15/09/2012
MALAYSIAN OPEN (Women) 2012
Raneem Stuns Crowds In Malaysia
Malaysian
Open 2012
Women's Draw
10-15 Sep, Kuala Lumpur, $70k |
Round One
11 Sep |
Round Two
12 Sep |
Quarters
13 Sep |
Semis
14 Sep |
Final
15 Sep |
[1] Nicol David (Mas)
11/3, 12/10, 11/9 (30m
[Q] Joshna Chinappa (Ind) |
Nicol David
11/6, 8/11, 11/8, 11/7 (50m)
Donna Urquhart |
Nicol David
6/11, 11/5, 15/13, 11/5 (46m)
Annie Au |
Nicol David
10/12, 11/6, 11/7, 11/8
Laura Massaro |
Nicol David
12/10, 11/13, 11/6, 11/2
Raneem El Weleily |
[16] Donna Urquhart (Aus)
11/4, 11/6, 11/4 (32m)
Lucia
Fialova (Cze) |
[6] Annie Au (Hkg)
11/2, 11/0, 11/4 (14m)
[Q] Milou Van Der Heijden (Ned) |
Annie Au
11/7, 11/8, 11/8 (37m
Kasey Brown |
[10] Kasey Brown (Aus)
4/11, 11/7, 11/9, 11/6 (53m)
Heba El Torky
(Egy) |
[4] Laura Massaro (Eng)
11/7, 11/5, 11/1 (28m
[Q] Tong Tsz-Wing (Hkg) |
Laura Massaro
11/5, 14/12, 8/11, 11/7 (52m)
Dipika Pallikal |
Laura Massaro
11/13, 11/5, 11/7, 11/3 (35m)
Nour El Sherbini |
[14] Dipika Pallikal (Ind
11/6, 11/6, 12/10 (30m)
[Q] Kylie Linday (Nzl) |
[7] Nour El Sherbini (Egy)
11/7, 11/1, 11/4 (15m)
Gaby Huber
(Sui) |
Nour El Sherbini
11/7, 5/11, 11/7, 11/8 (40m)
Emily Whitlock |
[13] Samantha Teran (Mex)
11/3,11/4, 9/11, 12/10 (50m)
Emily
Whitlock (Eng) |
[Q] Salma Hany (Egy)
11/5, 11/3, 11/7 (22m
[11] Low Wee Wern (Mas) |
Low Wee Wern
11/3, 9/11, 11/4, 11/8 (62m)
Madeline Perry |
Low Wee Wern
11/7, 11/5, 11/8 (32m)
Jenny Duncalf |
Low Wee Wern
11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11,
11-9
Raneem El Weleily |
Delia Arnold (Mas)
11/2, 11/5, 11/4 (26m
[5] Madeline Perry (Irl) |
Siti Munirah
Jusoh (Mas)
11/8, 11/4, 11/4 (27m)
[12] Camille Serme (Fra) |
Camille Serme
11/5, 11/4, 11/7 (37m)
Jenny Duncalf |
Line Hansen (Den)
11/4, 11/4, 11/8 (35m)
[3] Jenny Duncalf (Eng) |
[Q] Liu Tsz-Ling (Hkg)
11/6, 11/4, 11/2 (17m
[15] Alison Waters (Eng) |
Alison Waters
11/6, 9/11, 12/10, 11/5 (45m)
Natalie Grinham |
Alison Waters
12/10, 5/11, 11/6, 11/3, (45m)
Raneem El Weleily |
[Q] Lisa Aitken (Sco)
. 11/5, 11/6, 11/3 (23m)
[8] Natalie Grinham (Ned) |
Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy)
11/7, 11/7, 14/12 (38m)
[9] Rachael Grinham (Aus) |
Omneya Abdel Kawy
6/11, 11/9, 11/7, 11/2 (39m)
Raneem El Weleily |
[Q] Vanessa Raj (Mas)
11/4, 11/5, 11/3 (25m)
[2] Raneem El Weleily (Egy) |
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Squash
Flashmob Hits Malaysia |
Raneem
Stuns Crowds In Malaysia
Raneem El Weleily claimed an historic win over top
seed Nicol David to prevent the number one seed from achieving her
eighth title in the CIMB Malaysian Open final.
The world No.2, who beat Low Wee Wern, Alison Waters,
Omneya Abdel Kawy and qualifier Vanessa Raj on her way to the
final, showed no fear coming up against David and demonstrated a cool head
by finishing off a tiebreak first game despite previously holding three
game-balls.
Although the
rallies stayed close and the points spread closer, David inched her way back
into the game and after another tiebreak in the second game was able to
stretch the two point lead needed to draw level.
After dropping games to Donna Urquhart, Annie Au and Laura
Massaro en route to the final, David responded in each by upping the
pace and dominating the remainder of proceedings. El Weleily ensured that
was not the case on this occasion with a run of blindingly accurate drop
shots, whilst absorbing the world No.1’s counter-attacking efforts by
confident volleying from the middle of the court.
A strong 11-6 win for the Egyptian left the Malaysian crowds wondering what
David would have to do to regain a foothold in the match. As the fourth
game commenced, the signs were clear that the 23-year-old Egyptian had her
sights set firmly on the title and she closed out the fourth game 11-2,
inflicting David’s heaviest game defeat since 2007.
A spectacular all-round performance from the Egyptian means that David will
have to wait until the end of the month to attempt to break the long
standing record for most WSA titles won, as she currently sits level with
women’s squash great, Sarah Fitzgerald.
A milestone
fifth WSA title for Raneem El Weleily, in her second month as world No.2,
unquestionably strengthening her position in the rankings and laying down
the gauntlet for those ranked not only below her, but to the one remaining
player yet to catch.
El
Weleily Ends All-Malaysian Final Dream
Raneem El Weleily
booked her place in the CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championships
after ending the impressive run of Low Wee Wern.
The Egyptian closed out the contest in four games against local interest Wee
Wern, but the No.2 seed didn’t have it all her own way. After narrowly
losing first game, the Malaysian upped the pace of her play to force a
number of errors from her opponent and managed to draw level at one game
apiece.
El Weleily hit back immediately though, moving Wee Wern strategically around
the court and ended the third game by forcing a stroke from the world No.10.
As the match progressed though, the Egyptian steadily upped the power of
her shots, which seemed to play into Wee Wern’s game plan.
Some steady and patient play from Wee Wern in the fourth game was enough to
force a fifth game out of El Weleily, after some uncharacteristic errors
from the world No.2 put herself under unnecessary pressure.
The Egyptian returned to court a more focussed and consistent figure, but
Wee Wern, buoyed by her home support, refused to go down quietly. A close
11-9 final game went in favour of El Weleily as she progresses to the final,
but the young Malaysian can be proud of her efforts in this World Series
event.
El Weleily will face Nicol David in the final after the home
favourite game from a game down against a determined Laura Massaro to
win in four. Massaro started the quicker of the pair in the second WSA
match of the day, and took the first game tie-break. She extended a small
lead in the second too, but Nicol got into her stride and closed out the
Englishwoman’s efforts with some excellent retrieval and impeccable lengths.
Massaro’s threat never waivered, but David’s court movement absorbed much of
the attacking pressure and it was the Malaysian who continues on to her
tenth Malaysian Open final, of which she has won eight.
David now has the chance to claim title number 63, a feat which would see
her overtake Sarah Fitzgerald in most number of WSA titles ever won. Fans
can watch the match unfold and see if history will be rewritten as
www.psasquashtv.com will be streaming the match
live for subscribers.
Malaysian
Contingent Push On To Semi's
Low
Wee Wern and Nicol David moved closer to
ensuring an all-Malaysian final after both secured their semi-final spots in
the CIMB Malaysian Squash Open Championships.
Wee Wern,
the 22-year-old eleventh seed continued her remarkable run of form against
world No.4 Jenny Duncalf and moved past the Englishwoman in a
surprising three-game romp taking just over half an hour.
The
Malaysian will go on to play No.2 seed Raneem El Weleily who recorded
her first career win over Alison Waters of England in the first match
of the day. A tiebreak first game ended in the Egyptian’s favour, before
Waters drew back level in the second. The world No.2 held firm against her
opponent however, regaining the advantage and seeing out the win in four
games.
At the top
end of the draw, Nicol David booked her semi place after taking
46-minutes to dispatch Annie Au of Hong Kong. As with her opponent
Donna Urquhart in the second round, Au also took the first game against
David, but the Malaysian drew level in the second before a close 15-13
tiebreak went in favour of the home hope. From there, David closed the
contest out in four games to ensure her progression to the semi’s, and
closer to a tenth Malaysian Open final.
Before she
reaches the final however, she will have to face Laura Massaro, who
joins the others in the semi-finals after beating teenage prodigy Nour El
Sherbini.
The Egyptian
started quickly and put up a valiant fight against the No.3 seed and forced
a 12-10 tiebreak win in the first game. Experienced began to show however
as the Englishwoman worked her way back into the game, shutting the teenager
out and taking the next three games.
Wee Wern
and Waters Upset Seedings
Malaysian Low Wee Wern made use of the home advantage against Madeline
Perry in round two of the CIMB Malaysian Squash Open Championships 2012.
The eleventh seed took just over an hour infront
of a home crowd to see off the experienced Irishwoman in four games to book her
quarter-final slot and record her best World Series progression so far in 2012.
Wee Wern will next face Jenny Duncalf of England who came through a
strong three-game win against Camille Serme.
Recently welcomed back into the WSA World Tour’s Top10, Alison Waters
kept up the pressure on those still ahead of her, as she defeated eighth seed
Natalie Grinham in four games. Waters will face newly appointed world No.2
Raneem El Weleily in the next stage of the competition, but with the
added incentive of having never lost to the young Egyptian in seven previous WSA
World Tour clashes.
Other players will be buoyed by the fact that Donna Urquhart was able to
take a game from top seed and home favourite Nicol David during her 3-1
defeat. Showing a less than infallible display, David took the first game from
the Australian, but Urquhart dug in to claim the second before succumbing in
four games.
David will next face Annie Au of Hong Kong, who dispatched Australian
Kasey Brown in straight games.
Laura Massaro ensured complete attendance among the top four seeds after
beating Dipika Pallikal in four games. The Englishwoman led after the
first two games despite being forced to a 14-12 tiebreak in the second, but
dropped the third game to the young Indian No.1. She regained her composure
however to claim a place in the quarters where she will play sixteen-year-old
Egyptian prodigy Nour El Sherbini.
El Sherbini booked second consecutive World Series quarter-final slot after
dispatching fellow teenage Emily Whitlock of England in four games.
Whitlock
And Kawy Claim Only Upsets in Malaysian
Day one of the CIMB Malaysian
Squash Open Championships revealed just two surprises in round one, as
unseeded teenager Emily Whitlock surpassed Samantha Teran in four
games, whilst No.9 seed Rachael Grinham again failed to play to her
seeding as she lost to Omneya Abdel Kawy.
Eighteen-year-old Englishwoman Whitlock, who defeated seeded Jaclyn Hawkes in
last month’s Australian Open, again surprised onlookers as she quickly leapt to
a two-game lead against the Mexican Open champion. Teran fought back and slowly
got into her stride in the third game, winning it and forcing her opponent to a
tie-break in the fourth game. Whitlock stifled the comeback to however, and
progresses to round two where she will face fellow-teenager Nour El Sherbini,
who beat Gaby Huber in straight games.
Omneya Abdel Kawy has found herself somewhat short of the Top5 place she
achieved two years ago, but following some impressive performances in recent
months, the Egyptian has begun to rediscover her form as she faced No.9 seed
Rachael Grinham. The Australian is currently occupying her lowest ranking in
twelve years at No.14 and was unable to prevent the Egyptian’s progression
despite forcing a tiebreak in the third game.
The CIMB Malaysian Open will move to The Curve venue in Selangor for the
latter round of the competition, but there were no further upsets from round one
at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil as top seeds Nicol
David, Raneem El Weleily and Laura Massaro all moved past
their qualifier opponents in 30-minutes or less. Jenny Duncalf too beat
Line Hansen of Denmark in 35-minutes. David will face Donna Urquart
in round two, whilst El Weleily will face Egyptian compatriot Abdel Kawy,
Massaro will play Dipika Pallikal and Duncalf faces Camille Serme.
Kasey Brown was the only seeded player to drop a game in round one, but
after dropping the first game to Heba El Torky of Egypt, the Australian
got into her stride to close out the contest in for games. Brown will face
Annie Au after the Hong Kong international beat Milou Van Der Heijden
of the Netherlands.
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The
world's top squash players turned out in force at the Curve Shopping
Mall in Selangor, Malaysia, to stage a flashmob to draw
attention to the sport's bid to be added to the Olympic Games
programme in 2020.
Inspired by world number one Nicol David, and led by the record
six-time world champion from Malaysia, the event featured more than 200
players and fans dancing to Nicki Minaj's 'Starships' and Beyonce's 'Run
The World'.
"I had
the idea of creating more awareness for squash and, with my friends back
in Penang, we decided that it would be great to do a flashmob and we
basically decided to go ahead with it," said the Malaysian squash queen
who has topped the world rankings since 2006.
"All
the top players, guys and girls, were excited to do this and come
together to show that we deserve to be in the Olympics.
"Watching the London Olympics this year was really heart-breaking,"
added 29-year-old David. "I watched it every single day and not being
there just didn't seem right."
The
flashmob crew represented a veritable 'who's who' from the world of
squash, including Australians Rachael Grinham, a former world
champion and world No1, world No6 Kasey Brown and former
five-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald; Egyptians Karim
Darwish and Mohamed El Shorbagy, four and eight,
respectively, in the men's world rankings, and women's world No2
Raneem El Weleily; Indian number ones Saurav Ghosal and
Dipika Pallikal; England's Laura Massaro and Jenny Duncalf,
Alison Waters and Adrian Grant, ranked 3, 4, 9 and 15,
respectively; Mexico's highest-ranked player of all-time Samantha
Teran; plus representation from countries including hosts Malaysia,
France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands, New
Zealand and Scotland.
"It
went really well," said David afterwards. "It was a good turnout and
I've been getting really good feedback from everyone. I think all the
players had a really good time!"
Squash's 'Back The Bid' event has sparked significant media attention in
Malaysia - and coincides with the CIMB Malaysian Open which has
attracted the world's leading women and men to the Malaysian capital.
WSF
CEO Andrew Shelley was delighted to hear of the flashmob
initiative: "Squash is lucky to have such a pro-active group of elite
athletes who will do almost anything to convince the IOC decision-makers
that the sport would be a really positive addition to the Games
programme.
"And
for them it would mean everything to be part of it."
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