Rehman
Rallies To Maiden Tour Title In Tasmania
Aqeel Rehman,
a world-ranked member of the Professional Squash Association
since 2005, today won his maiden PSA World Tour title after
triumphing in the final of the Tasmanian Open in Tasmania,
Australia.
The
26-year-old from Salzburg made his long-awaited breakthrough when he
beat Argentina's Gonzalo Miranda 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4 in the
climax of the PSA Challenger 5 event at Eastside Squash in
Bellerive to become the first Austrian ever to win a men's pro
squash title.
It was
the culmination of a long few days for the Austrian, who was pushed hard
throughout the tournament.
"Every
match I played went to at least four games and in the semi-finals
(against Elvinn Keo) I was down 8-3 in the fifth, so I nearly
didn't even make the final," he said.
"I
can't believe it - I've been on the tour for so many years I didn't
think it was going to happen. It took me a while to get one, but it
feels even better now."
Rehman
moved to England earlier this year to train with renowned British coach
David Pearson and he said the move was now paying off.
"All
the work I've been doing over the last two months is now catching up
with me - I'm playing really well and am feeling confident," he said.
"Hopefully I can break the top 100 with this result as well - something
I have been aiming for as well for such a long time.
"I
want to thank to my family back home in Austria who have been supporting
me so much over the years - and also my coach David Pearson, who
I have been working with since this year in Harrogate, since when my
performances have really improved so much.
"Also
thanks to Nick Gould, who has helped me out with my training back
in Austria to prepare for this trip. I'm just so happy at the
moment!!!!"
1st
round:
[1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt [Q] Cedric Kuchen (SUI)
8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (47m)
Florent Pontiere (FRA) bt Arthur Moineau (FRA) 11-6, 11-9,
11-5 (34m)
James Earles (ENG) bt Joseph Watts (NZL) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5
(30m)
Ravi Dixit (IND) bt [5] Alex Phillips (ENG) 11-9, 9-11,
6-11, 11-3, 11-5 (47m)
[8] Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN) bt [Q] Richard Birks (ENG)
0-11, 11-7, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7 (44m)
[Q] Luke Sims (AUS) bt Cameron Stafford (CAY) 11-9, 5-11,
11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (55m)
Hon Fung Wong (HKG) bt Dan Busby (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5
(22m)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Kevin Moran (SCO) 11-7, 11-5,
12-10 (36m)
[4] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt [Q] Jack Jago (ENG) 11-6, 11-3,
11-5 (25m)
James Huang (TPE) bt [Q] Chris Tasker-Grindley (ENG) 7-11,
11-8, 11-2, 2-0 ret. (34m)
Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) bt Courtney West (AUS) 11-8,
11-7, 7-11, 11-7 (37m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [7] Jamie McErvale (AUS) 3-11, 11-9,
1-11, 11-8, 11-6 (59m)
[6] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Sunil Seth (AUS) 11-6, 11-3,
11-9 (26m)
[Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) bt Patrick Miescher (SUI) 11-5,
11-8, 12-14, 11-7 (56m)
[Q] JaeJin Yoo (KOR) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-7,
2-11, 11-6, 11-7 (28m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Tarek Salah Shehata (EGY) 8-11,
11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3 (75m)
2nd round:
[1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Florent Pontiere (FRA) 4-11,
11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 (83m)
James Earles (ENG) bt Ravi Dixit (IND) 11-6, 10-12, 11-4,
12-10 (42m)
[8] Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN) bt [Q] Luke Sims (AUS) 11-5,
11-3, 11-9 (28m)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Hon Fung Wong (HKG) 11-9,
12-10, 11-8 (38m)
[4] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt James Huang (TPE) 11-6, 8-11,
12-10, 5-11, 11-4 (55m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) 11-4,
11-4, 11-5 (21m)
[6] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Andrew McDougall (CAN) 11-9,
5-11, 11-9, 11-3 (50m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [Q] JaeJin Yoo (KOR) 11-7, 7-11,
11-6, 11-4 (56m)
Quarter-finals:
James Earles (ENG) bt [1] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-8,
9-11, 16-14, 9-11, 12-10 (84m)
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt [8] Tsukue Shinnosuke (JPN)
11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (32m)
[4] Elvinn Keo (MAS) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 9-11, 11-6,
6-11, 11-6, 14-12 (58m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [6] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-8, 11-4,
9-11, 11-4 (47m)
Semi-finals:
[3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt James Earles (ENG) 11-5,
12-10, 13-11 (41m)
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [4] Elvinn Keo (MAS) 7-11, 11-8,
12-10, 9-11, 12-10 (60m)
Final:
[2] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt [3] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-8,
11-7, 6-11, 11-4 (49m)
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