to build bridges between two cultures. I have a foot in both countries and would love to help Islam and the Western world to understand each other better. I want to be the first female Khan to make a name in squash." Full story from the New Straits Times
WSF PLANS CRACKDOWN ON PLAYER BEHAVIOUR 18-Sep
The World Squash Federation are planning a crackdown on bad behaviour following criticism by leading IOC dignitaries of on-court conduct at last month's Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Their comments have brought strong support from WSF chief executive Ted Wallbutton, who told the Daily Telegraph that some players' behaviour is "bringing the game into disrepute."
Wallbutton added: "We don't want to limit the ability of players to understand [refereeing decisions] but we do want to limit their ability to query decision after decision, and to use the time to recover or disrupt, making the game look untidy and unruly."The WSF annual report explains the problem:
"Player discipline continues to be a problem. Although the women professionals are, almost without exception, well behaved on court and treat referees with appropriate respect, there is a minority of male players whose behaviour is not acceptable. Constant dissent at decisions and, sometimes aggressive, challenging of referees is a feature of matches involving these players. The convention in Squash is that players may always query a referee's decision to ensure that they understand the reasons for it, so as to avoid repeating the same situation. This has evolved into an environment where some players attempt to reverse decisions and some use this freedom to unsettle their opponents. The question was brought into sharp focus at the Commonwealth Games where some influential visitors, including the top echelons of the International Olympic Committee, expressed surprise that the players could be given so much licence to disrupt matches. The view was expressed that a situation similar to Rugby, where comments on a referee's decision brings immediate and mandatory penalty, would benefit the flow of the game and raise the sporting credentials of the sport. This topic will be discussed at the [WSF AGM and] Conference in 2002 and will also form part of the overall review of refereeing."
JANSHER SETS 5-TOURNEY TARGET 16-Sep
Jansher Khan has given himself five tournaments to either make an impact or trun his back on squash, reports the Frontier Post from Pakistan. "I am making a come back after four years, I am in good spirit and morale trying to regain my full fitness before launching a fresh campaign in ranking tournament", he said on Sunday.Jansher said all depends on his fitness and results achieved in the tournaments which he plans to play this year and next year, and if his performance was not result oriented then he would drop his struggle. "If I am disappointed in two or three tournaments, it does not matter, it is just a new beginning, but if I do the same in the next two events then I will withdraw myself from squash," he said.
“Two hours gym training and three hours squash are helping me to gradually get into rhythm I am confident to be the same Jansher of old times in maximum six months time “, he said.
Jansher's tournament plan appears to be the CNS Open in Karachi, where he will play in the qualifying event, the CAS event in October, where he has a wild card, followed by the World and British Opens. Full story from The Frontier Post
Can Jansher comeback ??? Khan Comeback Poll
JANSHER SUBMITS TO CAS QUALIFYING 05-Sep
In a bid to improve his chances of obtaining a wild card entry for December's World Open in Antwerp, former world champion Jansher Khan has decided to enter the qualifying event for Pakistan's CAS Trophy next month, reports Pakistan's Dawn. When denied a wild card for this month's CNS Open in Karachi, Jansher had declined to appear in any qualifying competitions, but now appears to have changed his mind, mainly since players are only allowed one wild card entry per year.** 11-Sep Dawn reports that Jansher has accepted a wildcard for the CAS Open ***
Dawn reports that after three more weeks training in Pakistan Jansher will be back, and is planning to appear in the Qatar Classic and YMG Capital Classic, and is hoping to stage a series of exhibition events with the current top players. Full report from Dawn
DEVOY AND MARTIN BACK ON COURT 03-Sep
Ten years after retiring, former world champion Susan Devoy has been invited to play a series of exhibitions in the United States in November, Bob Pearce reports for Squash NZ.
Her opponent will be Australian Michelle Martin, whom she beat to win her fourth world title in Vancouver, where she announced her retirement. Now the mother of four young boys, Devoy admitted that she did not even own a squash racket when the invitation arrived.
"I've been back on court for two weeks now - one week playing and the other recovering," she said. "I had a few hits with Carol Owens and I couldn't walk for three days. I've never been so frustrated. I'm the same person in a different body, and it's really hard."
Dame Susan, a member of the Auckland District Health Board and chair of the Halberg Trust, is 38. Her opponent, who succeeded her as world champion, retired a year ago.
"The exhibitions won't be competitive, but I want to put on a respectable show," she said. The boys are very keen for me to go. They think I'll be able to buy them a PlayStation 2."
Squash fails in 2008 Olympic bid 29-Aug
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that Squash will not be included on the programme of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing 2008, the IOC today revealed to the World Squash Federation ... full story from the WSF
CARLA CAN'T PLAY IN BUSAN 27-Aug
Following disappointment in Manchester, when Carla Khan was in, then out of Pakistan's team, it now looks like the London-based Pakistan champion may be ineligible to represent Pakistan in the Asian Games in Korea.Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reports that chances of Pakistan fielding their British import at next month's Asian Games in Busan have been dealt a blow by the Olympic Council of Asia regulations which render her ineligible to compete. Full story
WILDCARD FOR JANSHER IN CAS 26-Aug
Dawn reports that Jansher will be granted a wildcard for the CAS Open in October.Jansher starts training - Dawn, 30-Aug
JANSHER DENIED WILDCARD 22-Aug
Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reports that Jansher Khan has been denied a wildcard entry into September's CNS Open in Karachi. The former world champion is looking to start his comeback in Europe."I hope to be a member of the PSA within a week or two, and back on court within three months at a PSA event," Jansher told a press conference in Dubai en route from Pakistan to Europe. Jansher said he was sure he would be offered a wildcard at "any of the 35-40,000 dollar tournaments in Europe."
"I need to play three or four (minor) tournaments to get confidence," before challenging the world's top players "within eight months," Jansher said, adding that he thought the standard of squash had come down from his heyday 10 years ago."I am quite upset and sad with the decision," Jansher said, stressing that the federation had not given him a reason why an original verbal offer of a wildcard was rescinded. But Jansher, with only two competitive matches under his belt in four years, refused to play in any tournament qualifying rounds: "That would be shameful ... I won't do that."
"To be eligible for a wild card he had to appear in the trials held in Karachi on Aug 15 to pick one player and also he had to be registered with the PSA, which he wasn't," an official of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) told Dawn. Khayal Muhammad earned the wild card for the $25,000 event.
EVANS CLEAR FAVOURITE FOR FRENCH OPEN 20-Aug
While most of the world's top fifteen head for Boston in September for the US Open, Wales' world number 14 David Evans has opted for the French Open, for which he is clear favourite, ranked some 17 places ahead of the second seed, Netherland's Tommy Berden.When the French Open entered the PSA calendar as a Super Series event on the same dates as the established US Open, it seemed that the world's elite players would go to France. The collapse of sponsorship for the French event however, avoided a potentially damaging clash when major PSA tournaments are already thin on the ground.
The Women's event in Antibes features Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Linda Charman, Fiona Geaves and Suzanne Horner as top seeds.
French Open Draws | US Open Draw
PAKISTANI STARS DENIED VISA FOR US OPEN 14-Aug
Pakistan looks set to be unrepresented at next month's US Open tournament after two Pakistani champions were denied entry visas to the United States, one of the players told the Dawn newspaper.
World ranked number 20, Mansour Zaman, 22, and Mohammad Ilyas, 23, who is ranked 70, said they were refused a visa to play in the competition beginning Sept 10 as both had failed to follow the correct application procedures.
"I was told by the US embassy that on technical grounds they could not issue me with a visa and that I should reapply following the correct procedure," Zaman told AFP. But the national champion denied the embassy's assertion, adding that his absence from the tournament would see him fall in the world rankings. He said the US embassy had also earlier denied a visa for his brother Mannawar, preventing him from competing in another tournament in the United States in January this year. Zaman said the players were ambassadors for Pakistan and were extremely disappointed with the decision.
The Pakistan Squash Federation has taken up the issue with US officials, federation vice president Qamar Zaman told AFP. "This is a ridiculous decision and we will fight it through the World Squash Federation," he said."It is very discouraging for us as this will affect the ranking of the players," secretary of the PSF Wing Commander Sajid Waheed told Dawn on Thursday. It is a very serious affair, and we even intend to approach the sports minister in that country," Sajid said. "As a last resort we will take up the matter with the American ambassador to Pakistan."
Sajid pointed out that last time too, three Pakistani players - Ijaz Azmat, Amjad Khan and Shahid Zaman, had been given visas so late that they could not take part in the Tournament of Champions.
RORANI TO RETIRE AFTER WORLD TEAMS 13-Aug
Double Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Leilani Rorani is planning to retire from squash after helping New Zealand to claim the Women's World Team Championship in October.
At a reception in her honour at her home club in Hamilton, the 28-year old former world number one outlined her future plans.
"I could play any amount I wanted for another five years," Rorani told the Waikato Times. "But there is no desire. What else do I need to achieve to feel good? Would winning three British Opens feel any different to having won two? My priorities have changed and I am now so looking at having a family. But it would be nice to cap off my whole career with New Zealand winning the world teams event."
Rorani gave the audience a tour of her twenty-year squash career, ending with her double success at the Commonwealth Games - her first competitive event after a lengthy lay-off with an achilles injury.
"I never felt so happy about winning a game of squash in my life," she said of her win in the women's doubles with Carol Owens. "It is an amazing experience to be standing on a podium, watching your country's flag being raised and having the national anthem played. The British Open can't compare."
JANSHER TO COME OUT OF RETIREMENT 11-Aug
Pakistan newspapers Dawn, The News and The Frontier Post are all carrying stories today on former world champion Jansher Khan's plans to stage a comeback."I have decided to stage a come back after watching the performance of Pakistan players on international circuit and I feel that I can still compete at international level," he claimed in a press conference at the Lahore press club. Less than two years after announcing his retirement Jansher has had his troublesome knees repaired, has resumed training and is confident of making an impact in three international events to be held in Pakistan later in the year. "I am quite fit and feel that I can sustain the hardships of this demanding game," said Jansher.
PARKY TIES THE KNOT 10-Aug
He'll make a fine husband for
some lucky girl one day ...
thinks former Sports Minister Kate HoeyFormer world number three Simon Parke has married his longstanding girlfriend Chloe Gooding and whisked her off on honeymoon to Venice. In a message to World Squash Media Director Howard Harding, Parke writes:
HI Howard, Made an honest woman of long suffering girlfriend Chloe Gooding yesterday (8th Aug) in Keyworth, Notts! Best man Peter Marshall gave a very frank, funny and heartwarming speech and members of the squash world present included; Del Harris, Tony Hands, Lee Beachill, Paul Gregory, Chris Walker, Paul Johnson, David Pearson and many more.... A great day was had by all and we are now off on our honeymoon to Venice for 4 days and Lake Garda for 10 days.
Heartiest congratulations from all at SquashPlayer, Parky!
NIMICK CONFIRMS US OPEN 18-Jul
US Open organiser John Nimick today confirmed that the event would go ahead as planned at the Symphony Hall in Boston in September, despite uncertainties caused by the clash of dates and sponsorship problems with the French Open. Full statementFRENCH OPEN SPONSORSHIP COLLAPSES 14-Jul
The French Open, scheduled for a damaging September clash with the US Open, has lost its main sponsor causing both men's and women's events to be downgraded. The event came back onto the calendar this year, and caused a furore when the PSA sanctioned it as a Super Series event on the same dates as the established US Open.Prize money has been cut from $60k to $15k for the men and $30k to $10k for the women. This will almost certainly mean that all the top men will be making the trip to Boston, avoiding a potentially damaging clash when major PSA tournaments are already thin on the ground.
NEW CEO FOR ENGLAND SQUASH 12-Jul
England Squash has announced the appointment of Nick Rider as its new Chief Executive Officer, commencing work early September 2002. He will take over from the Acting CEO, Jeremy Lister.Having qualified with a BA (Joint Honours) degree in Law and French from the University of Kent, he worked 7 years for Marathon Oil UK before joining The Sports Council (now Sport England). Nick currently works for Sport England as Senior Governing Bodies Manager, responsible for a number of sports, including squash. In 12 years with Sport England, he has held a number of roles.
He is 42 years old, married, with two young children, and has been a keen hockey player. More recently, he has been a voluntary official, as Club Secretary and County Representative.
Carla Khan added to Pakistan Games Squads 11-Jul
Pakistan's Commonwealth Games squad looked likely to be increased, after the Pakistan Squash Federation submitted the name of their new National Champion Carla Khan for late inclusion to the Games authorities, but it seems unlikely that the English-born, England-resident grand-daughter of Azam Khan will meet the eligibility requirements. Pakistan have also added Carla, who last week won the Pakistan National title, to their squad for the Asian Games in Korea in October. Full details on the Games sectionBeng Hee and David enter SportExcel hall of fame 09-Jul
Malaysian squash stars Nicol David and Ong Beng Hee were inducted as the first entrants into SportExcel’s Hall of Fame, which was inaugurated yesterday during SportExcel’s award presentation ceremony. The Hall of Fame was inaugurated as a recognition for athletes who have consistently achieved high excellence at world level and have received the youth’s sporting excellence foundation funding. Nicol, a recipient in 1996, said the award meant very much, not just for her, but also to the other two recipients – Beng Hee and bowler Shalin who were not present due to commitment overseas.“I feel very honoured to receive the award. It is a recognition of what we have done all these years,” said Nicol. Full details on the Games section
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities are looking forward to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where they are confident of winning Gold.
“By 2006, Beng Hee should be at the peak of his game and winning the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games is not impossible,” the Squash Racket Association of Malaysia’s (SRAM) executive director, Wong Ah Jit, told the Star. Full details on the Games section
Carla Khan takes Pakistan title 05-Jul
Carla Khan, the English-based grand-daughter of Azam Khan, took the Pakistan national title with crushing victory in the final, beating Bushra Haider 9-1, 9-2, 9-0 in just over a quarter of an hour, following whitewashes in both semi and quarter-finals.Khan, a former British junior champion, has opted to play for Pakistan on the international circuit and although Pakistan have not entered any women into the Commonwealth Games Carla is hopeful of being able to play in the Asian and SAF Games coming up in the next year.
Report from 'The News' Results from Paksquash.comThe Pakistan Squash Federation is looking to promote women's squash more, and has introduced a new girl's event in the forthcoming National Junior Championships. Report from Dawn.
Leilani Joyce marries in New Zealand 03-Jul
Former world number one Leilani Joyce, who is expected to make her comeback from an achilles injury at the Commonwealth Games, took a day off training yesterday to get married in New Zealand, reports stuff.co.nz. The private ceremony was held at the Mormon temple on the outskirts of Hamilton, where Joyce said "I do" to 22 year-old Blair Rorani. Full report from Stuff.co.nzLeilani wanted to keep the it secret before the event, reports Stuff. Certainly her official website gave no clues, since of late it seems to have been 'hijacked' by an insurance company ...
WSF postpones world junior men's 01-Jul
The Management Committee of the World Squash Federation (WSF) has today (Monday) regretfully confirmed that the World Junior Men's Squash Championships, planned for 13-24 August 2002 in Chennai, India, have been postponed.
The decision was reluctantly taken by the Management Committee after full consultation with all Member Nations and follows a recommendation by the Championships Committee, headed by Director George Mieras and Championship Consultant Andrew Shelley. Although tension between India and Pakistan has eased considerably in the past weeks, most nations' foreign departments have downgraded their advice only to an 'avoid holiday and non-essential travel' level.
"In the circumstances, the WSF believes that the majority of nations would not be prepared to commit, at this time, to sending teams to India in August and cannot recommend that they do so," said WSF Chief Executive Ted Wallbutton.
The provisional new dates for the Championships are 3-14 December 2002, in Chennai, with player eligibility dates unchanged. All players eligible to play in August will be allowed to compete in December.
"The WSF is fully committed to holding the event in Chennai in December and is optimistic that the tension in the region will have normalised well before the tournament," Wallbutton added.
Entry Fees paid by Members will be held by the WSF pending confirmation of the December dates. If Nations are unable to compete at that time, the Management Committee is empowered by Championship Regulations to refund fees due to exceptional circumstances.
"The WSF wishes to express its thanks to the Squash Federation of India and Mr. N Ramachandran for the excellent planning and commitment which has already gone into the event and for their acceptance of the decision which has been forced upon them," Wallbutton concluded.
Malaysia & Pakistan Confirm Commonwealth Games Squads 28-Jun
Malaysia and Pakistan have confirmed their squash squads for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, which will take place at England's National Squash Centre in Manchester from 26 July to 4 August.
The Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) have announced that world No10 Ong Beng Hee, the 22-year-old former world junior champion, will lead the five-player Malaysian squad - which also includes Moh'd Azlan Iskandar, Kenneth Low, twice world junior women's champion Nicol David and Sharon Wee.
"While all our players will compete in the singles competitions, we will not be entering the men's and women's doubles events, but concentrating on the mixed doubles," said SRAM Honorary Secretary AJ Wong. "We hope to win a medal through our top pair Ong Beng Hee and Nicol David, semi-finalists in the World Doubles Invitation event in England in April."
Malaysia's other mixed doubles pairing will be Kenneth Low and Sharon Wee.
Three cousins are included in the four-man squad selected by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), which will be accompanied by Air Marshal Syed Qaiser Hussain. World No21 Mansoor Zaman, son of former British Open champion Qamar Zaman, will be joined by cousins Shahid Zaman and Farrukh Zaman, together with Shamsul Islam - and all will compete in both the men's singles and doubles.
FITZ GOES FOR WISPA RECORD AT HOME 26-Jun
Australia's world No1 and four-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald begins her bid to break compatriot Michelle Martin's record of 57 WISPA World Tour titles in her home country tomorrow (27 June) when she opens her defence of the Australian Open title in Adelaide.
Success in Adelaide, which would mark Fitz-Gerald's third Australian Open title, would move the Melbourne squash star into second place in the all-time WISPA list behind New Zealand's Susan Devoy, who boasted more than 90 professional titles from 1984 to 1992. Fitz-Gerald equalled Martin's tally in the USA in May when she extended her remarkable unbeaten run since last August to win the Seattle Open. Top seed in Adelaide, Sarah faces compatriot Tanya Bone in the first round, and is expected to meet second-seeded Laura Keating in the final on Sunday.
"After my injury woes in 1999/2000, I set myself a number of goals in a bid to return to the top of the sport I love so much," said Fitz-Gerald from Adelaide. "My aims were to win the World Open in my hometown of Melbourne, to win the British Open in 2001, and to reach 60 WISPA World Tour titles.
"I am delighted to say that I successfully achieved the first two, and now have the opportunity to break Michelle's record of 57 titles and continue on to 60," Sarah explained. "To break the record in Adelaide would be personally very satisfying, as my national title means a lot to me and achieving the record in my home country would be an added bonus."
"I'M BRANDED", CLAIMS PALMER 18-Jun
PSA president David Palmer apologised to Super Series Finals tournament director Satinder Bajwa for his behaviour in his crash to England's Mark Chaloner on day one, which saw him in ill humour and demanding a change of referee several times. Palmer received a conduct warning and a conduct stroke for improper language in a grouchy encounter that involved 69 lets and 11 strokes.
"I apologised because I was out of line," Palmer told Squash Player, "but I still feel the referee was 100% against me. Since that match I had with Jonathon Power here last year I have a lot of problems with English referees. Against Chaloner I lost my self control and my brain but the referee was one sided."
Palmer explained to Squash Player the reaction of English referees to him since that now notorious encounter. He feels he has been branded as a troublemaker and that there is now a bias amongst English referee against him. Palmer claims that he has encountered this throughout England, even in league matches.
"They keep referring to that match with Power and they even bring it up when refereeing me," said Palmer. "I go on and try to play fairly but they are against me and I get a one sided deal. I'm branded."
On court today Palmer was impeccably behaved and in the end Ong Beng Hee, who has looked jaded throughout, faded in going down 15-11, 10-15, 15-5, 15-7.
"I'm still in said Palmer. I still have a chance. Jonny White is next. I thought that he was the form player going into this event. We will see."
Jahangir to stand for WSF Presidency 16-Jun
Reports from Pakistan suggest that squash legend Jahangir Khan will be standing for the presidency of the World Squash Federation in October. In an interview in Pakistan's 'The News', Air Marshal Syed Qaiser Hussain, Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) said "We have decided to push for Jahangir as the new president of the world body. A figure like him as the WSF chief will be good both for the game in Pakistan and worldwide." Full report from 'The News'England name four gold medallists for Manchester 11-Jun
ESF Coaching Conference Hailed As 'Tremendous Success' 11-Jun
The European Squash Federation Coaching & Development Conference in Vienna last weekend was a "tremendous success", according to the ESF, with 22 ESF member nations represented. The Conference, organised by Michael Khan, was aimed at regional coaches, club coaches and coaches from developing nations. Its theme was "Learning by Doing", which involved many on-court practical sessions.
ESF President Chris Stahl said: "We are delighted to welcome coaches from so many member nations, particularly our developing nations. We know how much they will benefit from this event, not only from the interesting presentations, but also from the opportunity it provides to meet and network with other coaches."
The highlight of the event was a demonstration by the legendary Jahangir Kahn of the training routines and drills which helped him to win six World titles and 10 British Open titles. This was followed by a question and answer session. Jahangir presented the participants with their certificates at the end of the Conference, signing autographs, t-shirts and posing for photographs with his usual courtesy and good humour.
Thanking Jahangir, Chris said: "We are very appreciative that Jahangir travelled to Vienna to fulfil his commitment to the ESF despite the very difficult political situation in Pakistan at this particular time."
The countries taking part were Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, Ireland, Germany, Gibraltar, Hungary, Isle of Man, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Scotland, Spain, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.
World Champion Fitz-Gerald Leads WISPA Tour 04-Jun
Australia's world No1 and four-times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald heads for Bangkok early next week to lead the latest WISPA tour to promote women's squash around the globe. Full WISPA tour details
"Go to the Gym more", Beng Hee told 26-May
The Malaysian Sports Institute has ordered world #10 to take more visits to the Gym to improve his upper body strength, reports the Malaysian Star.“I was only told to increase my upper body strength and they have devised a special programme for me to follow,” he told the Star. He has already started working on the new regimen, with intensive workouts in the gymnasium.
“I’m beginning to do weight training. As I was told by NSI, I just need to improve my strength, but not to the extent that it affects my mobility. Strength is needed because you’re basically playing not just using your legs, but your arms and shoulders as well, to bash the ball against the wall. I feel the NSI advice has benefited me in a way. I will work hard to sort it out, and continue with the programme in England,” said Beng Hee.
Beng Hee has had three weeks off after successfully defending his Asian Championships title and is scheduled to return to London on Monday 27th to start preparations for the Super Series Finals in June.
Squash Academy Is The Wright Way Forward 22-May
A new independent coaching institute, designed to provide comprehensive support for up-and-coming and established squash players in a refreshing new style, is the brainchild of England's former world No3 Sue Wright.
The Sue Wright Squash Academy will be launched next month in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The Academy will provide a specialised squash environment which offers expert knowledge, skill and support - including coaching, fitness and programming, sports psychology, notational and video analysis, nutritional advice, physiotherapy, sports therapy and massage, and player management.
"I want to give up-and-coming players the opportunity to achieve as much as they can, with a support network to enable them to do all the right things to give them the best chance in the future," said the four-times British National champion. "We want our players to have a voice, so that they can have a say in the direction they want to take."
One of England's most capped players, Wright has often been outspoken against the 'system'. However she is keen to promote her new venture as a "healthy alternative to what's on offer."
"I hope we will be able to work closely with the governing bodies - naturally our aim is to produce players who will ultimately play for their countries," said Wright.
"I want the Academy to produce and promote professional, fair, competitive players in all aspects of their on and off-court behaviour. It is important to be professional, no matter what age," Wright insists.
England's world top twenty player Jenny Tranfield, who recently received her PhD in Sports Psychology, is working closely with Wright, her coach, at the SWSA. "The Academy will provide a great opportunity for young players to be part of a professional coaching set up and to benefit from a highly motivated and structured training and playing environment," said Dr Tranfield.
"Sue's history as a player has embellished her with a precise understanding of the knowledge and skills required to perform at the highest level. This combined with her task focused and totally professional approach makes her both highly effective and inspirational as a coach and mentor. Furthermore, her track record as chairperson of Oxfordshire squash, combined with her recent marketing/promotions experience with two major sports brands, makes her an ideal manager for the academy."
Sue Wright, 31, originally from Kent and now based in Bicester, enjoyed a distinguished playing career which included 11 WISPA World Tour titles and 27 final appearances, including runners-up berths in the British Open in 1991 and 2000. With a total of 51 caps, Wright represented England from 1989 to 2001.
The Sue Wright Squash Academy will unveil its complete roster of players, coaches, etc, at its official opening at the end of June.
The Australian Commonwealth Games Association, in conjunction with Squash Australia, has revealed the ten athletes and two coaches who will represent Australia in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, from July 25 - August 4.The announcement states that "the team has a strong balance of experience and youth" - as the female contingent will be led by Sarah Fitz-Gerald, currently the world number one, and include sisters Rachael and Natalie Grinham. Fitz-Gerald, the four-times world champion, has won 55 tournaments on the professional circuit during her career, with the 2002 British Open being one of her most recent victories. Sarah is determined to convert her Silver Medal won in the ladies singles at the 1998 Games into Gold at Manchester.
Full story and Commonwealth Games details
JOYCE SET FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES RETURN 10-May
New Zealand's world No3 Leilani Joyce, out of action all this year after rupturing her Achilles tendon in December, is set to make her return to competitive squash at the Commonwealth Games in England in July. The news was revealed today by the New Zealand Olympic Committee in conjunction with Squash New Zealand. Joyce, a former world No1, and Carol Owens, a former world champion currently ranked No2 in the world, will lead a six-member squash team to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Both players will have a busy time in Manchester, having been selected for the singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Owens and Joyce will pair up for the women's doubles - "and will start that competition highly favoured," reports Squash New Zealand. The other females in the NZ team are Shelley Kitchen and Lara Petera. Kitchen, with a world singles ranking of 16, will team with Petera in the doubles. The pair finished 5th at the recent World Invitation Doubles championships behind Australian and English combinations.Full story and Commonwealth Games details
WISPA INVESTS IN GLASS COURT 30-Apr
In a bold initiative to support its growing North American circuit, WISPA is buying its own portable all-glass squash court. The German-made ASB One-Way Vision glass court will be based in the United States and made available, at advantageous rates, for women's events in north America.
The new state-of-the-art all-glass court offers excellent playability and superb clarity for television coverage. The WISPA court has the same specifications as the one unveiled earlier this month at the British Open at England's new National Squash Centre in Manchester, the venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
The inspired WISPA move has been made possible by a link with LSW Logistics, a US-based information systems company which is sponsoring the purchase. The London-based women's player body will manage bookings for WISPA World Tour and any other events that wish to use it, with transportation and venue builds being handled by ASB America.
The WISPA women's tour in North America has rapidly expanded from a prize fund of less than $50,000 in 1997, to a projected 13 events boasting a total prize fund in excess of $280,000 this year. "We have a blossoming Tour, with North American events to the fore, but little opportunity for them to grow and for our members to reap the benefits," explained WISPA Director Andrew Shelley, who initiated the scheme.
"Now, we can solve the problem by providing the first glass show court on the continent - thus offering our promoters a really high quality, as well as economical, option. "We are delighted that LSW see the benefits of a link with the WISPA Tour and their support has enabled us to realise this plan. Promoters are our lifeblood and we are committed to encouraging them at every turn," Shelley added.
An LSW Logistics spokesman explained that the sponsorship will be linked with a product launch later in the year. "There is great synergy here even though we have no connection with the sport. Both WISPA and ourselves are expanding - we are both progressive and essentially both in the service industry. We are pleased to have an opportunity to link with the vibrant women's squash group," he said.
This scheme comes hot on the heels of the launch of WISPA's Grand Prix Television programming which will enhance the benefits to promoters of the top WISPA Tour events. Events in North America which use the WISPA court will be able to join the schedule which has already featured an international TV commitment to both the Hurghada International in Egypt and the WISPA World Grand Prix Finals in Qatar this month.
POINTFORE LAUNCH RIVAL SQUASH BALL 06-Apr
Pointfore is to launch a new range of squash balls, claiming equivalent performance at a significantly lower price than market leader Dunlop. "It’s true," says Pointfore's Richard Packham. "All those who have tested them for us agree that there is no difference between ours and the ‘other ball’". Full story from Pointfore
MANIAM QUITS AS MALAYSIAN COACH 05-Apr
After 17 years service Malaysian coach S.Maniam has decided to quit SRAM to take up a position as coaching director of the Asian Squash Federation (ASF). He will also be a consultant to the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI). He begins work at the ASF headquarters in Chennai, India, on May 20.“I was looking for a challenging job and I was happy to get the offer from the ASF two months ago. It was an offer too good to turn down. I like to travel and my job is basically to promote squash in Asia,” Maniam, who will be on a three-year contract with the ASF, told the Malaysian Star.
“My immediate task is to develop squash in China and to get the sport into the 2008 Beijing Olympics.” Full story from the Star
WISPA Launches Grand Prix TV Deal 28-Mar
The Hurghada Women's International Championship, which begins in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada tomorrow (29 March) after qualifying in Cairo, marks the start of a broadcasting arrangement which will see TV highlights programmes of the major women's events reaching international audiences on a regular basis.
Andrew Shelley, Director of the Women's International Squash Players' Association, said: "This is a major milestone in the growth of WISPA. We will now be able to support promoters with international TV coverage of Grand Prix events at the same time as raising the profile of women's squash."
New Zealand's Carol Owens, winner of the Heliopolis Open title in Cairo on Wednesday, is top seed in Hurghada, and faces qualifier Tania Bailey in the opening round.
FITZ-GERALD CLAIMS TOP AUSSIE AWARD 27-Mar
World number one squash player Sarah Fitz-Gerald has upstaged record-breaking swimmer Ian Thorpe and world number one tennis star Lleyton Hewitt to win Australia's top national sports award, reports Ananova.
Fitz-Gerald said she was surprised to win the award, given that squash is not a high-profile sport in her home country.
"It's just such an honour that my name is amongst these, and my sport is amongst these, as well," she said. "It's such a surprise, it's a wonderful feeling."
Fitz-Gerald, 33, won 11 titles in 2001, including the British Open and World Championships. The award, named in honour of former champion swimmer Dawn Fraser and presented in the Australian capital, was won last year by golfer Karrie Webb.
Thorpe was voted the male sports person of the year. He won six gold medals at the 2001 world swimming championships, where he set four world records. Hewitt, the US Open champion finished 2001 at number one after winning the season-ending Masters Cup in Sydney. Hewitt won six titles in the season and, at 20 years and eight months, was the youngest ever men's number one and was voted by his ATP rivals as the tennis player of the year.Fitz-Gerald has missed much of the past month with a calf injury, but returns to competitive action on Tuesday when she attempts to help reigning National League champions Edgbaston overturn a 4-1 deficit against Broxbourne in the second leg of the semi-finals. Fellow Australian Stewart Boswell and England's Del Harris also return to the Birmingham side after playing in this week's Pakistan Open.
Alan Thatcher interviews Sarah as she prepares for the British Open
JAHANGIR TO SUE PIA OVER 'SACKING' 24-Mar
Jahangir Khan, squash's most successful and famous player, has sued his former employers for what he termed as his "unlawful retirement" last November, reports the News International Pakistan. "I still feel hurt by the PIA action," said Jahangir, who was employed by the PIA as a colt and was General Manager (sports) following his golden run in the world of squash during the eighties and early nineties. Full report.
US COLLEGES SWITCH TO STANDARD SCORING 21-Mar
The United States' National Intercollegiate Squash Rackets Association, which runs the league in which the top 36 US Universities compete, has switched from PAR ('American') scoring to Standard (to 9, hand-in/out). After a one-year experiment with standard scoring the players, coaches and organisers were heavily in favour of retaining the mehod, after several years of using PAR to 15.
PSA TOUR REVS UP 15-Mar
After the high-profile cancellations of 2001 and a quiet start to 2002, the PSA men's tour is starting to get up a head of steam. Next week sees the $105k Pakistan Open, followed by the $50k British Open in April now that the PSA have patched up their differences with Mike Corby. At the end of April Qatar will host the $100k PSA Masters with hopes of a 3-year deal for the event. A quiet May, then the Super Series Finals in London in June, building up to the Commonwealth Games in July, the Hong Kong Open in August and the US Open in September.November and December look set to close the year off with a bang - the $120k Qatar Classic, Macau Open and YMG Classic in November, which finishes with the inaugural World Grand Prix Finals in Mumbai. The top 16, or possibly 32, in the 1st October rankings will compete for the year's largest prize fund at $150k. There will be no qualification for this event, so players on the borderline of the top 16 or 32 will be sweating it out over a September which, as of now, looks light of major tournaments (although the Al Ahram is pencilled in for that month).
No sweat for the Super Series qualifiers though - David Palmer, Peter Nicol, Jonathon Power, John White, Stewart Boswell, Thierry Lincou, Mark Chaloner and Ong Beng Hee are the eight on the list, with Paul Price and Chris Walker the reserves.
The year rounds off with a return to Europe for the World Open in Antwerp in December, the first Men's World Open for over three years. For now though, players will be deciding whether to enter one of the new events on the circuit, the intriguingly-named "Dartmouth Mudbowl" ...
PSA CONFIRM BRITISH OPEN REGISTRATION 13-Mar
The Professional Squash Association announced today the registration of the 2002 British Open as a PSA event with a prize fund of $50,000.
"The PSA commends and supports Michael Corby, the England Squash President and owner of the Fitness Exchange Group, for his unstinting efforts to promote and finance this glorious and historic event. We recognise his personal courage in underwriting both the men's and women's British Open and the World Invitation Doubles," said defending champion David Palmer, the
Association's newly-elected President. "We also recognise the wonderful support of the Manchester City Council to make the staging of this prestigious event a reality."
The British Open will begin with the pre-qualification at Lambs Club on 6th April, climaxing with the finals at the National Squash Centre in Manchester on 15th April. More on the grapevine
FRANCE TO FACE REST OF WORLD IN TEST MATCH SERIES 12-Mar
British Champion Lee Beachill will lead a Rest of the World team to face France in an Official Test Match Series to take place in England from the 4th to 6th April.
Beachill will captain a four-man team selected from Australia's Stewart Boswell (World No5) and Anthony Ricketts (World No12), former British Champions Simon Parke and Paul Johnson, and the World's two leading junior players James Willstrop and Peter Barker.
France, who plan to field their strongest possible team in preparation for the European Team Championships in May, will be represented by world No4 Thierry Lincou, European Junior Champion Gregory Gaultier and established internationals Renan Lavigne and Jean-Michel Arcucci. Full details
PALMER THE HEAD MAN 10-Mar
Head Racquet Sports have re-signed British Open champion and World No. 2 David Palmer in an exclusive three year contract. Palmer made dramatic progress last year winning British and Hong Kong Open titles and reaching a World No.1 ranking for the first time.
"I really hope to follow in the footsteps of Jansher Khan," said Palmer from his home in Belgium. Jansher also a Head player won 8 World Open titles. "I will strive to match his record. I believe that the new HEAD i.160 'Intelligence' racquet will help me to achieve my goals," he added on his favourite racket.
The intelligent rackets from Head stiffen on ball impact and this provide them with impressive power and aids vibrations control. more
NATIONAL LEAGUE REJECTS MERGER OFFER 06-Mar
National League, Super League, National Squash League, National Squash Squash Super League, NL, NSL ... there's been ongoing confusion about the two British Leagues for a while now. Here on SquashPlayer we refer to the England Squash National Squash League (four men, 1 woman teams) as 'National League' (www.squashplayer.co.uk/natlge), and the independently run National Super Squash League (3 man teams) as the 'NSL Super League' (www.squashplayer.co.uk/nsl).Both leagues claim rights to the 'NSL' mantle though, and in an attempt to clear up the confusion the Super League have apparently offered a merger. The offer has been rejected, and the National League have released a letter sent by Matt Hammond to Super League organiser Andrew Shelley to clarify the reasons why they rejected a proposed merger. The letter reads:
"Although not at the National League Managers meeting, I have been given the task of writing to you concerning the proposed merger. My understanding from the feedback that I have been given is that the body of the NL Managers do not want to compromise the structure that is currently in operation. After 5 years of running the League in its current format, it is generally felt that the structure is successful, from both a management and spectator perspective.
"Similarly, it was also felt by all parties that the development role that the League plays for up and coming world level players, is paramount to the successful longer term vision for the sport and the involved clubs. Given these comments it was felt at this time that a merger between the Super League and the National League according to the format put forward by yourself, was not in the best interest of the National League. I hope that this explains the position at the current time."
WSF SET UP SCORING TASK FORCE 04-Mar
'Standard', or 'PARS' ? The WSF has set up a task force headed by Joyce Buckley with the aim of setting a unified scoring system for squash worldwide.Concerned at the confusion, and possible damage, being created by the continued use of PARS for men's professional events and Standard for WISPA and most other events, the task force is briefed to recommend a single system to be used throughout the game in time for the 2003 WSF Annual General Meeting.
The Men's game introduced PARS in the 1980s, ostensibly to reduce the length of the game and to make it easier to understand, but these aims do not appear to have been met. The normal line of argument goes that 'PARS is simpler and fairer', while 'Standard allows for comebacks'. Polls on SquashPlayer have consistently shown that most people prefer Standard.
Also of concern is the trend to introduce new systems for specific leagues or tournaments. In the English National League, for example, the men play PAR to 9 with two clear points needed while the women play standard!
The WSF is concerned that this proliferation of scoring systems is damaging to the image of the sport and is liable to harm the aim of Olympic recognition.
Full task force Brief SquashPlayer Scoring Systems Poll
ENGLAND SQUASH BOARD RESIGN EN MASSE 22-Feb
A statement from England Squash reads:
"On Wednesday, 20th February 2002, every member of the Board of Directors resigned, in favour of a new, smaller Interim Board. This Board is established to stabilise the Association and provide a firm foundation from which to develop: it will exist up until the next A.G.M. (November/December), at which time a permanent Board is re-established.
"The chairpersons of the various sub-committees will be confirmed next week and it is hoped that members of the old Board will continue their involvement and valuable assistance."
Full story On the Grapevine
Rankings crisis hits British Open 19-Feb
Plans to hold a British Open at Lambs SC and the new National Squash Centre in April have hit a crisis point over the registration of the event with the professional bodies. If no registration fees are paid the event could go ahead as a non-ranking event, the first time this has happened since the sport has gone open.SRA president Mike Corby has been at loggerheads with PSA and has told Squash Player that fees will not be paid and believes the British Open is a prestigious enough title to attract players whether or not it is a PSA event. If the event is not registered it will not be a world ranking event. This can be expected to affect the entry of top players.
PSA Executive Director, Gawain Briars told Squash Player, "We have had a number of discussions but we have not yet had a request to register the Open as a sanctioned event. We charge fees for this and use these to run our operations, promote the circuit and administer our ranking system. It is the same for everyone and we have to handle our different promoters around the world equitably. If the British Open claims they are a special case where does this leave us with our other clients."
"We desperately want the British Open to go ahead. It should be a PSA event and of course it should be a ranking event."
WISPA have also confirmed that the Open has not been registered with them and state that it must be registered to be eligible for ranking points. It is believed that crisis talks are under way and that an announcement is imminent on the status of the event.
Evans Quits Nationals 15-Feb
Second seed David Evans has withdrawn from the National Championships in Manchester necessitating a redraw and throwing all predictions on the men's event into confusion. The original draw was regarded a top heavy with many of the main contenders set to clash early. The new draw has redistributed the seeds and moved title holder Lee Beachill, formerly the fifth seed, into a predicted semi-final berth.
Evans withdraw is the result of a niggling achilles injury. "When I get up in the morning I'm hobbling around but when its warmed up on court it seems O.K. It just hasn't got better as I had hoped. My physio has advised me to take 2 or 3 weeks off court and give it a chance to heal.
"I would have liked to play the Nationals for the prestige but the Pakistan Open is coming up on the 21 March and I want to be ready for that. When you are a professional the ranking points are very important."
As second seed Evans had what was regarded as a excellent draw in the bottom half. Mark Chaloner now takes that slot with Beachill his expected semi-final opponent, and Chris Walker seeded to face Nicol in the semi-finals.Also out are 2000 champion Peter Marshall and Hadrian Stiff, giving Stacey Ross, Tim Vail and James Willstrop promotion from qualifying into the main draw.
TRAGIC NEWS FROM NATIONAL LEAGUE TRIO 14-Feb
National League organiser Brian Hargrave has written to report the tragic recent deaths of three fathers of young National League players. Brian writes:
"Some very sad news to report. Within the past three weeks, three of our younger NL players have lost their fathers in tragic circumstances. First Peter Kemp, father of Joey , then Liam Foster, father of Patrick, and now Henry Whipp, father of Andy. Peter died of a heart attack after climbing Mount Kilamanjaro, Liam collapsed on court and Henry felt unwell and died suddenly. It puts things in perspective.
"I had earlier asked Matt Suckling to pass on sympathies to Joey and all the family on behalf of all at Duffield Squash Club and also on behalf of everyone involved with the National League.
"I think that on every occasion I met Peter he was videoing one of Joey's matches. Peter must have been very proud that his support over the years had helped Jonathan to become one of England's most talented younger players.
"I had little contact with Liam Foster but I understand he was a very enthusiastic NW Counties League player. My contact with Henry Whipp was similar to that with Peter Kemp and he must have been very proud that his support over the years had also helped Andy to become one of England's most talented younger players.
"My other memory of both Peter and Henry was that they always seemed so calm and sporting. I have asked Yawar Abbas to pass on sympathies to Patrick and Andy and their families on behalf of Dufield Squash Club and everyone involved with NL squash."
We are sure that squash lovers every where would like to join Brian in extending their deepest sympathies to three families involved.
BRITISH OPEN DATES CONFIRMED 03-Feb
The British Open, often billed as "the Wimbledon of Squash", is set to go ahead in April, split over two venues. Early rounds and the age-group championships will take place at Lambs Club in London from Sun 6th to Thu 11th, with quarter-finals held at the new National Squash Centre in Manchester from Sat 13th to Mon 15th. The event will be followed by the "World Invitation Doubles", which will enable a full test run of the NSC facilities in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in July and August. More details to follow shortly ... British Open siteWISPA MOVE EGYPTIAN DATES 04-Feb
WISPA announced today that, due to a conflict with a major political summit in Egypt next month, the dates of the Women's Heliopolis Open in Cairo and the Hurghada International have moved five days later so that both events can proceed in tandem. The revised main draw dates are: Heliopolis Open (March 24-27) and Hurghada International (March 29-April 2).
GOOD NEWS FROM THE IOC 25-Jan
WSF President Susie Simcock has praised the "clear vision for the Olympics" demonstrated by Dr Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, and welcomed the "best ever news" from the organisation regarding the potential inclusion of Squash on the Games programme.
Simcock and WSF Chief Executive Ted Wallbutton met with Dr Rogge and IOC Sports Director Gilbert Felli in Lausanne on 22nd January 2002 to discuss the prospects for Squash being admitted to the programme of the Olympic Games in 2008 and to formally present a Bid Book for the sport.
Dr Rogge confirmed that the Olympic Programme is being subjected to a thorough and fast review over the next few months, so that the programme of events in Beijing could be dramatically altered. The current sports and events in the Olympics will be scrutinised to ensure that they still have universal popularity and are perceived as modern and healthy. The level of doping and excessive injury risks will be part of the review process.
It is understood that, once the current core programme of the Games has been evaluated, a further review will take place of new sports, presently not on the programme, to fill any vacancies. These places are expected to come from the list of 23 IOC Recognised sports, of which squash, golf, rugby, karate, water-skiing and roller hockey are the front runners. Dr Rogge has decided that the review will commence after the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and be concluded before the special session of the IOC which has been called for November 2002 in Mexico.
In welcoming the speed of the review, Gilbert Felli said: "I have the same view as my new President, that decisions should be made fast. By November, the sports which are not to be on the programme in Beijing will have been informed and can concentrate their energies on promotion and growth rather than wasting time and money on the Olympic dream."
The well-respected French sports magazine, L'Equipe, has predicted that the current sports which are under threat include synchronised swimming, modern pentathlon, dressage, base-ball, softball, greco-roman wrestling, some archery disciplines and other events which 'exist artificially' within the Olympic Games.
After the meetings, Susie Simcock said: "I am enormously impressed with the speed with which President Rogge has come to terms with the need for Olympic Reform. He has a clear vision for the Olympics, plus the intellect and personality to press forward with a remarkable time-scale for change. Squash has been frustrated for over ten years by a system which gave no clear direction on how Olympic inclusion could be achieved. Now we have a transparent and logical review process which will allow the sports that deserve a place on the programme to attain it within the next ten months.
"We are grateful to Dr Rogge for this news, which is the best we have ever received from the IOC," Simcock added. "We are confident in the qualities and athleticism of our sport and will do everything possible to convince the IOC that Squash should be part of Beijing 2008."OLYMPIC COMMENT - what do YOU think?
Swedish beer buddies set to make a racket 21-Jan
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The rackets are smaller and the balls don't bounce as much, but if squash form is anything to go by Jonas Bjorkman has the psychological edge over fellow Swede Thomas Johansson ahead of their Australian Open tennis quarter-final.World number one doubles player Bjorkman and 16th seed Johansson are regular squash playing partners. "Last time we played, Jonas won," Johansson conceded after his fourth round win over Adrian Voinea. "We are pretty even actually, he's a little bit better". Bjorkman is also likely to have the backing of the vocal and colourful Swedish fans who make the trip to Australian each year. Full story
Lights out for Squash Clubs 17-Jan
Squash club courts in England are just not up to scratch, a survey by England Squash has revealed. Court lighting is invariably below par, and the ageing squash population just has to put up with it. The survey, conducted by the association's technical officer Eric Cruttenden, mentions many of the excuses club managers make for poor lighting. However, there is often much that can be done easily and simply. Let us have your views on this problem on the SquashPlayer Bulletin Board. What are your likes and dislikes about your club? Are you greeted by name with a smile and prompt service? Can you enjoy the luxury of a hot shower after combat? Are the courts good to play on, the right temperature with a well-sprung floor and clean, true walls? Let's have your views ... Full articleSport England troubleshooter takes the helm at England squash 17-Jan
In a special arrangement with Sport England, Jeremy Lister has taken the reins at England Squash in the role of Finance and Management Director. Lister, with a strong financial background and considerable experience as a management troubleshooter, has a brief to review the association's management and financial structure on a six month assignment. Following the failure of rights company Fablon to meet its commitments, England Squash faces serious funding issues and is looking for a review to establish a stable structure before appointing a new Chief Executive to replace Stuart Courtney. Jeremy started in his new role, part troubleshooter, part caretaker, just before Christmas.
Pohrer to switch to USA after CHASS victory 13-Jan
Natalie Pohrer marked her comeback to the WISPA World tour with a victory - and a change of nationality. The 24-year-old made an impressive comeback after a six-month layoff due to family bereavement when she beat compatriot Kate Allison, the third seed from Yorkshire, 9-4, 9-3, 9-2 in the final at the CHASS Club in Philadelphia. The success marked Pohrer's fourth title on the WISPA World Tour - and her third in the USA. Results
At the post-final presentations, Natalie - now married and based in St Louis, Missouri - revealed that she looks forward to becoming a US citizen and representing the US at International level. "Although able to qualify for England, being married to an American gives me the reason to become a citizen and play International squash once more. America is where squash is on a roll and I'm sure that, given time, they will produce teams able to compete with the best."
Pohrer, daughter of former British squash international Jean Grainger (née Wilson), was born in Manchester, England, and raised in South Africa - where she won national titles at U-19 and U-21. As Natalie Grainger, she represented South Africa in the 1998 Women's World Team Championships - then in September 1999, while based in Nottingham, transferred her allegiance to England, for whom she became eligible to play in 2001.
Yet to represent her country of birth, Natalie married US citizen Edward Pohrer in June last year - and is seemingly now poised to make a further nationality change.
Taxi for Nicol as WSD kicks off at Lambs 11-Jan
WHEN you send your opponent the wrong way on a squash court it's known as a "Taxi". World champion Peter Nicol has sent plenty of rivals running from corner to corner as he has dominated the tournament calendar during the past four years. However, this morning he was lined up for a real taxi service as he drove from Heathrow Airport into London for the launch of World Squash Day.
Fresh from winning the US Open in Boston, Nicol was giving Australian international Paul Price a lift to Lambs Club, in the city's financial district, to compete in an eight-man professional invitation event that runs alongside the inaugural London-New York challenge match for the Derek Sword Trophy.Full story on the Grapevine and WSD details on www.worldsquashday.org
PROFESSIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT, Lambs, Fri 11th Jan
First Round:
[1] Peter Nicol (England) bt Jason Barry (South Africa) 15/12, 15/7
Alastair Walker (England) bt [4] Peter Marshall (England) 15/4, 15/11
[3] Paul Price (Australia) bt Tony Hands (England) 15/12, 14/15, 15/6
[2] John White (Scotland) bt Steve Richardson (Ireland) 15/4, 15/11Semi-Finals:
John White bt Paul Price 15/8, 13/15, 15/11
Peter Nicol bt Alastair Walker 15/13, 15/13Final:
John White bt Peter Nicol 15/12, 15/12
NSL kicks off for 2002 03-Jan
The National Squash Super League (NSL) kicks off its 2002 season on Mon 7th Jan, with the first match pitching Exeter Imperials at home to Halifax Home Insurance in a match that both see as a springboard to a challenge for the title. Exeter have swooped for Malaysian star Ong Beng Hee to spearhead a squad featuring the Welsh top duo of David Evans and Alex Gough; while the Halifax young squad will feature national champion Lee Beachill in the top berth. Last year's league and cup double winners Maesteg will start favourites, with world number 2 and 3 David Palmer and John White featuring in their squad. Full NSL details
