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Hero Shuja Wins Palmerston North Title
New
Zealand's Kashif Shuja claimed the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers
Manawatu Classic/Central Open title after surviving today's
four-game final at his home Squash Gym club in Palmerston
North.
The
PSA World Tour Challenger 5 event climaxed in a surprise all-New
Zealand final after rising Kiwi star Evan Williams, the No4 seed
from Wellington, upset favourite Mike Corren in the semi-finals.
Corren,
the experienced Australian bidding to bring his haul of career PSA Tour
titles to 42, went down to Williams in five games in his first defeat by
the 22-year-old in four meetings since 2009.
"Second seed Shuja dominated the final from the outset with some
outstanding deception, particularly down the forehand side as well as
playing error-free squash," said event spokesman Michael Williams.
After
the first two games were shared, Shuja moved ahead from seven-all in the
third to take a 2/1 lead.
The
Pakistan-born 33-year-old's experience came to the fore in the fourth as
Shuja closed out the match 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6 to win the 11th Tour
title of his career, but his first for over a year.
1st
round:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Alex Grayson (NZL) 11-5, 9-11,
11-8, 11-5 (46m)
Joseph Watts (NZL) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-4, 11-8,
11-7 (25m)
[Q] Naseem Khan (PAK) bt Luke Sims (AUS) 11-8, 11-1, 11-5
(29m)
[4] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [Q] Regan Smith (NZL) 11-6,
11-3, 11-9 (23m)
Paul Coll (NZL) bt [3] Chris Lloyd (NZL) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
(32m)
Tim Cowell (AUS) bt [Q] Michael Pittams (NZL) 8-11, 11-7,
11-7, 11-13, 11-7 (52m)
[Q] Andrew Ellis (NZL) bt Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN)
11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6 (29m)
[2] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Lance James Beddoes (NZL) 11-7,
11-7, 11-7 (28m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Joseph Watts (NZL) 11-8, 11-8,
11-5 (26m)
[4] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [Q] Naseem Khan (PAK) 11-4,
9-11, 11-7, 11-4 (44m)
Paul Coll (NZL) bt Tim Cowell (AUS) 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 (24m)
[2] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [Q] Andrew Ellis (NZL) 13-11,
11-1, 11-9 (22m)
Semi-finals:
[4] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [1] Mike Corren (AUS) 11-7,
9-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6
[2] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Paul Coll (NZL) 11-7, 6-11,
11-8, 12-10
Final:
[2] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [4] Evan Williams (NZL) 11-5,
7-11, 11-7, 11-6 |
