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22/06/2004
Hat-Trick Hunt For Malik
Wales' Tegwen Malik is brimming with confidence as she prepares for three WISPA tournaments in July ...
malik hat trick hopes
Hat-Trick Hopes For Malik
By Lynette Evans, of the Sports Council for Wales
 Wales’
leading female squash star, Tegwen
Malik is brimming with confidence and will be going for a
historic hat-trick when she competes in three back-to-back prestigious
tournaments in July.
Swansea girl Malik, 29 will be looking to build on her impressive 2004
form when she takes to the court in Egypt’s Hurghada
International (6-12 July), the Malaysian
Open in Kuala Lumpur (21-24 July) and the glittering Brunei
International (28-31 July). Each competition will boast the
glitterati of the women’s squash world as Malik continues her quest to
break back into the World’s top 20 rankings.
After a well-deserved five-week break from the WISPA tour, the Welsh
woman has been at the mercy of coach Chris
Robinson’s gruelling training sessions – adding further knockout
shots to an already extensive and impressive armoury.
The Sports Council for Wales Élite Cymru star said, “My
preparations leading up to these tournaments could not have been
better. I haven’t competed in any events since the Las
Vegas Open in May as I took a well-deserved two-week break but then
threw myself into training for the next three. My game has improved so
much over that period thanks to some intensive training and
heat-chamber work. I hope the hard work will pay off in the coming
tournaments as I feel as though I’m ready for anything.”
Malik has been steadily climbing up the rankings since a debilitating
virus left her out of the sport for three years. Her illness in
November 1999 left her bedridden and unable to walk for months.
However, her recovery has been nothing short of phenomenal and – afters
some intense physiotherapy and psychology sessions- the former world
number 16 has made rapid progress. Ranked 129 in November 2002, Malik
has seen her World ranking jump a staggering 104 places to 25 in just
19 months – winning 2 titles in the process.
Malik will be seeded at number six in the Hurghada International. She
will be confident of progressing through to the quarter final stage,
having been gifted a first round match with a qualifier.
The first round of the second tournament – the Malaysian Open – will
see Malik drawn against old adversary, and number 3 seed, Fiona Geaves
from England. Malik will be gunning to avenge her defeat at the hands
of the Englishwoman at the Monte Carlo Classic in November 2003 when
Geaves emerged triumphant from a 4 set thriller.
The Brunei International will see Malik take to the court amongst the
World’s finest players should she emerge unscathed from her qualifying
matches.
Malik leaves Welsh shores to begin her hat-trick hunt on the 3rd of
July 2004.
Hurghada
International Malaysian
Open Brunei
International
Lynette Evans
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