Nicol David Online

We're Back and Better Than Ever!!

2010-05-21T23:01:00.000+08:00

Yo people! We have shifted our blog to its new home. Check it out and remember to leave us some feedback!

Nicol David Online
First Nicol David Fan Site, Since 1998

CIMB KL Open Squash 2009: First Round - Go Nicol David!

2009-03-04T23:51:00.004+08:00

From AzuanZahdi.com

It’s time for KL Open Squash Championship once again, an international tournament with players coming from all corners of the world. Many are aware of my ‘link’ with squash. Although I have never played the game nor a big fan of the game, I’ve had the ‘squash connection’ through my very first web project back in 1998 known as the “Nicol David Online” which is still around for 11-consecutive years.

Throughout my stint as a webmaster of NicolDavidOnline.com, I’ve managed to watch a few Nicol David games whenever there are tournaments in Malaysia. My previous Malaysia Open report/photos can be read here.

A few hours ago, I had the chance once again to attend a Nicol David game at 2009 CIMB KL Open Championship. Here are some photos. My apology for the quality of the photos as it was very dark at the spectators stand and my camera is far from being ‘professional equipment. Nevertheless, enjoy!

The Tournament banner/bunting, good souvenir, no? hehe

When I arrived, the arena was filled up to about 60%. They were either players, coaches, family members, media or cleaners. I felt a bit out-of-place as I don’t belong in any of these categories of people. It’s normal as seldom there are outsiders on the 1st round held on a working day.

My timing was right. Nicol is warming up when I arrived.

I wonder what music she listens to….

Looking good….

Madeline Perry of Ireland, the opponent for today

I was sandwiched in between reporters and their crew (video, photographers)

ESPN was there as well

I accidentally bumped into the reporter….felt bad for her, got too excited trying to take Nicol’s photos.

Let the game begins…

Nicol

“head or tail”?

It was a short 26-minutes straight set game. A good start for Nicol.

Well done..

A kiss from her Dad.

The After-Game Interview

Before I left, managed to snap a few photos of Sharon Wee playing against Jenny Duncalf. Too bad she lost, otherwise would be great to see her in the quarters.

Anyone up to cover the remaining games till this weekend at Berjaya Times Square? I’ll be away for the rest of the week.

World Squash Federation Signs Juniper PR In Bid For Olympic Status

2009-02-27T06:46:00.001+08:00

The World Squash Federation (WSF) has appointed London based international sports marketing agency, Juniper PR, to manage its global communications programme in support of its campaign to elevate squash to Olympic status for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Juniper PR, established over a year ago by Susan McMahon, (previously Managing Director of Bell Pottinger Sport), won the prestigious account in a five-way pitch. McMahon’s vast experience which includes a prominent media role with the Beijing Olympic Bid (BOCOG) and members of her team’s involvement with the 2008 Olympics as media facilitators helped Juniper secure the contract. The initial contract will last for eight months, culminating in an IOC vote in Copenhagen in October when up to two sports out of seven currently bidding, may be accepted into the Olympic charter.

Squash is played in 175 countries by over 20 million people and can be easily integrated into the Olympics at a very low cost to the host cities. Portable glass courts make the sport an incredible viewing spectacle for viewers both on television and in person.

Natalie Grainger, Squash 2016 Bid Team member and World No 4 said, “We recognized in Juniper PR, an energetic and creative approach that will positively support our campaign. We will now proceed to get the attention of the IOC and the sporting world as a whole. Squash is an excellent spectator sport and has all the right ingredients for inclusion in the games. An Olympic medal would be the highest achievement in the sport, and the top players of both sexes have pledged their commitment to compete. “

Susan McMahon said, “This is an important and significant account win for us. The international game of squash is a very exciting sport for all and we look forward to working with the bid team to ensure the best chance of its inclusion in the 2016 Games.”

Source: Around the Rings

Nicol dealt tough draw for Kuala Lumpur Open

2009-02-13T15:22:00.004+08:00

NICOL David faces a challenging start to the season after being handed a tough draw for the Kuala Lumpur Open on Mar 4-7.

This year's KL Open, to be held at the Berjaya Times Square from the quarter-finals onwards, has attracted the world's top nine women's players.

World No 1 Nicol will have to be on her guard from the start when she opens against the experienced Madeline Perry, the World No 9 from Ireland.

Although the Malaysian has won all 10 of their meetings on the Wispa Tour, 31-year-old Madeline could pose an early threat after reaching the World Open semi-finals last year before falling to eventual champion Nicol.

A win would pit Nicol against World No 5 Jenny Duncalf of England, who has also yet to win in nine previous meetings against the three-time world champion but can be expected to put up a fight.

Seeded to meet Nicol in the semi-finals is 2007 world champion Rachael Grinham of Australia, who did not have the best of starts to the season when she lost in the semi-finals of the Burning River Classic in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, where the World No 3 was the top seed.

The final could see Nicol in another instalment of her rivalry with World No 2 Natalie Grainger of the Netherlands, who will be looking to prevent Nicol from winning her 13th consecutive Wispa title.

National No 2 Sharon Wee was handed a wildcard and plays Jenny in the first round, which will also see American World No 4 Natalie Grainger, who rarely travels to play in Asia, making only her second appearance in the KL Open and her first since 2006.

Defending champion Ong Beng Hee is seeded second in the men's draw and opens against a qualifier while third seed Azlan Iskandar faces Omar Mosaad of Egypt.

With Beng Hee and Azlan in opposite halves, a repeat of last year's final could be on the cards but Azlan would have to get past top seed Peter Barker in the semi-finals.

Beng Hee could run into trouble even earlier with Stewart Boswell of Australia, who opens against National No 3 Nafiizwan Adnan in the first round, lurking in the quarter-finals and Adrian Grant of England in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen is the headline attraction at two low-key KL Open tune-up events in Bukit Jalil this month, having entered the NSC Tour 8 No 1 and NSC Tour 12 No 1 tournaments.

Stoehr becomes first French to reach top 10

2009-02-13T15:15:00.002+08:00

LONDON: While Nicol David extends her reign at the top of the new February Women’s World Squash Rankings, published on Thursday by the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA), it is Isabelle Stoehr who grabs the headlines after becoming the first French player to claim a place in the top ten.

The 29-year-old from Montpelier enjoyed a highly successful year in 2008, beginning by winning a record-equalling 11th French National title, then going on to add two further WISPA World Tour titles — at the Des Pyramides Open and Sannois International — to bring her career tally to eight.

Nicol David heads an otherwise unchanged top ten, with Natalie Grinham (Netherlands) at two; her older sister Rachael Grinham (Australia) in third place; Natalie Grainger, of the USA, at number four; and England’s Jenny Duncalf at five.

Australian Kasey Brown also marks a career-best ranking in the list. The 23-year-old from New South Wales moves up a single place to No 12.

Furthermore, Mexican Samantha Teran celebrates a career-high ranking this month. The 27-year-old from Mexico City rises to 15 after collecting no fewer than five WISPA Tour titles in 2008.

World Squash Athlete Ambassadors Rally In New York

2009-02-07T12:00:00.001+08:00

Grand Central Terminal in New York provided the perfect platform for the first meeting of Squash’s Olympic Athlete Ambassadors, a select group of leading players nominated by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA) as the sport's two international player bodies rallied to the call from the World Squash Federation to spearhead the sport’s bid to join the Olympic Games programme in 2016.

Both organisations have pledged their full and unwavering support to the WSF-led campaign.

“We are working very closely with both PSA and WISPA – both of whose boards and membership are totally supportive of the Olympic campaign,” said the WSF’s Olympic Bid Manager Scott Garrett.

“The purpose of appointing Athlete Ambassadors is to have real, live, participating athletes to represent the sport to the IOC and any interested parties seeking information about the sport regarding the sport's efforts to get into the Olympics," added Garrett.

Natalie Grainger, ranked four in the world and President of WISPA, echoed the WSF's commitment: "We have come together because we fully represent what Squash is all about: we are not only eloquent, and span a broad mix of cultures, but we are passionate about Squash becoming an Olympic sport,” said the new Athlete Ambassador.

"For us, and all elite players, the Olympic Games would be the absolute highlight of the Squash calendar," added Grainger.

The initial line-up of Squash’s Olympic Athlete Ambassadors is:

· Natalie Grainger (USA), the WISPA President and former world number one who is the reigning Pan American Games champion

· Lee Beachill (England), the PSA President; a former world number one and two times Commonwealth Games gold medallist and three-time British National champion

· Peter Nicol (England), a board member of the PSA and former world champion who has won four Commonwealth Games gold medals and has held the world number one ranking for 60 months

· Thierry Lincou (France), a former world champion and world number one, currently ranked seven in the world, who has been French National champion a record ten times

· Ramy Ashour (Egypt), the 21-year-old world number three and reigning world champion who became the first player to win two successive world junior men’s titles

· Samantha Teran (Mexico), a three-time winner of the Pan American championship and the first Mexican woman to earn a world top 20 ranking

New York is currently hosting one of the sport’s most high-profile events: The JP Morgan Tournament of Champions is in its ninth year at Grand Central Terminal. Staged on an all-glass court in the Vanderbilt Hall, the elite championship has become the world’s largest spectator squash event, providing an unparalleled opportunity for tens of thousands of travelling New Yorkers to watch the action as they pass through the world-famous station.

Picture caption: Pictured by the all-glass court at Grand Central Terminal in New York are new WSF Olympic Athlete Ambassadors (L to R) Peter Nicol, Thierry Lincou, Natalie Grainger, Ramy Ashour, Samantha Teran and Lee Beachill - flanked by PSA Chairman Ziad Al-Turki (Saudi Arabia) (extreme left) and PSA Chief Operating Officer Alex Gough (Wales) (extreme right)

Malaysian Squash News Bundle

2009-02-06T00:17:00.005+08:00

CIMB reward SRAM success with two-year sponsorship
The huge success of Malaysian squash players — both seniors and juniors — at the international level has prompted CIMB to extend their contract for another two years.

CIMB will continue to contribute RM2mil a year to the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) for their tournaments, administrative expenses and development programmes.

Thank you: CIMB’s Effendy Shahul Hamid (second right) handing over the sponsorship to SRAM deputy president Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali (second left) as participants of the junior circuit celebrate.

CIMB Group head of group corporate communications Effendy Shahul Hamid said they were pleased with the development and success of the CIMB-sponsored national junior circuits.

“We are also delighted with the Malaysian players for their exceptional performance in the senior and junior tournaments.

“We hope that through the national junior circuits, young players will be able to hone their skills and lift thier performance on court.

“We look forward to extending the contract with SRAM, which expires in June, for another two years,” Effendy said during a ceremony to announce CIMB’s continuation as title sponsors for this year’s national junior circuits.

SRAM deputy president Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali attributed the squash players’ success to the availability of good coaches, facilities and high-level competitions.

“We would like to thank CIMB for extending their contract for another two years as we need RM2mil a year to carry out our activities,” said Syed Mutaffa.

“We need RM1.3mil to organise the Kuala Lumpur Open and Malaysian Open, RM500,000 a year for junior development programmes and RM200,00 for administrative expenses.”

Malaysian squash has enjoyed tremendous success of late, thanks largely to the exploits of players like Nicol David, Ong Beng Hee, Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Low Wee Wern.

World No. 1 Nicol created history when she won all the 10 Women’s International Squash Players Association (Wispa) tournaments last year. It was the best ever achievement for the Penangite since turning pro in 2000.

National No. 1 men’s player Beng Hee won the Kuala Lumpur Open and Malaysian Open last year.

Malaysia also made a clean sweep of all the four titles in the Asian Championships in Kuwait last February, with Azlan and Nicol bagging the men’s and women’s individual titles apart from the two team crowns.

Wee Wern also shone last year, retaining her Asian junior girls’ title in Busan in July.

Meanwhile, 384 juniors will compete in both the boys’ and girls’ Under-9, Under-11 and Under-13 age-group in the five-legs of the CIMB junior circuit this year.

Each of the junior received a RM10 ang pow from CIMB yesterday.

The first-leg started at the NSC Courts in Jalan Duta yesterday and second-leg will be held in Pahang from April 3-5.

The other legs are in Kedah (from May 1-3), Terengganu (June 19-21) and the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil (July 16-19).

SRAM turn to states for talent
As the well of talent at the national level runs dry, the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) is turning to the states for help.

After its own effort to unearth talent through the National Junior Circuit bore little fruit, SRAM is increasingly reliant on its state branches for junior players to represent the country at international tournaments.

At the recent Asian Junior Championships in Chennai for example, four of the eight team members were products of the Selangor SRA junior development programme while two others honed their skills under Penang state coach Allan Soyza.

Such is the perception that talent is going to waste at national level that some states are reluctant to release their players to train under SRAM coaches at Bukit Jalil.

But it is not all doom and gloom for squash at the grassroots if the turnout at the January trials at Selangor SRA-Petaling Jaya City Council development programme at the Astaka courts is any indication.

While pleased with the response, Selangor SRA honorary secretary Mary Ong said the huge turnout, however, forced them to turn away some enthusiastic youngsters as the programme could only cope with a limited number of players.

"We took in 25 promising players who will undergo an orientation programme to test their skill and aptitude. We are still receiving responses but we had to stop the intake due to a shortage of coaches and courts," Mary said.

"This programme has been running successfully for the last 19 years with most of the players from the national side coming from us. One way or another, most of our players have represented the country and we have a new crop coming up."

Over the years, the Selangor programme uncovered talent such as Ong Beng Hee, Michael Soo and Tricia Chuah but more recently Ivan Yuen, Ng Jo Wen, Zul Azri Abd Aziz and Tan Yan Xin helped Malaysia to a clean sweep of titles in Chennai.

Selangor also have Darren Subramaniam, who was seeded first in the recent British Junior Open boys' Under-15, and Yong Sue Ann, a semi-finalist at the 2008 British Junior girls' Under-13, training at Astaka.

From Penang, besides women's World No 1 Nicol David, emerged the Low sisters, Wee Wern and Wee Nee, with the former winning the British Junior Under-19 and Asian Junior titles this year.

Bug forces Beng Hee out
Illness has forced Ong Beng Hee to withdraw from tomorrow's Swedish Open PSA Tour tournament in Linkoping which could give him less time than he wanted to defend his Kuala Lumpur Open title next month.

Beng Hee has yet to fully recover from a stomach bug which caused him to bow out tamely in the second round to Australian David Palmer at the Tournament of Champions in New York last week.

The defeat meant he dropped one rung to 11th in the latest world rankings but the National No 1 thought it was best to skip the five-star Swedish Open, where he was seeded third and could have expected to meet World No 1 Karim Darwish in the semi-finals.

"I've pulled out of the Swedish Open as I'm not quite fit to play. I fell sick in New York and the virus left me sapped of energy," said Beng Hee, who turned 29 yesterday, in a mobile sms.

While health concerns came first for the Malaysian, he also hopes to recover his strength in time for his home tournament on March 4-7.

"I will be returning to Kuala Lumpur soon. I'm still recovering but I hope to return to training as soon as possible and get ready for the KL Open," added Beng Hee.

Beng Hee may have slipped in the rankings but Azlan Iskandar's run to the quarter-finals in New York saw him move up one spot to 12th, only 22 points adrift of his compatriot, while national No 3 Nafiizwan Adnan improved one rung to 57th.

Malaysia now have five men in the top-100 after Nafzahizam Adnan reached a career high 97th, up from 103rd, behind 82nd-ranked Asyraf Azan, who gained five places.

On the women's side, Nicol David maintained her status as World No 1 for the 31st consecutive month and 34 in total, maintaining a near 2,000-point lead over Natalie Grainger of the Netherlands.

Sharon Wee stemmed a slide in the rankings by moving up two spots to 23rd while Delia Arnold continued her climb by improving two places to 26th.

British Junior Open Under-19 and Asian Junior champion Low Wee Wern broke into the top-40 for the first time when she moved up five rungs to 37th.

Squash Helps Students Gain Ivy League Admission

2009-02-06T00:07:00.001+08:00

BOSTON -- It's a game to some, but for others it's a ticket into any Ivy League school.

NewsCenter 5's Bianca de la Garza reported that for some, squash is serious business.

At Cross Courts in Natick squash players are using their skills to get themselves into prestigious schools. Every Ivy League school has a squash team.

"Squash is definitely giving kids these days an upper hand. They may be great students but if they don't have anything else that differentiates them from someone else, they may not stick out," said Warren Cross of Cross Courts.

Natick High School senior Corey Schafer had excellent grades, but she said squash is the reason she got admitted to her top choice college.

"I'm going to Dartmouth," she said.Squash enthusiasts said younger kids are picking up the sport so they can get into a private high school.

"We are finding that a lot of schools that offer squash (as part of) their middle school programs become oversubscribed because there are so many girls and boys interested in the sport," Cross said.

Cross is seeing kids as young as 7 coming in to play, and U.S. Squash saw a 20 percent increase in members under 18 in the past two years.

Wee Wern misses out on World Junior Champs 09

2009-02-02T12:00:00.002+08:00

CHENNAI: Asian Junior Champion Low Wee Wern of Malaysia has accused Squash Rackets Federation of India of favouring Dipika Pallikal in the scheduling of the World Junior Championship to be held from July 31 to August 5.

Wern, who will turn 19 on July 25 and would become ineligible to compete in the world championship was speaking her mind over India's scheduling the championship which is open for only those aged below 19 and that she would not qualify to play in it.

"Now it is all over for me. But it will not stop me from concentrating on my WISPA tournaments to improve my rankings," Wern, ranked 42 in the world said adding "I will leave for Amsterdam after the Kuala Lumpur Open in March to continue training with World No. 1 and compatriot, Nicol David under coach Liz Irving."

World Open Venue Announced

2009-01-25T00:29:00.003+08:00

Amsterdam Frans Otten Stadion To Host 2009 Women’s World Open

The Forexx Women’s World Open Squash 2009, the most prestigious event on the Women’s International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) World Tour, will be staged in the Frans Otten Stadion in Amsterdam. The championship will take place from 20-27 September 2009 at the biggest squash centre in the Netherlands.

The Frans Otten Stadion, which boasts 21 squash courts including one three-glass-walled court, has hosted numerous high-profile squash championships over the past couple of years. The 2004 Women’s World Team Championship took place at the renowned squash facility in the Dutch capital - and last year Frans Otten Stadion was the official venue for the European Team Championships and the Forexx Dutch Open. Every year the Dutch Nationals are also played at the multifunctional complex in Amsterdam.

An all-glass court will also be erected on the club’s tennis courts as part of the Forexx Women’s World Open Squash 2009. The championship court, featuring state-of-the-art technology which has considerably enhanced the ‘televisibility’ of professional squash, will be surrounded by a large seating area with a capacity for 1,000 spectators.

"The Frans Otten Stadion is the most logical and suitable venue in our country for such an important event," commented World Open promoter Tommy Berden. "It not only has 21 courts, but it also has valuable experience in hosting world class events.

"We are determined to create a ‘festival of squash’ in which the spectators can not only witness the best female squash players in the world, but can also participate in various squash activities themselves. And the Frans Otten Stadion gives us the opportunity to do just that," added Berden.

The Forexx Women’s World Open Squash 2009 will be the 25th staging of the world's most prestigious women's individual championship. It will also be the first time that the championship has been hosted by the Netherlands since 1989, when it was held in Warmond.

As well as past hosts of the event, the Netherlands also boasts a former world champion in Dutch star Vanessa Atkinson, who triumphed in 2004 over her new compatriot Natalie Grinham. Grinham, the world No2 and a World Open runner-up on three occasions (in 2004, 2006 and 2007), opted to represent the Netherlands at the beginning of last year.

More information about the championship can be found on the official tournament website www.womensworldopen.com

Malaysia sweep all four titles at Asian Championships

2009-01-20T06:41:00.008+08:00

Malaysia created history when they made a clean sweep of all the four titles at stake for the first time in the Asian Junior squash championships in Chennai yesterday.

No country has won all four titles since the inception of the championships in Singapore in 1983.

Malaysia completed the clean sweep when they won the boys’ and girls’ team titles in the finals yesterday.

Ivan Yuen, who bagged the boys’ individual title on Monday, led Malaysia to a 2-0 win over second seeds India for the team title.

Ivan, who finished runners-up in the British Junior Open Under-19 category recently, chalked up an easy 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 win over Aditya Jagtap in the first tie.

Kamran Khan then avenged his defeat to Ravi Dixit in the quarter-finals of the individual event to deliver the winning point with an 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8 win.

The Malaysian girls also scored a 2-0 win over fourth seeds South Korea in their final.

Three-time Asian junior champion Low Wee Wern set the ball rolling for Malaysia with an 11-9, 11-8, 11-2 win over Sun Mi-song.

Her younger sister Wee Nee the sealed the title with an easy 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 win over Ji Hyun-lee.

In 2001, Malaysia won three of the four titles at stake also in Chennai.

Then Mohd Azlan Iskandar and Nicol David won the boys’ and girls’ individual titles and the girls’ team crown.

Team manager K. Sivanesen was delighted to see his charges dominate the championships.

“We came to Chennai to create history and we did just that,” he said.

“Winning all four titles is exceptionally good for the future of squash in Malaysia.”

There was more joy for Malaysia when Squash Racquet Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Datuk A. Sani Karim won the election in Chennai to become the new Asian Squash Federation (ASF) president yesterday.

SportCheck: Earning big bucks!

2009-01-20T06:29:00.005+08:00

Proof that Malaysian athletes can enjoy a fantastic livelihood from sport

LEE Chong Wei and Nicol David can add another tag to the numerous honours they have already won -- that of millionaires.

Both enjoyed bumper seasons in 2008 and if 2009 is as successful as last year was, Chong Wei and Nicol will be living proof that Malaysian athletes can enjoy a fantastic livelihood from sport.

Their successes last year brought numerous honours for both, including Penang awarding them Datukships, but the true measure of an athlete is through the titles won and shuttler Chong Wei and squash world champion Nicol won plenty of them.

But last year, thanks to the silver he won in the Beijing Olympics, belonged to Chong Wei and, deservingly, he was well rewarded as the medal came along with a RM300,000 government incentive.

That, however, was just part of what Chong Wei earned as his consistency saw him winning about RM355,000 in prize money in Super Series and international grand prix tournaments.

Having spent the whole of 2008 as either the World No 1 or 2 saw the shuttler receiving a total RM180,000 from the BA of Malaysia under its ranking bonus scheme.

It didn't stop there though as BAM also has a presidential bonus where an additional 25 per cent of the prize money won for winning an international title is awarded, which fetched Chong Wei almost RM60,000.

Despite his limited appearances on the local circuit, Chong Wei won a a total RM11,000 for clinching his seventh national title and the Johor Open crown and he was also rewarded an additional RM20,000 for winning several awards last year.

He also received a monthly allowance of RM5,000 for three months last year for qualifying for the Olympics and RM3,000 a month from September to December which is a monthly pension he will receive for the rest of his life from the government.

Chong Wei is also paid a monthly salary by the National Sports Council (NSC) and BAM, which is said to be around RM3,000 and there are also products which he endorses, which would have helped him edge past the RM1 million mark.

Nicol may not have crossed the RM1 million mark but after a dominant 2008 which saw her winning all 10 professional tournaments she competed in, her total prize money was RM442,000.

In addition to the prize money, Nicol also earned RM20,000 from winning the World Open for the third time and another RM20,000 for the biennial Asian Championship individual title.

She also split RM20,000 with four teammates for winning the Asian team title and a share of RM20,000 for helping Malaysia finish third in the Women's World Team Championship.

After performance incentives from her main sponsors CIMB, Prince and other endorsement deals, Nicol may have finished just a few ringgit short of RM1 million in total earnings.

Still, Nicol's earning from previous years were also substantial and she could have crossed the million-ringgit mark much earlier.

Giving Chong Wei and Nicol a close fight were, surprisingly, Malaysia's professional golfers -- thanks to the huge prize money that is at stake in each Asian Tour tournament.

In fact, Iain Steel was Malaysia's most successful athlete -- based on prize money -- as he raked in a cool RM755,000 despite only being ranked 22nd in the 2008 Order of Merit.

Ben Leong amassed about RM690,000 while Danny Chia took close to RM355,000. Airil Rizman, who struck more than RM400,000 in 2007, saw his earnings drop to RM170,000 but it is still a respectable amount.

Other big money earners last year were men's badminton pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, who, despite an inconsistent season, would have collected about RM300,000 in prize money while women's doubles Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui enjoyed a lucrative end to 2008 as they made four Super Series finals.

It would be so easy to be envious of the athletes but we have to remember that monetary rewards only come when they are successful and that these special bunch certainly were.

Botwright lets her squash do the talking at UK's richest competition

2009-01-19T00:11:00.002+08:00

ONE can only imagine the raised eyebrows over the breakfast table this morning if in the cosy confines of a Morningside kitchen, an otherwise respectable Edinburgh gent had informed his wife that he had indeed spent the evening at his club watching a certain Ms Lust get a good thrashing from Ms Botwright who, furthermore, had been dressed in a thong, which, quite frankly, left little to the imagination.

As it turns out, the thong was nowhere to be seen, but our un-named gent would not have been too far wide of the mark after Vicky Botwright made short work of beating Vicky Lust 11-4, 11-1, 11-6 in the Edinburgh Squash Open.

Sponsored by Artemis, the Edinburgh based investment management company, for the ninth consecutive year, the event remains the richest on the BSPA Grand Prix with a total prize fund of £10,000. Squash in the UK is still largely regarded by many as nothing other than a way of keeping fit. In this global TV age it has suffered because of its difficulty to be televised and therefore broaden its appeal.

Having two folk facing a wall in the pub/club atmosphere of a darts match is one thing, watching two supremely fit, focussed and motivated athletes hit a tiny rubber ball against a white wall is another.

That is perhaps the reason why that when the aforementioned Ms Botwright challenged the traditionally conservative hierarchy of British Squash in 2004, saying she intended to compete in a thong akin to a beach volleyball outfit, it produced headlines.

It says a lot for the status of the sport that Botwright naively assumed the stunt would largely pass unnoticed, but the fact that Ms Botwright was infinitely more attractive than most professional athletes sent those headlines across the globe.

Ms Botwright, who has now largely retired from competing and works as a coach was in more traditional garb at the Edinburgh Squash Club yesterday and easily overcame her opponent with the headline-grabbing name.

World No 9 Peter Barker took the men's title with a 3-0 victory over John Rooney. Barker was in great form and Rooney also tired, finding it difficult to maintain the pace of the game after a long tournament in which he had to overcome Stacey Ross and Scotland's Alan Clyne in the semi-final.

The Edinburgh club, which is located next to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, remains one of the UK's most important centres for squash. It has seven courts, including the only hard ball squash doubles court in the UK.

The Championship Court has a capacity of 150 and is a focal point for major tournaments. All the courts are available for social play, competition, coaching and practice.

Simon Boughton, the club pro said: "It's true squash does suffer in the TV age, but that is largely because the world's top players make it look so easy. Once people see it live they appreciate the phenomenal skill and speed it is played at. Then they want to get involved."

That was certainly the case in Edinburgh over the four days with the club posting sold out signs amid record receipts.

Source: The Scotsman

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-10T10:20:00.005+08:00

Here is a lil something we would like to share for the new year.

Who are you? Lessons From A Minitature Railroad

By Shawn Patton
Originally Published June 2008

Who Are You?

Are you an active member?
The kind that would be missed
Or are just content
With your name upon the list?

Do you attend club functions
And mingle with the crowd?
Or would you rather stay at home
And complain both long and loud?

Do you give a little time
And help to make things click?
Or leave the work to the few
And whine about the clique?

There is quite a lot of work
Which means success if done
And it can be accomplished
With the help of everyone

So think it over member …
Are you right or wrong?
Are you an active member,
or do you just belong?

Thank you for all of your support throughout 2008. We had a phenomenal year of success. We accomplished many important goals, worked with many incredible people, and set the stage for our biggest expansion ever.

May this new year bring you all the enthusiasm and will power you need, to lead you to a path of great achievements, happiness and contentment.

We wish you a GREAT year ahead!

-Azuan, Lorraine and the entire NDOnline team.

http://www.nicoldavidonline.com/

30 Months Notched Up for Nicol David

2009-01-10T10:16:00.002+08:00

Nicol David Strengthens Grip On World Number One Ranking

With an unprecedented lead over her nearest rival, Nicol David tops the January 2009 Women's World Squash Rankings, published today (Wednesday) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) – thus moving into her 30th successive month as the world’s number one player.

The 25-year-old Malaysian celebrated the best year of her career in 2008, not only winning 10 WISPA Tour titles but also extending her unbeaten Tour record to 53 matches since October 2007. Off-court, David became the youngest Malaysian to be conferred a Datukship - the equivalent of a British knighthood.

David heads an unchanged top four, with Natalie Grinham (Netherlands) at two; her older sister Rachael Grinham (Australia) in third place; and Natalie Grainger, of the USA, at number four.

The honour of being England’s highest-placed player has changed for the third time in three months as Jenny Duncalf leap-frogs Londoner Alison Waters to reclaim fifth place.

Lower down the list, their compatriot Tania Bailey – the former England number one who was out of action for much of 2008 following knee surgery - returns to the top 20 at 18 after her first and only month outside the elite group this decade.

Samantha Teran is the only player in the top twenty to celebrate a career-best position in the new list: The 27-year-old Mexican, who boasts five WISPA Tour title successes in 2008, rises a single place to 16.

1 [1] Nicol David MAS
2 [2] Natalie Grinham NED
3 [3] Rachael Grinham AUS
4 [4] Natalie Grainger USA
5 [6] Jenny Duncalf ENG
6 [5] Alison Waters ENG
7 [7] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
8 [8] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro ENG
9 [9] Madeline Perry IRL
10 [10] Shelley Kitchen NZL
11 [11] Vanessa Atkinson NED
12 [12] Isabelle Stoehr FRA
13 [13] Kasey Brown AUS
14 [14] Vicky Botwright ENG
15 [15] Rebecca Chiu HKG
16 [17] Samantha Teran MEX
17 [16] Jaclyn Hawkes NZL
18 [21] Tania Bailey ENG
19 [18] Lauren Briggs ENG
20 [19] Raneem El Weleily EGY

Egypt's squash rise continues as India show promise

2009-01-10T10:08:00.004+08:00

By Rod Gilmour
From Telegraph.co.uk

The rise of Egyptian squash was further cemented at this week's British Junior Open after six of the eight titles on offer were picked up by its team.

It culminated with Mohamed El Shorbagy in the men's U19 title as he sauntered to a fourth title in a row in the prestiguous tournament in Sheffield.

Top seed El Shorbagy, who began his unbeaten run in the event in January 2006, managed to stave off Malaysian Ivan Yuen's stren challenge in the final.

The reigning world junior champion needed only 34 minutes to retain his title, beating 18-year-old Yuen 11-8, 11-7, 13-11 to claim the Drysdale Cup.

The women's U19 title returned to Malaysia for the first time since 1999 when Nicol David swept to success after top seed Low Wee Wern beat India's rising star Dipika Pallikal 11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8.

After dominating the opening two games, Pallikal came back strongly in the third as she momentarily cured a string of errors. However, the Malaysian finished the job as she came home convincingly in the third.

The triumph marked the maiden British Junior Open success for the 18-year-old Asian Junior champion from Penang.

Egyptian favourite Amr Khaled Khalifa scored his first success in the Men's U17 event with an 11-5, 11-3, 14-12 victory in the final over Danish Atlas Khan, the second seed from Pakistan.

It was the 16-year-old from Cairo's second Sheffield success after winning the U15 crown in 2007.

Meanwhile, with the finals being filled up by a mix of Egyptian, Malaysian and Indian players, former Pakistani world champion Jahangir Khan threw his weight behind Pakistan's performance in Sheffield.

He said: “The Egyptians have emerged as the leaders in squash and the only reason for this is that they have effectively planned to build a junior squash string.”

Seven Pakistani players failed to make a mark in the tournament. However, Danish Atlas lost in the final against Egypt's Amr Khalid Khalifa.

He added: “It is the responsibility of PSF officials to insure good results but the current performance was shameful.

“There was simply no planning for the event and we were embarrassed before the whole world."

British Junior Open 2009

2009-01-10T09:44:00.006+08:00

Wee Wern Clinches Maiden Title At British Jr Open

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's top junior squash player Low Wee Wern clinched her maiden title at the British Junior Open after her third appearence in the championship.

The world No 42 defeated last year's Under-17 champion Dipika Pallikal of India 3-1 in the finals of the Girl's Under-19 category held at Abbeydale, Sheffield earlier Wednesday morning.

The five-day championship began on Jan 2.

"She wasn't really there in the first set...that one was pretty easy. But she came back strongly in the second set. Then, I made a few errors at the start of the third set, so she took advantage of that.

"I am feeling a bit of excitement at winning and bit of relief that I have won one, at last," said the 18-year-old Penangite as quoted in the tournament's official website.

In the finals, Wee Wern was in control in the first two sets with 11-2 and 11-8 but Dipika bounced back in third set (11-8) forcing the Malaysian to fight harder in the fourth set to clinch her maiden British Junior Open title with 11-8 in a 42-minute match play.

On Monday, Wee Wern beat Canada's Laura Gemmell 9-11, 12-10, 13-15, 11-8, 11 -7 in her semi-final match.

However, luck was not on the side of another top national junior player, Ivan Yuen, in the Boy's Under-19 finals.

Yuen, 18, was defeated by world junior champion and world no 36, Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt in straight sets of 8-11, 7-11 and 11-13 in 33 minutes.

Yuen's best achievement in the British Junior Open was a third placing in the Under-17 category in 2006.

In the semi-finals, Yuen defeated Alfredo Avila of Mexico 11-8, 11-3, 11-8, while Shorbagy had to fight compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad 11-2, 11-8, 7-11, 11-13 and 11-8 in a 69-minute match to clinch the finals berth.

Yuen turned professional in 2007, and is currently ranked world no 135.

-- BERNAMA

Can Wee Wern Take Over Nicol's Place?

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8(Bernama) -- The search for the athlete to replace world number one player and Malaysia's squash queen, Datuk Nicol Ann David, may have ended in Low Wee Wern, the winner of the British Open Junior Squash championship.

Yesterday, Low, the country's key junior player, won the championship, which was won by Nicol four years ago.

Low, 18, beat Indian Dipika Pallikal, who is the defending champion 11-2, 11-8 and 11-8 after a 33-minute game.

National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said it was still too early for Low to replace Nicol and regarded Low's win as "unexpected".

"However, winning the championship was a good step for Low to improve her performance at international level," he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Zolkples said he would ask the Squash Racket Association of Malaysia (SRAM) to prepare a plan to raise the performance, not only of Low, but also of the other players.

Meanwhile, a sports science lecturer at a local university who requested to be known as K C Ling said said Low's win in the championship should be used by SRAM to undertake the necessary measures to improve his performance.

"It is not easy to replace Nicol, but there is a possibility of Low stepping into her shoes in another 10 years. We have to do something so that Low can continue to excel in the sport after Nicol retires," he said.

With yesterday's victory, Low is ranked 42nd in the world.

-- BERNAMA

Try club for free

2009-01-10T09:37:00.004+08:00

Published Date:
06 January 2009
By Nigel Chapman

SPALDING and District Squash Club is offering the chance to experience its many benefits for free.

People can see and try the four recently-refurbished courts with a game of squash or racketball, and get a taste of the club's thriving social side.

The club in Holyrood Walk, which has more than 150 members, is holding free taster sessions on Sunday, January 18.

Club secretary Garry Harrison said: "Anyone can come along and give the game a try and meet some of the members who will be on hand to offer advice on the rules of the game, and basic coaching."

Garry believes people may be unaware of the benefits of playing squash, particularly at the Spalding club.

He said: "One major benefit at our club is the opportunity to play and socialise with members of all ages who come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. We have six-year-old children to 20-stone men.

"We encourage members to play in the internal monthly leagues to quickly establish their playing standard and meet other members.

Membership is available annually as a one-off payment with no further costs.

Visitors are welcome if accompanied by a member.

Members can access the premises 24/7 and courts can be booked upto a week in advance.

The club has England Squash accredited coaches available for one-to-one or group coaching.

It also runs a Juniors Club on Saturday mornings at which children from six years old can learn the basics and enjoy the game.

Monthly leagues are available for all abilities and are a great way of meeting other members.

During the winter season there are various knockout competitions and there are three teams in the Peterborough and District Squash League.

Garry said: "I've been playing squash for more than 30 years following an interest in tennis.

"I find squash much more enjoyable as you are able to play the sport all year round whatever the weather and don't have to walk miles after playing a winning shot!

"One advantage of playing squash is that anyone can take up the sport whether it be for fitness or fun.

"Another is that it can be fitted into a busy work schedule. You can play a game, have a refreshing shower, quick drink at the bar and be home in around 90 minutes."

The clubroom and bar are open every weekday evening, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks. There are several social events including quiz and poker nights.

The website www.spalding- squash.co.uk has just been upgraded and gives details about the club, and has coaching tips and videos.

ESPN CoC Finals: Nicol David vs Manny Pacquiao

2008-12-24T13:35:00.004+08:00

Nicol is in the Finals!!!
VOTE HERE NOW!!!

How to VOTE
-Use multiple windows
-Use multiple tabs
-Click on the 'vote' button not one but a few times (it works!!)
-Keep refreshing, and clicking! Click, vote! Click, vote!
-VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT

How to HELP PROMOTE
-Blog about it
-Post in forums
-Tell your friends-Forward emails
-Add a short message on your Live Messenger display name
-Import Notes and Links to your Facebook profile
-Talk about this in your Facebook Status
-Join Facebook Groups and Pages- squash and Malaysia related, and post on the Walls encouraging people to vote for Nicol.

Nicol worked hard all year round, so its time we did something for her.

A Summary of Nicol's Achievements in 2008:
-completed her 2nd full calendar year(24 months) as WORLD NUMBER ONE
-Won 10 WISPA titles
-Extended her unbeaten Tour record to 53 matches
-Won the WISPA Player of the Year Award
-Won the Outstanding Young Malaysian Award
-Honoured with the Order of Merit AND the title 'Datuk'
-Carried the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Let us treat this as a Christmas present for our dear Datuk Nicol!

VOTE HERE NOW!!!

Dec 17th News Bundle

2008-12-22T10:50:00.004+08:00

All eyes on Wee Wern to deliver

Nicol David does not expect anyone, in the immediate future, to emulate her achievements as to do so would only serve to foster unrealistic expectations.

Much has been made of the ability of Malaysia's next generation of players and the high benchmark set by Nicol can only be described as unattainable for the foreseeable future.

With talent thin on the ground, only national junior Low Wee Wern has been touted by the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia to go on one day to replace Nicol as the country's No 1.

Wee Wern was recently installed as the top seed at next month's British Junior Open girls' Under-19 category, increasing expectations she might emulate Nicol's success in winning the title in December 1999.

But while Nicol agrees that Wee Wern has the ability to become a top player, the World No 1 cautioned against placing too high expectations on the player or any of the other national juniors so soon.

"Being the top seed is one thing but she has to go in there and do her best. There is a lot expected of her but you cannot expect players to do what I did.

"I was fortunate in the sense that everything fell in place at the right time for me. She just has got to do her best in her position," said Nicol after undergoing a 'sweat test' by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Nicol believes Wee Wern, 18, has come a long way in the last 12 months and has the potential to make her own mark on the world stage.

"She has improved a lot and when she was training in Amsterdam with me (in the middle of the year), I saw her play and she has got better.

"It will be interesting to she how she does (at the British Juniors)," added Nicol, who was propelled to stardom after winning five titles in various age-groups categories at the prestigious tournament.

Wee Wern herself was cautious in predicting she would become only the fourth Malaysian after Ong Beng Hee, Nicol and Tan Yan Xin to lift a British Junior Open title.

"This will be my last British Junior tournament and I haven't won a title there. It is my last chance and I will be going there to do my best," said the World No 42.

Wee Wern must get past Canada's Laura Gemmell in the semi-finals to set up a potential date with second seed Heba El Torky of Egypt in the final.

Asked about Nicol's comments, Wee Wern said: "I've been working with her own my game, even when she's back in Penang. It's been good training with her as I've learnt a lot."

Nicol lends a hand to Wee Wern

KUALA LUMPUR: World number one Nicol David will lend a helping hand to Low Wee Wern’s bid to win the prestigious British Junior Open title.

Wee Wern, the Asian junior champion, is the top seed of the girls’ Under-19 competition of the Open, which will be held in Sheffield from Jan 2-6.

The 18-year-old has not won any of the Open’s age-group titles. Her best achievement was a runner-up finish to Camille Serme of France in the Under-19 competition last year.

In contrast, Nicol is the only Malaysian to have won five age-group titles and her last was claiming the girls’ Under-19 crown in 1999.

The 25-year-old Nicol said that expectations were high on fellow Penangite Wee Wern to win the title this time, now that she is the top seed.

“Wee Wern has improved a lot and I am sure she will challenge strongly to end her title drought in the British Junior Open. I will be more than happy to help her with practice matches in Penang to fine tune her shots and boost her confidence,’’ she said.

Meanwhile, Nicol welcomed the “Gatorade Sweat Test”, which was conducted on her at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Nicol said that she appreciated the benefits of the test and how it could help her improve on her performance.

“As a professional athlete, I always want to find the extra advantage that can help me perform better,’’ she said.

“With the experience, I believe that the sweat test will help me understand the effects of hydration on my performance. Proper intake of fluids plays a large part in maintaining optimum physical fitness.

“Reaching the world number one spot was never easy. However, maintaining that position sometimes can be a lot harder but with this new hydration plan, I believe it will give me an added edge for my competitions next year.”

Nicol is expected to play between 10 and 12 tournaments on the professional circuit next year.

Emerging Players, Veterans Pose A Threat To Nicol Staying World No. 1

Emerging players from England and Egypt and veterans like the Grinham sisters of Australia and Natalie Grainger (USA) will most likely pose the biggest threat in national squash queen Datuk Nicol David's quest to remain as the world's Number One for the third consecutive year next year.

"I'm sure the English girls and Egyptians are hungry to dislodge me from the top," she told reporters when met at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil here Wednesday.

She noted that Allison Waters, Jenny Duncalf and Laura Lenghthorn-Massaro of England and Egyptians Engy Kheirallah and Omneya Abdel Kawy were rising fast judging by their recent performances.

Engy Kheirallah, ranked 23 in the Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) rankings, helped Egypt to win the Women's World Team Championship in Cairo last November by beating Waters (ranked 5) in the last game while Omneya, just entering the age of 23 next year, will be reaching her peak very soon.

"It's never comfortable when you are on the top, but that's the challenge I have to face. So, I'm looking forward to next year and intend to do what it takes to remain on top," added the 25-year-old Nicol.

-- BERNAMA

Squash score worth millions

2008-12-17T11:33:00.005+08:00

By Penny Miles
Manawutu Standard

Palmerston North will host the 2010 World Women's Teams Squash Championships - an event that will bring up to $3 million and world exposure to the city.

The city's beaten Auckland and Nelson to get the event. Palmerston North's bid was helped by an endorsement from eight-times British Open Squash champion, Dame Susan Devoy.

The winning bid was led by businessman and SquashGym Palmerston North's Grant Smith.

"Susan Devoy backed us ahead of Auckland and she came out strongly and said to the Squash New Zealand board: 'Why are you even considering Auckland?'," Mr Smith said.

He wasn't initially sure that Palmerston North had won.

"I got a mobile phone call from the chairman in the car. By the way he started the call I thought, 'oh dear, he's giving us the Dear John letter'.

"I thought he was letting me down slowly, then he said the board have decided you've got it."

The Palmerston North City Council, Sport Manawatu, and Destination Manawatu supported the bid.

Joss Urbahn, a Palmerston North- based world referee, and Peter Fowell were part of the planning process.

Destination Manawatu chief executive Kathy Gibson said it was a complex bidding process.

"We were very keen to put our hands up following the successful world junior championships."

Mr Smith said an economic study showed the event could inject $2.5m to $3m to Palmerston North's economy.

The tournament will cost about $350,000 to run. Money will come from sponsorship, team registrations, ticket sales and other grants, including those from trusts and gaming funding.

The council will contribute $20,000, as will Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sparc).

The world tournament, to be held during the last week of November and first week of December in 2010, will be followed a week later by the 2010 World Deaf Squash Championships. This will have further economic spinoffs for the region.

Mr Smith said Palmerston North was positioning itself as New Zealand's home of squash. Adelaide and Manchester have done this in Australia and England.

"They're cities off the beaten track that have become the squash capitals of their nations."

An international media contingent will attend, and the event is likely to be televised in Egypt, Pakistan, India and Britain. Negotiations were ongoing for New Zealand television coverage, through Sky and Maori television.

Games will be played using SquashGym Palmerston North's eight glass-backed courts.

Mr Smith said there would be upgrades to SquashGym's hospitality areas.

There are also plans to bring in portable glass squash courts, to locations still to be decided. The glass courts are see-through from all sides, making it easier to film and watch the games.

Three of these glass courts were used in Palmerston North at last year's world junior championships.

The world women's tournament is held every two years. It was held in Egypt last month, with teams of four players from 24 nations. The New Zealand team, with world No 10 Shelley Kitchen, finished fourth.

Match 11: Nicol David vs Cristiano Ronaldo -- VOTE NOW!!

2008-12-11T15:18:00.004+08:00

Nicol (or her fans) overcame Jamaican Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt to reach Match 11, where she now faces Man Utd's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Voting is NOW OPEN so vote!!!

How to VOTE
-Use multiple windows
-Use multiple tabs
-Click on the 'vote' button not one but a few times (it works!!)
-Keep refreshing, and clicking! Click, vote! Click, vote!
-VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT

How to HELP PROMOTE
-Blog about it
-Post in forums
-Tell your friends-Forward emails
-Add a short message on your Live Messenger display name
-Import Notes and Links to your Facebook profile
-Talk about this in your Facebook Status
-Join Facebook Groups and Pages- squash and Malaysia related, and post on the Walls encouraging people to vote for Nicol.

Nicol worked hard all year round, so its time we did something for her.

Let us treat this as an early Christmas present for our dear Datuk Nicol!

VOTE HERE NOW!!!

Vote for Nicol NOW!!!

2008-12-05T14:13:00.005+08:00

The ESPNStar Champion of Champions 2008
Match 6: Nicol David vs Usain Bolt is now open for voting

VOTE HERE: http://www.espnstar.com/games/champions-2008/game/

Nicol is the only Malaysian, squash player and female athlete to be nominated.

So everyone, please help spread the word about this. Blog about it, post in forums, tell your friends, forward emails, import Notes and Links to your Facebook profile, talk about this in your Facebook Status Update, and please bookmark the link given above.

Lets spread the word.

A Summary of Nicol's Achievements in 2008:
-completed her 2nd full calendar year(24 months) as WORLD NUMBER ONE
-Won 10 WISPA titles
-Extended her unbeaten Tour record to 53 matches
-Won the WISPA Player of the Year Award
-Won the Outstanding Young Malaysian Award
-Honoured with the Order of Merit AND the title 'Datuk'
-Carried the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Nicol worked hard all year round, so its time we did something for her.

Let us treat this as an early Christmas present for our dear Datuk Nicol!

Update: Nicol is through to the next round against Cristiano Ronaldo. Updates when Match 11 opens.

Squash has to get younger to grow bigger

2008-12-03T11:14:00.003+08:00

A small but appreciative audience enjoyed a squash match between two showmen Monday night at the Riverbend Athletic Club.

Shahier Razik, Canada's top-ranked squash player, shared the court with Ireland's best player, John Rooney, in a best-of-three exhibition match that was as entertaining between points as it was when the rackets were swinging.

Quick to offer a tongue-in-cheek question to the official's call when it didn't go his way, Razik -- a national champion in 2006 and 2007 as well as a Pan Am gold medallist in 2003 -- kept his audience amused all night.

In the end, Razik put the jokes aside long enough to prevail over Rooney 11-9, 8-11, 11-6.

Razik admitted prior to the match that the objective in this sort of setting is always multifaceted.

"Exhibitions are always a little bit of squash, a little bit of fun," the 31-year-old Torontonian said.

Razik and Rooney are in town for Squash Canada's Edmonton stop, where they'll join other members of the Canadian pro circuit in the 2008 Servus Credit Union Edmonton Open, which starts today and runs through Dec. 7 at the Royal Glenora Club.

As a professional squash player since 1993, Razik said that squash in Canada is enjoying a resurgence in recent years.

"It's picked up a lot over the past four to five years," he said. "It boomed in the '80s, slumped in the '90s, and then in the early 2000s started picking up and, now, we have this Canadian circuit all over Canada. After the U.S., I think we have the most tournaments." Jeff Sneyd, the general manager and squash pro at the Riverbend Athletic Club, was excited to have pro players back on his courts.

Earlier Monday, the pros gave an instructional session with some young squash players. Sneyd said that gaining the interest of the youth was an important part of growing squash locally and across the country.

"Basically, the game needs younger people to find out what it's all about," he said. "Racquetball, handball aren't as popular and squash seems to be growing in the States and South America." If the sport can make its way into the 2016 Olympics, as Razik, Rooney and Sneyd hope, they think the game would reach new heights.

"(The Olympics would bring) tons more exposure, more funding, more media, and the money will just filter down to all aspects of the game. That's crucial," Razik said.

"It'd make a massive difference for squash," Rooney added. "(Squash in Ireland is) one of those sports that doesn't get the coverage it deserves.

Participation-wise, it's very big." While both Razik and Rooney are optimistic that their sport will join the major international stage in eight years' time, don't count on seeing either of them playing for their respective nations should that day come.

"I'll be way too old," Razik said, gesturing to Rooney. "We talked about that." "We'll be coaching them," Rooney interjected.

"We'll be coaching them," Razik continued. "For us it'd be such a good thing. It'd open up a lot of opportunities, more stuff to do within the sport.

For now, there's just not enough money filtering down.

"The money now just goes down to the players, it doesn't go down to the coaching, the management. Hopefully, it'll open up new positions and will give us something to do later on."

WorldSquash.org Unveils Free WWT Streaming

2008-12-01T12:35:00.001+08:00

Live coverage of the Women's World Team Squash Championship, which gets underway today in Cairo, will be available free to enthusiasts worldwide following an agreement reached between the World Squash Federation and 247.tv

"This will be the biggest ever live webcast of a squash tournament - and the audience is also expected to break all records for a live audience," said 247.tv spokesman Peter Wickson

The 2008 Championship, at the National Stadium in the Egyptian capital from 30 November to 6 December, is being held under the auspices of Egyptian first lady Suzanne Mubarak.

The coverage of the event - which features the world's top players from 19 nations - is expected to feature at least 60 matches from the National Stadium's Centre Court. Every single match will be free to view via the WSF website.

England, seeded to retain the title they won two years ago in Canada, are expected to face the hosts in the final. Egypt celebrated a best-ever second place finish in 2006.

Planned schedule of coverage is as follows:

Day 1 (30th Nov) (times given are local in Egypt: remove 2 hours for UK Time; 1 hour for CET; or 7 hours for US Eastern)
11.00: Egypt v Canada; 14.30: Malaysia v South Africa; 18.00: New Zealand v Italy

Day 2 (1st Dec)
11.00: Egypt v Switzerland; 14.30: Netherlands v South Africa; 18.00: France v Spain

Day 3 (2nd Dec)
11.00: England v France; 14.30: Malaysia v Netherlands; 18.00: France v Hong Kong

Over the final three days of knockout action (4-6 December), coverage will feature a combination of Centre Court and Glass Court matches.

Whilst live coverage will be free to access, replays of all individual matches will be available on www.247.tv for a small fee within 24 hours of the matches taking place.

VOTE FOR NICOL on ESPNStar's Champion of Champions 2008!

2008-11-28T17:58:00.004+08:00

Choose Your favourite Sports performer from 2008. From November 28th, ESPNStar alongside SportsCenter India, Asia & Malaysia, and Score Tonight will be conducting a joint initiative Online and On Air to decide the Sports Personality to have made the biggest impact on sport in the calendar year 2008.

The criteria for selection are that the "nominee" should have made an "impact" on sport during the year 2008. It is not solely a performance related vote. It is your vote that will decide who wins.

..So Vote for Nicol David!!!
http://www.espnstar.com/champion-of-champions/

Watch this interview Nicol had recently with ESPN Nokia Football Crazy

SRAM's 2010 'powerhouse' vision

2008-11-28T14:35:00.002+08:00

By Devinder Singh
From The New Straits Times

AFTER countless queries on who will succeed Nicol David on the world stage, Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Datuk A. Sani Karim is confident the answer will emerge within two years.

While there may never be another player quite like Nicol, Sani believes having three men and three women players from Malaysia ranked among the world's top 20 by the end of 2010 is within reach.

That is in line with SRAM's vision of becoming a powerhouse in world squash by 2010 alongside the established powers of England, Australia, France and Egypt.

"I have often been asked and everyone in the country is wondering who will replace Nicol. We have a vision to become a powerhouse by 2010 which many have told me is extremely ambitious," said Sani after being returned unopposed as SRAM president at the association's annual general meeting (AGM) and elections in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

"But by the end of 2010, I am confident we can have three men and women players in the top 20. The challenge is to convince everyone that this is achievable. We can do it, we must do it."

While acknowledging time is a constraint, Sani said: "We hope by 2010 we can have a big enough pool of players to begin to challenge the established powers. If we had not imposed a time frame, everyone would take his or her own time (in progressing)."

SRAM plans to send more players for overseas attachment with Nafiizwan Adnan, Asyraf Azan, Delia Arnold and Low Wee Wern -- four players are being looked upon by SRAM to fulfil their vision statement -- set for longer stints in London and Amsterdam next year.

To help them progress, SRAM is considering an alternative destination for attachment with Egypt mentioned as a possibility.

"Their's is a model we would like to look at and where we could send our players for attachment as London and Amsterdam is becoming saturated. Egypt is a possibility but plans are not firm yet," said Sani, who added that a proposal was submitted to the National Sports Council last month.

Wee Wern thrilled to break into world’s top 50

2008-11-25T12:00:00.001+08:00

Top national junior squash player Low Wee Wern (pic) is ecstatic after breaking into the top-50 of the world rankings.

The 18-year-old Penangite, who only started full-time training after completing her O-Levels this year, is ranked No. 46 in the latest list released by the Women’s International Squash Players Association (Wispa) on Nov 1.

“I have accomplished my target for this year. However, I will continue to train harder to improve my rankings next year,” said Wee Wern.

The two-time Asian junior champion has made tremendous progress since winning her first professional title — the NSC Satellite No. 3 — in April.

She achieved the feat by disposing of the top two seeds — Lisa Camilleri of Australia and Siti Munirah Jusoh — in the semi-final and final respectively.

Wee Wern, the fourth ranked national player, then captured the Terengganu Sukma (Malaysia Games) crown in June, overcoming national No. 3 Delia Arnold in five sets.

Her good form did not go unnoticed and she was packed off for a 10-week training stint in Amsterdam under world No. 1 Nicol David’s coach, Liz Irving.

It was her first overseas training stint.

The training did wonders for her confidence and she made an excellent debut in the World Open in Manchester last month, winning both her qualifying round matches to reach the main draw, where she lost to Kasey Brown of Australia 5-11, 13-11, 4-11, 11-13 in the first round. And all her hard work on court finally paid off with her rise in the world rankings list.

“I am also happy to have undergone my first overseas training stint and earning a place into the main draw of the World Open.

“My good performances in the professional circuits have earned me a place in the national squad for the women’s World Team Championship in Egypt (on Nov 30-Dec 6),” said Wee Wern, who will be gunning for her third Asian junior title in India next year.

World No. 1 Nicol, who bagged the World Open title for the third time last month, will lead Malaysia’s challenge in the team event.

The other members of the national team are world No. 24 Sharon Wee and No. 34 Delia Arnold.

Nicol David and Amr Shabana secure fourth consecutive titles in Hong Kong

2008-11-24T08:43:00.006+08:00

By Rod Gilmour
From Telegraph.co.uk

World No 1's Nicol David and Amr Shabana won their fourth consecutive Hong Kong Open titles after two compelling finals.

David, the Malaysian who is now unbeaten since the 2007 World Open, beat Australia's Rachael Grinham 3-1 and stretched her winning run to over 50 matches on her way to the title.

Three years ago, David became the first Asian woman to win the World Open title after defeating Grinham in an easy win."You are now more famous than me" was the Malaysian Prime Minister's response.

David hasn't looked back and has since seen off any threat to securing titles with consummate ease. However, she had to work harder against the Australian at the picturesque Harbour location.

After winning the first game 14-12, David then lost a close second 11-13 before coming through the next two 11-8 to hail Hong Kong as "my lucky charm".

Shabana, of Egypt, had a much tougher encounter and looked in trouble at 2-1 down against rival Frenchman Gregory Gaultier but came back powerfully to win the last two games in just 14 minutes.

The world No 1, who had dropped games in each of his games prior to the final, managed to keep the trend going as Gaultier levelled at 1-1 before bagging the next to lead 2-1.

Shabana picked his game up in the fourth and with Gaultier trying to save himself for the decider, the Egyptian closed it out 11-2. But the Egyptian wasn't going to let a fourth crown go begging and wrapped up the 76-minute win minutes later.

"It doesn't get any harder than that," admitted Shabana afterwards. "I'm so happy to win my fourth title. That's an amazing feeling and for that I have to thank God."

WSF's Ramachandran Meets IOC President In Lausanne

2008-11-21T16:11:00.005+08:00

Official Release
Issued by Howard Harding

The new World Squash Federation President Mr. N. Ramachandran paid a courtesy call on International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge today (Thursday) at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.

Outgoing WSF President Jahangir Khan introduced his successor, who was elected at last month's WSF AGM which was held during the Men's & Women's World Championships in Manchester, England.

During the visit, Ramachandran & Khan took the opportunity to present a commitment signed by top squash stars, led by world number ones Nicol David (Malaysia) and Amr Shabana (Egypt), pledging that the Olympics would be the ultimate prize for any squash player.

Squash is one of seven sports short-listed by the IOC for consideration for the 2016 Olympic Games. The meeting with President Rogge took place on the eve of the WSF's presentation to the Olympic Programme Commission in Lausanne.

Pictured at the presentation (from L to R) are: Christophe Dubi, IOC Sports Director; N Ramachandran, WSF President; Jacques Rogge, IOC President; Jahangir Khan, WSF Emeritus President.

USM honours angkasawan, Nicol and students

2008-11-19T10:05:00.006+08:00

ARAU: Universiti Sains Malaysia, has honoured two Malaysians who have done their country proud with the Anugerah Kencana Canselor award.

Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor received his award from the chancellor, Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, at Istana Arau yesterday.

He received the honour for his contributions to the field of science and space exploration.

The other recipient, the world's top ranking squash player, Datuk Nicol Ann David, could not be present as she was in Hong Kong.

Nicol received the award for her excellence in squash, making Malaysia a known name in the world squash arena.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also presented the Anugerah Pelajaran DiRaja to USM students Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin and Jasy Liew Suet Yan for academic excellence.

Amirul and Liew each received a certificate of appreciation, a gold medal and RM1,000.

Felda Awards for Youth Icons

2008-11-18T11:01:00.006+08:00

The Felda Sungai Tiang Pendang Youth Association came out tops today as the winner of the Youth Association Excellence Award at the 2008 Felda Malaysia Youth Award and Forum (ABFM) ceremony Monday.

The association received a cash prize of RM7,000, financial aid for activities worth RM6,000, funding for educational programmes worth RM25,000, trophies and certificates.

Second and third place went to Felda Aring Gua Musang Youth Association and Felda Pasoh 4 Jelebu Youth Association, respectively.

The prizes were given by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.

At the ceremony, 10 youth icons also received awards in recognition of their achievements and contributions.

Recipients of this award include world squash champion Datuk Nicol Ann David, national mariner Datuk Azahar Mansur, second national astronaut Mejar Dr Faiz Khaleed and polar explorer Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir.

Other recipients include cartoonist Lat or Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, volunteer Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood, motivational expert Datuk Dr Mohd Fadzilah Kamsah, national bowling champion Shalin Zulkifli, first Malaysian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest Marina Ahmad and contemporary nasyid pioneer Kumpulan Raihan.

Meanwhile, disabled youth Mat Jamil Ramli, of Felda Bukit Bading, Terengganu, was announced recipient of a new award, the ABFM Special Judging Panel award.

Mat Jamil, 24, who is a graphic designer for a leading supermarket here, is not only skilled in graphic design but also painting and drawing.

"It is not easy to go through life because people look down on us, but my strength to compete with those who are normal comes from my spirit and support from my family," he said when met by reporters.

Another disabled youth, Muhammad Mat Nayan, from Felda Trolak Timur, Perak, received the Special Personality Award with a prize of RM1,500, trophy and certificate.

Muhammad, 28, who is an educator at a community centre and active in sports, has won almost 20 gold medals in various sports competitions, including weightlifting and wheelchair racing.

-- BERNAMA

Rising star Delia ready to take over from Sharon

2008-11-17T12:28:00.004+08:00

Delia Arnold has slowly but surely moved up the squash world rankings. And she’s not done yet.

The national No. 3 began the year at 48th spot in the world rankings. Now, more than 10 months later, she is up at the 34th spot.

That has whetted her appetite and the 22-year-old is bent on breaking into the top-30by the end of the year.

Delia’s best achievement to date came in August when she stunned world No. 14 Rebecca Chiu in the final to bag the NSC Satellite No. 2 title.

The Malaysian was then packed off to London for a 10-week training stint under coach Peter Genever.

The training paid off when she won both her qualifying matches to make the main draw of the World Open in Manchester last month.

She, however, lost to New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen in the first round.

Delia, who returned from London recently, said she had improved her game and confidence under Genever.

“I will return to London in January for another two months of training. I hope to further improve my world rankings,” she said.

Delia is also determined to take over the national No. 2 spot from veteran Sharon Wee, who is the world No. 24.

“This has been an excellent year for me and I am confident of becoming the second ranked national woman player by the end of next year,” said Delia, whose next assignment is the Hong Kong Open, which starts tomorrow.

“I will be competing in Hong Kong for the first time and I will have to get past the qualifying rounds.

“I will go all out to win a place in the main draw to further improve my rankings,” added Delia, who will also feature in World Team Championships in Egypt next month.

A Great Example of Using a Top Sporter to Promote a Brand

2008-11-15T09:18:00.001+08:00

By Claire I Powell

E-Sporters.com

This picture appeared on the front and back covers of The Edge (business magazine) promoting CIMB. If you did not already know, this lady is the number 1 in the world in squash, a Malaysian woman called Nicol David.

This is a great example of using a top sporter to promote a brand and its values and its determination to ride through the current economic crisis. Nicol went on to win the Malaysian open to top it off for CIMB.

The important thing for CIMB is to ensure that it lives up to the brand values it is promoting by associating itself this this ultimate champion, ie. determination, skill, strength, durability, self belief, dependability and the ability to keep smiling in tough times too. If CIMB does not live up to those values, it will be not only disappointing its customers, but also devaluing the Nicol David brand.

This issue of sponsorship being a long term partnership between sporter and sponsor in terms of brand building, is something I am trying to encourage on the sports community site I built e-sporters.com. Through the site, sponsors and sporters/teams alike can check each other out, network, build relationships and create a win win for both parties.

If you are either a sporter or from an organisation which supports sporters in achieving their goals - you should register at the site (it is free to register).

Photos by NicolDavidOnline, to view more..

Squash Presents its case to the IOC

2008-11-14T16:05:00.001+08:00

Official Release
By Howard Harding

The bid by Squash to get onto the Olympic Games programme for 2016 took a step forward today (Friday) when a World Squash Federation delegation offered the credentials of the sport to the Olympic Programme Commission in Lausanne.

The seven sports vying for the two probable spots are baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens and softball, along with squash - each of which gave a one-hour presentation.

The Squash team, headed by IOC member Tunku Imran, himself a former WSF President, featured two past presidents, Susie Simcock and Jahangir Khan, along with newly-elected WSF President Mr N Ramachandran. Australia’s record five-time world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald and WSF Technical Director Andrew Shelley completed the group.

The presentation highlighted that Squash is a sport for our time: A sport giving great competitive exercise in a short time period, which has strong national federations and features development initiatives all the way from local level to elite.

The sport is already featured in every major international multi-sport Games, except for the Olympics. It has uniform scoring, is drug-free - and competing in the Olympics would be the pinnacle of the career of any squash player.

The IOC Commission, which included a number of IOC members, was also told that Squash has had world champions from all regions, as well as around 150 national federations belonging to the world body.

Mr Ramachandran, who with outgoing President Jahangir Khan had paid a courtesy visit to IOC President Jacques Rogge the day before, was upbeat after the session.

“The questions we were asked indicated a full understanding of our sport, and an interest in details of our structure. They now know even more clearly what we stand for, our strengths and everything positive that we believe we could bring to the Olympic programme in 2016.”

Squash champs Shabana and David's success formula

2008-11-13T10:04:00.011+08:00

By Jenny Coutinho
From www.merinews.com

SUSTAINING AT the top is a Herculean task in any sport. Squash is no different. Current world number one Egyptian Amr Shabana in the men’s section and Malaysian Nicol David in the ladies have been adopting different approaches to the games to keep themselves on the top perch.

Shabana, who recently lost in the World Open championship in Manchester, England to fellow Egyptian, Ramy Ashour in the semi-finals, treats every game as an important match of his life

"I treat every match as an important match. I stop thinking that I am the top ranked player when I step on the court and I try to keep it simple. I keep reminding myself that I have to stick to the basics of the game."

But then doing the same thing again and again for several days and months, is not an easy thing. Shabana too finds that some days, he lacks the will power and commitment.

"Sometimes, I don’t find the will power to go out there and deliver. I’m sure everyone goes through that, but then I, remind myself that I have been in a blessed position of being the World No1, a position which many are trying to snatch from me. The thought of holding on to the top position, eggs me on to give my best."

But then his status as the undisputed leader at the top is facing a threat. It is a position which he continues to hold for the last 31 months. A six-month break from tour meant that he lost a number of points.

"From January to May I took a break from the game after many years. It is likely to affect my ranking in the coming months. I am eager to do well in the all the upcoming tournaments, to maintain my top billing. I had to choose between my new born baby and Squash. I choose to be with her. Sometimes the family has to come first and here I fell for it. I might have to give away my long running reign for that."

His greatest strength he says is his determination to reach his goal and will overcome everything else to reach it.

"What ever goal I set I make sure I achieve it at any cost. That has been my strength all through."

Women’s world number one David, who is having an un-interrupted spell of 27 months as the top, tries to forget that she is the world number one to keep the pressure off.

"The moment you start thinking that you are No. 1 you are putting yourself in a pressure situation. The best is to expect anything to happen when you enter the courts and everything will fall in its place."

"It feels great to be there at the top. It is challenging to keep to your position. I do not go into a match with a game plan. I try to gauge the opponent’s moves. Force the opponent to make mistakes. Try and add a thing or two to your game to keep the opponent guessing."

And success motivates her to add to the titles she has already won so far.

"Success motivates me to do well and when you set your tournament targets and win it. It further keeps the adrenalin pumping."

Perry powers her way back to the top

2008-11-12T18:09:00.006+08:00

IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL SPORTSWOMEN AWARD FOR OCTOBER: Madeline Perry

Some familiar names to our sportswomen awards were amongst our contenders again in October, including Jessica Kürten, winner of one of the richest prizes in her sport at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Cora Staunton, outstanding once again for Carnacon in the club championships, and Maria McCambridge, who produced an exceptional run in the Dublin City marathon.

Another multiple award winner, though, beat off the opposition and in doing so Madeline Perry becomes the only sportswoman to win one of our monthly awards every year since we got under way in 2004.

Reaching the semi-finals of the World Championships in Manchester might have been enough for Perry to clinch the award; getting to the last eight of the Qatar Classic a fortnight later, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the professional squash circuit, would have strengthened her claim, but it is the story behind Perry's displays that made her an easy choice for the panel of judges.

It was just a year ago that the 31-year-old from Banbridge, Co Down, in Italy for training, was knocked unconscious outside a restaurant in Milan, her attacker stealing her handbag and leaving her with a broken temporal bone in her skull and bleeding and bruising to the brain.

When she was finally released from hospital in Milan, Perry had to make it home to Banbridge by land and sea, having been advised not to fly, and was told by a local neurosurgeon that she had been lucky to survive.

Remarkably, just two months later, she won our December award when she made it eight titles in 10 years at the National Championships in Dublin on her return to action - it would probably have been a 10-in-a-row if injuries hadn't forced her out of the 2000 and 2005 events.

However, the prospects of Perry regaining lost ground on the international circuit seemed bleak, not least because she had been advised not to travel by air until she had fully recovered - she was also warned not to drive for six months.

In the November world rankings, though, she had climbed to 11th, on course to regain her place in the top 10.

"It's only over the last couple of months that I've started to feel back to normal," she said.

"What happened last year was pretty traumatic, I nearly died then, and I was told I'd never be able to concentrate.

"Getting up the rankings again is probably more difficult than it was the first time, but this is a fantastic boost."

Grumpier and angrier, perhaps, but indomitable and gutsy as well.

[Source]

Zolkples worries about life after Nicol

2008-11-11T12:15:00.004+08:00

It is status quo at the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) after Datuk A. Sani Karim retained his president's post unopposed when nominations for SRAM's Nov 23 elections closed on Sunday.

But what remains uncertain is the future direction of squash in the country as National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong weighed in on the matter.

Zolkples is keen on ensuring Malaysia achieves its best-ever performance at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2010.

And he pointedly referred to squash as being a major provider of gold medals at both events but only for as long as women's World No 1 Nicol David and National men's No 1 and No 2 Ong Beng Hee and Azlan Iskandar remain healthy and active.

"The year 2010 is very important for Malaysian sports as there are two major events where we must do better than before -- the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games," he said.

"Squash is good for three gold medals at the Asian Games, where team events will also be held, and one at the Commonwealth Games.

"If you look at Nicol, she is disciplined and committed, and together with Beng Hee and Azlan we are in a good position in our plans for 2010.

"But after Nicol there is no one. By right we should have someone else at No 10 or 20 (in the world rankings) but we have to go down to 35 or something to find another one. Now that is just bad planning."

After Nicol, Sharon Wee -- in the twilight of her career -- is ranked 24th while Delia Arnold is at a career-best 34th.

Zolkples made the comments during a flag-handing over ceremony to the World Championships-bound karate squad in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Zolkples declined to comment on Sani's third two-year term as SRAM president, choosing instead to higlight the positives.

"We have a good working relationship with SRAM but you cannot produce someone like Nicol everytime. They have their programmes in place and we hope they bear fruit quickly.

"But should anything happen to the big three, then we are in trouble. For the team events we don't have strong second and third liners. That is the problem."

World Class Field to be Featured at Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Squash Open 2008

2008-11-08T09:27:00.001+08:00

Once again, fans will be treated with world class squash when the annual “Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Squash Open 2008” takes place at the world’s most vibrant city in November.

Presented by Hong Kong Squash with the full support of Cathay Pacific, the sporting extravaganza will be held from November 17 to 23 at the Hong Kong Squash Centre in Central and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza in Tsim Sha Tsui.

With a winning purse of HK$1.6 million at stake, the world’s top 30 players will certainly be ready to compete for the prestigious men and women’s titles. Current world no. 1 and last year’s champion, Egypt’s Amr Shabana, world no. 2 and last year’s runner-up French Gregory Gaultier, new world champion Egypt’s Ramy Ashour and Asian Games gold medalist, Malaysia’s Ong Beng Hee have confirmed their participation in the men's event.

While the women players including current world no. 1 and 3-time world champion Malayia's Nicol David, world no. 2 & 3 Aussie's sisters Natalie and Rachael Grinham also confirmed their participation to this world “Platinum Series” event.

To showcase the beautiful view of the Victoria Harbour, the tournament will be staged at the Tsim Sha Tsui water front when entering the semi-final stages. Matches will be held in a state-of-the-art glass court erected at the HK Cultural Centre Piazza, with the grand Harbour as its natural backdrop. A big screen will also be set up at the Piazza where people visiting one of the world’s busiest shopping areas can take a break and enjoy some world class sport.

The qualifying draws will be staged on 17 & 18 November, offers local players 11 places in the women’s and 8 places in the men’s event while Asian Games Medalist Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin together with the wide-card holders including Annie Au Wing-chi, Christina Mak Pui-hin and Dick Lau Siu-wai will be entered the main draw.

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open, which is also supported by the Hong Kong government’s Major Event Sports Committee and is awarded “M” mark status, is always popular with the domestic and international squash community. A large contingent of players, coaches, families, fans and international media will be in Hong Kong in November to witness this spectacular event.

Cathay Pacific's Director Sales & Marketing Mr. James Barrington said: "We are happy to be lending our support once again to the Hong Kong Squash Open - a great event that provides an annual opportunity for local squash lovers to see the world's best players in action. This is the 23rd consecutive year for Cathay Pacific to support the event, which ties in with our ongoing commitment to make Hong Kong an even more exciting place to live and an even better place to visit. Hong Kong Squash has done a tremendous job organising the Open over the years and I am confident the 2008 event will be another resounding success."

Nicol David Stretches World Number One Lead

2008-11-07T12:00:00.002+08:00

Successes in last month's Hi-Tec World Open in England and the Qatar Classic in Doha have stretched Nicol David's lead as world number one in the new November Women's World Squash Rankings published by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

The 25-year-old Malaysian recaptured her world title in Manchester after beating local star Vicky Botwright in the final - then later in the month moved into her second year without defeat on a squash court when she lifted her third successive Qatar Classic crown after despatching Dutch number one Natalie Grinham in the climax.

With 11 successive Tour title wins under her belt since November 2007, David has notched up 48 WISPA matches without defeat!

Natalie Grinham retains her position as world number two, but her older sister Rachael Grinham slips to four as US star Natalie Grainger rises to third place - her highest position for more than four years.

Vicky Botwright's remarkable run in Manchester - on her 'home' court at the National Squash Centre in her final event before retiring from the WISPA World Tour - has catapulted the 31-year-old to seventh place in the new list, only two positions lower than her career-best ranking.

Lower in the list, New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes celebrates a career-best No16 ranking. The 25-year-old from Auckland achieved one of the best runs of her career in last month's World Open, dismissing two higher-ranked opponents to reach her maiden quarter-finals.

Hong Kong teenager Annie Au is poised to become the youngest player in the top 20 after leaping seven places to No21. The 19-year-old became the only qualifier to reach the last sixteen after upsetting Mexico's world No18 Samantha Teran.

1 [1] Nicol David MAS
2 [2] Natalie Grinham NED
3 [4] Natalie Grainger USA
4 [3] Rachael Grinham AUS
5 [5] Jenny Duncalf ENG
6 [6] Alison Waters ENG
7 [12] Vicky Botwright ENG
8 [7] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
9 [9] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro ENG
10 [8] Vanessa Atkinson NED
11 [16] Madeline Perry IRL
12 [10] Shelley Kitchen NZL
13 [13] Kasey Brown AUS
14 [15] Isabelle Stoehr FRA
15 [14] Rebecca Chiu HKG
16 [18] Jaclyn Hawkes NZL
17 [11] Tania Bailey ENG
18 [17] Samantha Teran MEX
19 [19] Engy Kheirallah EGY
20 [20] Lauren Briggs ENG

WISPA Reveals Its Calendar Girls

2008-11-06T14:09:00.002+08:00

The top stars on the WISPA World Tour will be revealed like never before in the 2009 WISPA Calendar which is launched today by the Women's International Squash Players' Association.

Set to become a collectors' item, the inaugural WISPA Calendar features a number of top stars - led by world champion Nicol David.

Not only with rackets in hand, but also in high fashion outfits, the players reveal 'super model' attributes as part of the package.

Twelve players …. twelve months … the first WISPA Calendar is set to change the face of women's squash!

"Anybody who has ever wanted a date with a top female squash player can now have 365 of them!" said WISPA Chief Executive Andrew Shelley.

"We wanted to show off some of our stars in a fun way; in a different style if you like. They enjoyed doing it and I am quite sure that the WISPA Calendar will become an annual feature."

Details of how to purchase the new WISPA calendar (measuring 30cm x 30cm) are available from the WISPA website http://www.wispa.net/

Final Curtain: Nicol's 2008 Qatar Classic Win [Video]

2008-11-05T14:26:00.015+08:00

Watch Nicol claim her third successive Qatar Classic title in Doha with a comprehensive victory over world No.2 Natalie Grinham, to the delight of the many Malaysian supporters in the Khalifa Squash Complex in Doha!

Ronald Fauvel taking a photo for Nicol- that's HER cell phone!

Quick..!! What model is it?!

Nicol with the Malaysian Ambassadors

Some of the Malaysian fans who were present to show their support!

For more videos of Nicol, click hereeeee

Darwish & David Qatar Classic Champions

2008-11-01T08:42:00.015+08:00

By Afzal Mehmood Shaikh
QOC - Sports Editor
From Squash360.com

Defending champion and WISPA world number one Nicol David of Malaysia convincingly retained her Qatar Classic title defeating Natalie Grinham in Friday's final at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex.

The 25-year-old Malaysian ace, extended her unbeaten run of 53 matches with a flawless straight games win 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 in 29 minutes over the Dutch Grinham in $82,000 women's event.

"Everything came in well today, it was important to keep the momentum," said the Malaysian. "I felt confident with my shots and kept it simple, but sharp," revealed the three-time world champion.

David has been the dominant force in women’s squash since winning the first of her successive World Opens in 2005. However, the Penang-based star was a bit cautious after the semifinal match against Natalie Grainger, where she was made work really hard for a 3-1 victory.

"I took my chances earlier today, and kept the pressure on her (Natalie), didn’t wanted to do like what I done yesterday (Thursday) for a fightback," explained the WISPA 2008 player of the year.

In men's event, the underdog Karim Darwish shocked top seed and world no. 1 Amr Shabana with 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 triumph in 28 minutes in an all-Egyptian final.

To much of everyone's surprise, Darwish 27, who had earlier beaten world no. 2 Gregory Gaultier of France in the quarters, showed no mercy for the experienced Shabana's class.

The Cairo-based, 2007 Qatar Classic semifinalists Darwish, lauded Shabana's performance and was glad to win against the world number one and the top favourite in the $145,000 total prize money men's event."

It was a pleasure playing against Shabana, who is been one of the best players in the world and am happy to win the Qatar Classic 2008 title for the first time," said a visibly elated Darwish.

Final Results

Nicol David (MAS) bt Natalie Grinham (NED)
11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (29mins)

Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Amr Shabana (EGY)
11-4, 11-5, 11-3 (28mins)

David, Shabana inching closer to defend Qatar Classic titles

2008-10-31T15:38:00.015+08:00

By Afzal Mehmood Shaikh
QOC - Sports Editor
From Squash360.com

Malaysian ace Nicol David and Amr Shabana of Egypt, the world number one on men's and women's tours respectively, made their cut to the finals of the 2008 Qatar Classic Squash Tournament at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

Top seed David, got the better of Natalie Grainger of USA 11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2 in Thursday's first WISPA semifinals and in front of Malaysian supporters, who turned out in masses to cheer the world number one.

"I was keen on working hard and improve my performance, every time I play," said the victorious 25-year-old, David. "She (Natalie) is experienced and a true competitor and I enjoy playing against her," added the Malaysian star.

Current WISPA ranked fourth Grainger, had nothing to complain, instead she praised David's performance and felt it is a nightmare playing against her in crucial matches.

"Nicol is a class act, when it comes to action, she is anyone's nightmare," explained the 31-year-old American. "Nicol is a great ambassador of the sport and is one of the greats in WISPA," claimed Grainger.

David's third World Open title triumph on October 19, puts her on a select list of former greats who have won the world crown three or more times.

Having also reigned as the World No 1 for the last 27 months, Nicol added another accolade to her growing list of honours when she was named the WISPA Player of the Year at the 2008 World Squash Awards in Manchester.

In the other semifinal clash of the Grinham sisters, Rachael and Natalie, the younger of the two, Natalie, who started playing under the Netherlands flag from the current year, conquered the world no. 2, Rachael, 11-8, 13-15, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10 in a marathon one hour of play.

In men's semifinals, world no. 1 Amr Shabana of Egypt, got closer to defending his title after he outclassed Frenchman Thierry Lincou's 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 to meet his countryman Karim Darwish who beat Nick Matthew of England 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6.

The two defending champions in men's and women's tours respectively are yet to make their presence count as they play in the final on Friday.

Men & Women's Semi-Final Results
Nicol David (MAS) bt Natalie Grainger (USA)
11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2 (37mins);

Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS)
11-8, 13-15, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10 (61mins)

Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Thierry Lincou (FRA)
8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (52mins)

Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Nick Matthew (ENG)
9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (56mins)

Final Match-ups
Nicol David (MAS) vs Natalie Grinham (NED)
Amr Shabana (EGY) vs Karim Darwish (EGY)

WSF Moves To ‘PAR’ Scoring Worldwide

2008-10-30T13:58:00.007+08:00

In one of the most radical changes in the sport in recent times, the World Squash Federation has voted to change the scoring system in Squash to ‘Point-A-Rally’ (PAR) to 11 points per game. The new scoring system will take effect worldwide, across all areas of the sport, from 1st April 2009. The decision was taken by an overwhelming vote by Member National Federations at the WSF AGM in Manchester last week.

Whilst PAR scoring has been used on the men’s professional circuit for many years – and was more recently introduced by the WISPA women’s tour - ‘hand-in-hand-out’ scoring to nine points a game has been practiced globally by recreational players for many decades.

Thus from 1st April 2009, the principal scoring system for Squash will change to PAR to 11 (going to two clear points if 10-all is reached).

Already used in both PSA and WISPA Tour events – and, as such, seen regularly on TV –PAR scoring will now extend to all WSF championships, and all Major Games in which squash is featured, e.g. Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan-American Games, World University Games, World Games, and others.

It was also agreed that next month’s Women’s World Team Championships in Cairo will use PAR 11 for all matches in advance of the official April 2009 start date as this is a high-profile event which will feature a large number of WISPA players who are already familiar with the scoring system.

The recent experiment of using it in the European Squash Federation (ESF) Junior Circuit and Championships will now become the norm - and it is certain that other WSF Regional Federations will also introduce it, as will many MNA's for their domestic championships and leagues.

In a further vote taken at the WSF AGM, PAR to 11 was also introduced for international doubles (changing it from PAR to 9 which was introduced in 2007) – and will be used in the WSF International Doubles Championships in Chennai in December. However, the principle of sudden death at 10-all will be retained.

Shabana, David in quarters

2008-10-29T10:42:00.005+08:00

Spaniard Borja Golan, a surprise finalist at this year’s Internationaux de France in Paris, took yesterday a game from title holder Amr Shabana, but could not prevent the world number one from entering the quarter-finals of the 2008 Qatar Classic at the Khalifa Squash Complex.

On day two of the tournament, there were no major surprises in store as most of the seeds had an easy passage into the last eight stage in both the men’s and women’s sections.

The world number one who won 3-1, now faces 10th seed Peter Parker in the quarter-finals today.

Also making into the last eight stage in the men’s section, were current World Open champion Ramy Ashour from Egypt, fifth seed Thierry Lincou from France, seventh seed Nick Mathew from England, fourth seed David Palmer from Australia and last year’s runner-up Gregory Gautlier of France.

In the women’s event, title holder Nicol David from Malaysia faced no hiccups in her second round match against Engy Kheirallah, on her way into the quarter-finals, where she faces Alison Waters. Last year’s finalist Natalie Grainger of US too moved into last eight.

“I played much better today. I’m now looking forward to playing on the centre court. Playing on the glass court gives one a spectacular feeling. The crowd add to the excitement. Hopefully many Malaysians will come to cheer me on Wednesday,” said David, who won 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 against Engy Kheirallah of Egypt.

Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy, Laura Lenghthorn, Grinham sisters Natalie and Rachael and Madaline Perry all made it into the last eight stage in the ladies section.

Top seeds have it easy in first round

2008-10-28T11:15:00.004+08:00

From the Gulf Times

Defending champions and top seeds Amr Shabana of Egypt and Nicol David of Malaysia eased into the second round of the Qatar Classic Squash tournament with convincing wins at the Khalifa Squash Complex yesterday.

Shabana defeated his Pakistani opponent Mansoor Zaman in straight games 11/2, 11/9, 11/4, while women’s reigning world champion Nicol David ousted England’s Dominique Lloyd-Walter 11-8, 11-7, 11-9.

The only time Shabana was stretched a bit was in the second game. A couple of unforced errors allowed Zaman level the game at 8-8 but Shabana regained his composure quickly to wrap up the game 11-9. The third game was more of a cakewalk for Shabana.

“These early matches are also tough as these qualifiers go all out knowing they have nothing to lose. However, a win makes you feel better,” said Shabana, who will meet Borja Golan of Spain in the next round.

David, on the other hand, faced some hiccups in the first and third games. She allowed Lloyd-Walter to take a 7-5 lead in the first game and was also trailing 6-5 in the third before staging a fightback.

“I would have liked to wrap up the match more convincingly but it is ok. I got a measure of her game once I engaged in long rallies. She went for her shots and I made my move,” said a pleased David, after the match.

She will now take on Engy Kheirallah of Egypt, who defeated Sharon Wee of Malaysia 11-9, 11-3, 11-7.

All eyes on world champion

2008-10-27T14:10:00.006+08:00

Newly-crowned World Open champion Ramy Ashour from Egypt will be cynosure of all eyes here in Doha as he kick starts his campaign at the $145,000 2008 Qatar Classic, which begins at the Khalifa Squash Complex today.

Ashour, who beat compatriot Amr Shabana, the titleholder in the semi-finals and then overcame another Egyptian, Karim Darwish to win the World crown last week, takes on compatriot Omar Mosaad in the first round today.

Eight days back, Ashour became the first player to emulate Jansher Khan, the great Pakistan player of the eighties and nineties, by winning both the world junior and world senior titles.
Ashour knows the huge expectations he is carrying on his shoulders.

“I feel I have heavy weight on my shoulders. I want to extend my winning run. My target is to reach the final (in Doha). I do not want to let down my fans, who are supporting me. I know to maintain consistency is a difficult task, but I am in a positive mood,” he said while talking to The Peninsula yesterday.

Reigning Qatar Classc champion Shabana, who still has a hold over the world number one rank in spite of his World Open loss, is the top seed in Doha and will face one of the eight qualifiers today.

World number two, Gregory Gautler of France, who lost to Shabana in last year’s final, starts his campaign by taking on countryman Renann Lavigne, in a tournament where most of the top-20 players will be seen in action.

Also in the race for the top prize is David Palmer of Australia, who takes on a qualifier.

Meanwhile, James Willstrop of England and Mohammed Azlan Iskandar of Malaysia, who were seeded for the Doha event, are two players to have pulled out on account of injuries.

David determined to win

2008-10-27T01:22:00.008+08:00

Recently crowned World Open champion Nicol David seeks to carry her consistent run of success into the 2008 Qatar Classic in a bid to retain the title she won last year, when the top-ranked player squares up to Dominique Llyod-Walter in the first round match at the Khalifa Squash Complex tomorrow.

The current World number one is fresh from World Open title, she won in England this month, which she was determined to regain after having lost her grip over it last year, to add to the titles she won in 2005 and 2006.

Nicknamed the ‘Duracell Bunny’ she had earlier regained the British Open title this year. The twin major titles which she had targeted before the start of the season.

However, the Malaysian will be taking it match by match, here in Qatar.

“Ultimately, it will be getting used to the conditions, trying to give your best and a matter of playing well on a particular day,” she said.

On her first-round opponent, Dominique, she said: “I have played her only once some years back, so I will have to work out everything together. I do not know much about her game.” The twenty-five-year-old feels that the preparatory work she undertook to tie up the lose ends of her game before the start of the British Open, should hold her good for the entire season.

“The last few months had been crucial for me in preparing for the two major tournaments- British Open and World Open. But, Qatar Classic, Hong Kong squash Open and World Team Championship are the other events which I have on my radar of success.”

David who expressed her reservation over the new 11-point system, going into the World Open said that she is getting used to the new point system.

“You have to mentally sharp, straight away in the 11-point scoring system and do not allow your concentration to flounder. If you are down, there is not much time for recovery, and by the time you try to bounce back, it is all over. But I hope to do my best and have been trying to adjust to the changes.”

But she favours the idea of the nine-point system for the juniors.

“I would love the junior players to have the 9-point system of scoring which we enjoyed as juniors. The old system gives an opportunity for the juniors to bounce back, if they are down in a game.”

David, who has won the World Open on four occasions and has an amazing 31 WISPA Tour titles against her name. Recently she became the youngest Malaysian to be conferred with Datukship in her home state of Penang. Datuk, is the Malaysian senior order of chivalry title an equivalent of a British knighthood.

“I’m happy that the Penang State appreciates my achievements and supports me in my squash career. The honour conferred on me is a motivation for young junior players from Malaysia and will also motivate me for more success. I am delighted that my success has been noticed by the state and the honour will serve as an added incentive to achieve greater success.”

And she sees many junior players from Malaysia dominating the game in the coming years.

Doha resident Weir aims big

2008-10-26T00:14:00.005+08:00

South Africa’s Adel Weir the only WISPA player to make Middle East her base camp — aims to break into the world top-10 in the next two or three years.

Weir, who celebrates her 25th birthday on October 30, lives and trains in Doha where she will play the qualifying matches to sneak into the main draw of the 2008 Qatar Classic squash tournament beginning next Monday.

Currently ranked number 73 in the world, Adel yesterday said her main ambition as a professional player is to be one of the best on the women’s tour.

“My immediate goal is to break into the top-50. I know I have the game to do it and I will. However, I strongly feel that I need to improve the mental side of my game. I have to have faith in my ability,” the South African blonde added.

“Once I do that, my next target would be the top-30 and then the top-10. I will try to get into the main draw of the Qatar Classic next week. In December, I have plans to play three events. Right now, my chief concern is to have as many matches as possible.

“The more matches you play, the more confident you become. I am very pleased that I will be able to do that since I have Ramada Plaza Doha, which will sponsor my flights to anywhere in the world. I will travel to Holland, Wales and Monte Carlo in December. With Ramada Plaza’s valuable help, I can now focus on my game and not worry about travel issues,” the South African said.

The right-handed South African said she admires world number one Nicol David of Malaysia for humility off the court and her brilliance with a racket on it.

“I think she is an amazing player. She is the fittest and fastest player around. She is such a humble human being. Ramy Ashour (of Egypt) is another player I admire a lot. He too is a very simple guy but has great talent,” Adel said.

Adel said she favours the new scoring system introduced on the women’s tour recently.

“I think with the new system, (as a player) you are always in the game. You always think you can fight back if you are behind your rival. I am comfortable with the new scoring system (in which the points can be won on rival’s serve as well),” Adel said.

Adel will be playing her first match on Saturday when the qualifying stages of the 2008 Qatar Classic commence at the Khalifa Squash Complex.

“I have been training hard so let’s see what happens,” she said.

Liz Irving on PAR 11 Squash Scoring

2008-10-25T06:00:00.003+08:00

Liz Irving - Coach to Nicol David, gives her opinions on the results of the decision to introduce PAR 11 scoring at WISPA events, comments on Nicol David.

Visit: Squash360

Qatar Classic 2008: Women's & Men's Draw

2008-10-24T01:00:00.001+08:00

Main Draw Women
US$ 74,000
Round 1

[1]Nicol David(MAS) vs Dominique Lloyd-Walter(ENG)
[15]Engy Kheirallah(EGY) vs Sharon Wee(MAS)
[7]Alison Walters(ENG) vs Raneem El Weleily(EGY)
[10]Kasey Brown(AUS) vs Qualifier
[4]Natalie Grainger(USA) vs Sarah Kippax(ENG)
[16]Annelize Naude(NED) vs Qualifier
[5]Jenny Duncalf(ENG) vs Louise Crome(NZL)
[9]Omneya Abdel Kawy(EGY) vs Donna Urquhart(AUS)
[14]Jaclyn Hawkes(NZL) vs Qualifier
[8]Laura Lenghtorn-Massaro(ENG) vs Suzie Pierrepoint(ENG)
[13]Isabelle Stoehr(FRA) vs Qualifier
[3]Natalie Grinham(NED) vs Manuela Manetta(ITA)
[12]Madeline Perry(IRL) vs Lauren Briggs(ENG)
[6]Shelley Kitchen(NZL) vs Line Hansen(DEN)
[11]Rebecca Chiu(HKG) vs Qualifier
[2]Rachael Grinham(AUS) vs Qualifier

Qualifiers
1. Aisling Blake (IRL)
2. Orla Noom (NED)
3. Lauren Siddall (ENG)
4. Alana Miller (CAN)
5. Emma Beddoes (ENG)
6. Laura Mylotte (IRL)
7. Joey Chan (HKG)
8. Heba El Torky (EGY)
9. Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
10. Eman El Amir (EGY)
11. Adel Weir (RSA)
12. Jenna Gates (ENG)
13. Nouran El Torky (EGY)
14. Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY)
15. Irina Assal (RUS)
16. Sara El Noamany (EGY)
17. Eliza Kargioti (GRE)

Main Draw Men
US$ 145,000
Round 1

[1]Amr Shabana(EGY) vs Qualifier
[13]Lee Beachill(ENG) vs Borja Golan(ESP)
[5]David Palmer(AUS) vs Qualifier
[12]Peter Barker(ENG) vs Qualifier
[4]Ramy Ashour(EGY) vs Omar Mosaad(EGY)
[9]Wael El Hindi(EGY) vs Qualifier
[6]Thierry Lincou(FRA) vs Cameron Pilley(AUS)
[14]Adrian Grant(ENG) vs Miguel Angel Rodriguez(COL)
[10]Ong Beng Hee(MAS) vs Qualifier
[11]Mohd Azlan Iskandar(MAS) vs Qualifier
[3]James Willstrop(ENG) vs Hisham Mohd Ashour(EGY)
[16]Olli Tuominen(FIN) vs Mohammed Abbas(EGY)
[7]Karim Darwish(EGY) vs Qualifier
[15]Laurens Jan Anjema(NED) vs Qualifier
[2]Gregory Gaultier(FRA) vs Renan Lavigne(FRA)
Stewart Boswell(AUS) vs Nick Matthew(ENG)

World Squash Awards 2008 [Updated]

2008-10-23T10:11:00.003+08:00

The world's leading players were honoured at the fourth annual World Squash Awards took place at the stunning Manchester Town Hall on Saturday the 18th of October, during the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships.

The presentations took place in the appropriate setting of the Great Hall in the historic Manchester Town Hall before a packed gathering of VIPs, players and officials from the sport during the city’s hosting of the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – the first joint staging of the Men’s and Women’s World Opens in the UK.

It was the fourth staging of the World Squash Awards by Eventis Sports Marketing, a company run by former players Peter Nicol, MBE; Tim Garner and Angus Kirkland.

Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia who went on to win the women's World Open title for a third time in Manchester, won the WISPA Player of the Year Award for the fourth year in a row. David received the award from fellow countryman HRH Prince Tunku Imran, Patron of the WSF and a prime mover in Squash making its debut in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

"Thanks to everybody," said Nicol after receiving the award as voted by the WISPA membership. "Having Squash in the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia really sparked things off for me - and I'm grateful for the great support I've had all the way."

Having reached seven PSA Tour Finals in the past 12 months and reached number three in the World Rankings, England's James Willstrop beat Egyptians Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour to win the PSA Player of the Year Award. "It means a great deal to be recognised by such a distinguished group of people, and at such an event," said the world No3 from Yorkshire after receiving his prize from the newly-elected PSA Chairman Ziad Al-Turki. "And it's quite nice to get one over on Ramy and Shabs!"

Hong Kong's Annie Au won the WISPA Young Player of the Year Award. "I'm very happy to get this award," said the 19-year-old who battled through to the last 16 of the World Open. "I thank Hong Kong Squash for giving me so much support."

Omar Mosaad, a 20-year-old from Cairo, picked up the PSA Young Player of the Year Award. Egyptian national coach Amir Wagih, who collected the award on behalf of Mosaad, was asked the secret of Egypt's success in Squash: "Not for export!" was the former international's brief response!

England international Laura Lengthorn-Massaro won the WISPA Most Improved Player of the Year Award. "It means a lot to me," said the 24-year-old from Lancashire.

There was a surprise Services to Squash Award which was presented to Jim Quigley, Manchester City Council's Head of Major Sports Events and Partnerships. The driving force behind the staging of numerous major Squash events in the city over the past 12 years - including the 2008 World Championships, the National Championships, the British Open and the 2002 Commonwealth Games - Quigley admitted that 'Squash is my passion'.

"I am proud to have been given the opportunity by Manchester City Council to do this," Quigley. "The staging of the Commonwealth Games here led to a legacy programme which has inspired more than 6,000 youngsters to take up the sport - many of whom have played in these championships."

Squash legends Hashim & Azam Khan, together with Australian Geoff Hunt, have been honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the World Squash Awards in Manchester.

Hashim Khan, born in Pakistan in 1916, won the British Open seven times between 1951 and 1958. The distinguished 92-year-old – who only recently gave up playing the sport - journeyed from his home in Denver, USA, to receive his award.

His younger brother Azam Khan, based in the UK, continued the family’s association with the sport’s most coveted title - firstly finishing as runner-up to Hashim in three British Open finals before going on to claim the title four times, from 1959 to 1962!

Geoff Hunt took up the gauntlet thrown down by British hero Jonah Barrington - winning his first British Open crown in 1969 before picking up a total of eight titles by 1981.

The presentations were made by Lifetime Achievement Award holder Jahangir Khan, the six times World Open champion and record ten-time British Open champion who ended his six-year reign as President of the World Squash Federation in Manchester.

Jahangir received a Special Award from the WSF. Emeritus President Susie Simcock delivered a citation in which she reminded the star-studded audience that 'JK' first came to prominence in 1979 when he won the World Amateur title, aged 15 - before going on to achieve a remarkable 774-match unbeaten run, over five years and eight months. Perhaps his most notable accolade, however, was the award of 'Sportsman of the Millennium' in Pakistan.

"Jahangir quite simply represents everything that's good about Squash - and everything that's good about sport," concluded Ms Simcock.

PSA Player of the Year: James Willstrop
PSA Most Improved Player of the Year: Omar Mosaad

WISPA Player of the Year: Nicol David
WISPA Young Player of the Year: Annie Au
WISPA Most Improved Player of the Year: Laura Lengthorn-Massaro

Special awards were made to:
Jim Quigley, Hashim and Azam Khan, Geoff Hunt and Jahangir Khan

For Extras- Visit Squash360

Photos by Fritz Borchert

Datuk Nicol nominated for The Outstanding Young Malaysian Award 2008

2008-10-23T01:18:00.001+08:00

Datuk Nicol Ann David, currently the world's top squash player, is one of 16 finalists of The Outstanding Young Malaysian (TOYM) Awards 2008.

The 25-year-old is joined by Ramajuta Group of Companies executive chairman and managing director Datuk Raymond Chan Boon Siew, Phison Electronics Corporation president Pua Khein Seng and singer Tan Kheng Seong.

Chief judge Prof Datuk Wira Dr Mohammad Noor Salleh said the 16 were shortlisted from a list of 54 nominees.The shortlisting process took two months to complete. The nominees were evaluated based on guidelines which included contributions to the nation.

"It was an extremely difficult filtering process as all the nominees were exceptional in their own way," he said.

The TOYM program of Junior Chamber Malaysia serves to recognize up to ten individuals aged from 18 years to 40 years of age exemplify the best attributes of their country's best individual.

The Outstanding Young Malaysian would be named at a dinner ceremony on Nov 1, organised by the Junior Chamber International Malaysia (JCIM).

The ceremony will highlight each winner's career in narrative form and provide a stage from which the honourees can challenge and inspire young people from around the country. For each honouree, there will be a presentation profiling his/her accomplishments, followed by the trophy presentation, and an acceptance speech.

Countdown to Copenhagen- Squash's Olympic Efforts (Part1)

2008-10-21T14:46:00.004+08:00

Visit: Squash360

Shabana, David Doha Bound

2008-10-21T12:00:00.012+08:00

Amr Shabana of Egypt and Nicol David of Malaysia, the world number one on the men’s and women’s tours respectively, will defend their titles at this month’s Qatar Classic squash tournament.

According to Gamal Rasmi, technical secretary with Qatar Squash Federation (QSF), the two players will lead the fields in the seven-day event to be held from October 25 to 31.

“The world’s top 16 players are confirmed entries for this year’s Qatar Classic and this list obviously includes Shabana, David Palmer and Gregory Gaultier,” Rasmi told The Peninsula yesterday.

Rasmi informed that said former World Open champion Thierry Lincou of France has also confirmed his participation at the Doha event.

The men’s event will have an overall prize money of $145,000 whereas the women’s tournament will have $82,000 up for grabs. No Qatari will be part of the 32-player field in the men’s event in which eight spots are reserved for the ones coming in through the qualifying stages.

“Similarly, we will have the top players for the women’s event as well. Nicol will defend her title she won her last year,” Rasmi added. “Grinham sisters, Rachel and Nathalie will also be playing in Doha.”

Last year, Shabana and David confirmed their status as the world’s number one players by winning the Qatar Classic titles in style.

Shabana, the current world number one, claimed the men’s crown for the first time in Doha after beating fourth seed Gaultier in the final of the $120,000 Super Series Platinum event while David retained the $77,000 women’s WISPA Gold event trophy by defeating fifth seed Natalie Grainger in straight games.

Twenty eight-year-old Shabana, the top seed from Egypt, battled for 52 minutes to topple is French rival 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5.

David, the 24-year-old from Penang, was in sparkling form as she dispatched Grainger, the Pan American Games gold medallist from the US, 9-6, 9-4, 10-9 in 43 minutes.

Shabana, who has a huge fan following in Doha, has stretched his reign as the world number one for 31 months.

The Egyptian, winner of three World Open titles, has won a remarkable 20 trophies from 27 PSA finals.

David is now a three-time World Open and British Open champion (2005, 2006 and 2008).

The forthcoming event is to be held on squash courts inside the Khalifa Tennis Complex premises.

Men & Women's Draw to follow..

Nicol is World Champion

2008-10-19T21:56:00.010+08:00

MANCHESTER (AFP) — Malaysian golden girl Nicol David clinched a third World Open here on Sunday while Egypt's Ramy Ashour claimed the men's title.

David, the world number one, endured a career crisis last year when she lost both the British and World Open titles and had set her heart on getting them back in 2008.

"I feel relief that I actually won it this time round. I learned so much from losing (the world title last year), when everyone was wondering what had happened. But Liz (Irving, her coach) knew what we had to do, and we did it. I've learnt so many new things," said the Asian star.

"I feel all sorts of things. There are all mixed emotions because this world title is clearly a different feeling, coming after losing it. But emotionally I am still quite stunned.

"After losing the first game I had to start the match again, and do something different. And when she came back at me in the fourth game I had to hang in there. I'm so glad I was able to do that."
It was not the best performance by David and it was the first time she had dropped a game all week.

However, it was one which showed her immense determination, some extra variety in her game, and increasingly versatile mental qualities in the difficult moments.

Having regained the British five months ago in Liverpool, she now repeated the achievement at the tour's most important tournament, beating the surprise finalist from England, Vicky Botwright 5-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-9.

David, who has massive support in her home country, acknowledged the significance of the crowd: "I now know what it's like for people to play me in Malaysia."

But she was full of praise for her opponent, ranked 12 in the world: "Every shot she played, every drive, was so tight," said David of her unexpected opponent in the final. "She really kept on fighting - it was a great achievement to get to the final."

The men's event brought a new champion with 21-year-old Ashour adding the world title to his Super Series triumph from here last year.

Ashour had beaten his compatriot Amr Shabana, the top-seeded titleholder in the semi-finals and on Sunday overcame another Egyptian, Karim Darwish 5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5.

Ashour became the first player to emulate Jansher Khan, the great Pakistani of the eighties and nineties, in having won both the world junior and world senior titles.

"To be in the same category as Jansher is a huge thing," Ashour said.

"He is one of the legends of all time. I have been watching him on YouTube and I have taken shots from him."

Men's Finals:
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Karim Darwish (EGY)
5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (60m)

Women's Finals:
Nicol David (MAS) bt Vicky Botwright (ENG)
5-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-9 (44m)

Botwright To Face David In Dream Manchester World Final

2008-10-19T08:17:00.008+08:00

After consistently failing to live up to expectations on her 'home' court at the National Squash Centre in Manchester for the past ten years, Vicky Botwright provided the dream outcome for the organisers of the Hi-Tec World Open Squash Championships by earning a place in tomorrow's (Sunday) women's final in the English city.

Botwright, the 11th seed, is bidding farewell to the WISPA World Tour after taking up the position of Head Coach at the Centre. But, in the second round, the Manchester-based 31-year-old stunned the squash world by ousting Australian title-holder Rachael Grinham.

The former England number one then clinched her first appearance in the world final when higher-ranked England team-mate Jenny Duncalf retired injured after two games.

"I don't know what to say - it's unbelievable," said the jubilant Mancunian afterwards. "I thought I could beat her - but I didn't want to do it like that.

"But even if I win the title tomorrow, I will still be back at work at the centre on Monday morning!"

Duncalf, the fifth seed from Harrogate in Yorkshire, was devastated to have pulled out prematurely: "It was in the second rally of the match that something went in my right thigh - and I didn't know what to do. I took a three-minute injury break in the game, but the injury affected my movement and after two games I couldn't go on.

"I've never come off injured in my life before - it's not a great time to do it in a World Open!"

Botwright will face strong favourite Nicol David in the final. The world number one from Malaysia beat surprise opponent Madeline Perry, the 14th seed from Ireland, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 to reach her tenth successive Tour final since her shock second round defeat in the 2007 World Open a year ago in Madrid.

David acknowledged that she has raised her game over the past year: "Every tournament I play, I learn more about myself - and with this new scoring, you have to be sharp. You can't afford to lose concentration."

Later the capacity crowd in Manchester - which included two IOC delegates attending the event in the observation process for Squash's bid to become an Olympic sport in 2016 - witnessed a titanic all-Egyptian encounter in which 21-year-old Ramy Ashour beat defending champion Amr Shabana, the world No1, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7.

Ashour will now face fellow countryman Karim Darwish, after the 27-year-old from Cairo beat Australia's former champion David Palmer 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 in 46 minutes.

Men's semi-finals:
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Amr Shabana (EGY)
11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7 (63m)

Karim Darwish (EGY) bt David Palmer (AUS)
11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (46m)

Women's semi-finals:
Nicol David (MAS) bt Madeline Perry (IRL)
11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (35m)

Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
11-3, 11-6 ret. (22m)

English World Finalist Guaranteed After Duncalf Downs Grinham

2008-10-18T08:27:00.011+08:00

It was 13th time lucky for England's Jenny Duncalf in the women's quarter-finals of the Hi-Tec World Open Squash Championships when the world No5 from Yorkshire upset Dutch star Natalie Grinham to ensure the event's first English finalist for five years.

With 12 successive wins over Duncalf over the past four years, world number two Natalie Grinham was favourite to win their match en-route to her third successive appearance in the women's final.

But a resolute Duncalf, 25, from Harrogate, fought back from two games to one down to beat her Australian-born opponent 11-8, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7 in 65 minutes to reach her first world semi.

Duncalf now meets England team-mate and local star Vicky Botwright, the 31-year-old former England number one from Manchester who announced her retirement on the eve of the championships.

The 11th seed, who ousted defending champion Rachael Grinham in the previous round, continued her 'giant-killing' run by taking out seventh-seeded compatriot Alison Waters 13-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-9.

In an extraordinary match later in the day, Ireland's 14th seed Madeline Perry showed the guts that took her to six in the world over two years ago when she fought back from two games and 9-7 down to beat unseeded New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 in 66 minutes.

Hawkes, who had arrived in the first major quarter-final of her career after a shock defeat of fourth seed Natalie Grainger in the previous round, failed to convert match balls from 10-5 in the fourth.

14th seed Perry is fighting back up the rankings after suffering a serious head injury in a mugging attack in Milan exactly a year ago.

Perry will now take on Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia who recovered from 5-8 down in the first game to beat Egyptian rival Omneya Abdel Kawy 11-8, 11-1, 11-9.

Domestic interest in the men's event expired when the English trio of Nick Matthew, James Willstrop and Adrian Grantall fell at the quarter-final hurdle - leaving Australian David Palmer and three Egyptians Amr Shabana, Ramy Ashourand Karim Darwish to contest the semi-finals.

Women's quarter-finals:
Nicol David (MAS) bt Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
11-8, 11-1, 11-9 (30m)

Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL)
6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 (66m)

Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Natalie Grinham (NED)
11-8, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7 (65m)

Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Alison Waters (ENG)
13-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-9 (51m)

Pakistan squash will rise: Nicol David

2008-10-17T10:36:00.008+08:00

MANCHESTER, England: Malaysia’s world number one Nicol David believes Pakistan can regain their lost glory in world squash but need to be patient with their talented yet inexperienced players.

David, who is a hot favourite to regain the women’s World Open crown here, told ‘The News’ in an interview that she is quite impressed with the skills and talents of Pakistani youngsters Farhan Mahboob and Aamir Atlas Khan.

“Players like Farhan and Aamir can do really well in the future,” said David, nicknamed the “Duracell Bunny” because of her speed and durability.

Farhan, the reigning Pakistan number one and Aamir crashed out of the second round of the World Open squash Championship here at the Sportcity earlier this week.

It was yet another disappointing end for the Pakistani campaign in a World Open — a title that almost became their property in the glory days of legends Jahangir and Jansher Khan.

Critics back in Pakistan believe that the country’s chances of reviving its lost glory in squash are almost over but David believes that they should show more patience.

“Players need time to become the best. What I believe that Farhan and Aamir are really good but will only realise their potential once they get the required experience.”

David won the Women’s World Junior title in Belgium in June 1999 and then became the first player to claim the title for a second time — beating her Egyptian rival Omneya Abdel Kawy in the final in her home town of Penang two years later.

Since then she has scaled dizzying heights on the international circuit. Her achievements at the world level have inspired a whole generation of young Malaysians and has made squash one of the most popular sports in her native Penang.

David is confident that squash has a great future not just in Malaysia but in all of Asia. “Squash is one of the fastest growing sports in our region and I’m sure more and more players will start joining it in Asia in the coming years,” she stressed.

She pointed out that squash has made great strides in places like Hong Kong, Singapore and India and hoped that Pakistan will also soon make a successful comeback at the top.

David is hopeful that squash will make the cut for the 2016 Olympic Games.

“Squash is a great sport and it’s my dream that it joins the Olympics,” said David who has also served as a World squash federation (WSF) ambassador in its campaign for squash’s inclusion in the Olympic Games.

“It’s every squash players dream to compete in the Olympic and win a medal for his or her country,” she said. “I would love to represent Malaysia in the Olympics and win a medal there.”

David said that even if she retires before competing in the Games, she will continue to campaign for squash’s inclusion in the Olympics.

She is very confident about her chances of winning back the World Open crown. “I’m playing really well here,” she said. “It’s the World Open and I’ve trained hard for it. Hopefully I’ll win here.”

David escapes cull of World Open seeds

2008-10-17T10:16:00.006+08:00

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) — Nicol David, who aims to follow her recapture of the British Open title by regaining the World Open as well, reached the quarter-finals with a solid win over one of her most memorable adversaries.

The world number one from Malaysia was given one of her biggest shocks in the 2002 Asian Games final in Busan when she was beaten by Rebecca Chiu, but David scored a comfortable 11-3, 11-8,11-7 victory on Thursday over the Hong Kong player.

David, who has been heaped with honours in the last ten months during which she has completed more than two years at the top of the world rankings, was required to peg back a 3-6 deficit in the third game but was never under heavy pressure.

Indeed she began to find a good rhythm quite early on, by no means an easy thing because all the women have been made to play on the conventional plaster outside courts in the first round before moving to the slower, cooler, all-glass show-court.

"It's a big change," said David. "It's a lot of getting use to at the start. It's always like that with the glass - but it gets the adrenalin going because you just want to play well before the crowd.

"The corners are deader than on the side courts, so you have to work these corners. When that works your way, it's great.

"I was pleased with my game today. I managed to keep on top of it, although Rebecca got used to the court and got into it more in the third game.

"There have been a lot of surprises so far in the tournament, but you just have to play your match and keep it that way as much as possible and not look elsewhere," added David.

She was referring to the surprise defeats of Rachael Grinham, the defending champion from Australia, Natalie Grainger, the former world number one from the United States, and Shelley Kitchen, the world number six from New Zealand, who had caused the biggest upset in years by beating David in the World Open in Madrid a year ago.

This means that David's most serious remaining rival appears to be Natalie Grinham, the third-seeded younger of the two Australian sister who is representing her adopted country of The Netherlands for the first time in a World Open.

David next plays Omneya Abdel Kawy, the ninth-seeded Egyptian.

Women's 2nd round (top half of draw):
Nicol David (MAS) bt Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (24m)

Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)
21-23, 19-17, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7 (85m)

Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bt Natalie Grainger (USA)
11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8 (41m)

Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
11-5, 11-6, 11-2 (34m)

World's Top Players Pledge Support For Squash Olympic Bid

2008-10-16T11:29:00.007+08:00

The world's leading players pledged their support for the World Squash Federation's bid for Squash to become an Olympic sport by signing a declaration that "An Olympic Gold Medal Would Be The Ultimate Prize In Squash".

World number ones Amr Shabana, of Egypt, and Nicol David, from Malaysia, led the players' call for the sport to join the Olympic Games programme in 2016 at a 'Countdown to Copenhagen" reception in Manchester today (Wednesday), hosted by the WSF and led by its President Jahangir Khan, one of the sport's greatest players of all time.

Squash is one of seven sports which have been short-listed by the IOC for consideration for the 2016 Games - the decision for which will be made in Copenhagen in October 2009.

Jahangir Khan outlined the sport's Olympic credentials and the timetable of the bid process over the next twelve months.

"We have a year to ensure that we do what needs to be done to get Squash into the Olympics. All parties have to work closely, with everybody pushing hard to try to do their best to make this happen," said the six-time world champion and record ten times British Open winner.

Khan pointed out that an IOC delegation, comprising Sir Craig Reedie and Pierre Ducrey, will attend the Manchester World Championships later in the week.

The WSF President expressed his gratitude to all the players who had taken time out from the World Championships to attend the reception.

"We are delighted that all the players have signed our pledge - showing that it would be a dream come true for all players for Squash to get into the Olympics.

Read the full article, here..

SQUASH AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES: A PERFECT MATCH!

World Open Day 3&4 Highlights

2008-10-16T11:26:00.003+08:00

Visit: Squash360

Aussie world champion Grinham beaten

2008-10-16T11:09:00.009+08:00

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) — World Open champion Rachael Grinham suffered one of the most astonishing defeats of her career as her title defence ended in the second round against an opponent who is about to retire.

The second-seeded Australian was beaten 5-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 by Vicky Botwright, who has already taken up a job as head coach at the national squash centre in her home city here and is playing her last professional tournament.

"And I've never been beyond the quarter-finals here in any tournament in ten years so I don't know where this came from," said the 31-year-old world number 11, whose greatest publicity had previously come from modelling a thong at the British Open, a decision she later regretted.

But the former England number one has always enjoyed playing against Grinham, giving little pace for the lob-and-drop specialist from Toowomba to feed off. "She's a brilliant player, but I just like playing her," Botwright said.

Grinham gave credit to Botwright's fine performance but criticised the point-a-rally scoring which is being used in the women's World Open for the first time.

"I am struggling with that," Grinham said. "You start the game and feel like it is half over very quickly. You can't play yourself into the game - it's panic mode immediately.

"It's like oh my god, the game is almost over. I think it's going to take six months to get over it," she added.

Grinham's preparation has also been disrupted by the need to change her training base from Cairo, where she has been for five years, to Amsterdam, where her sister Natalie, the number three seed, lives. The move has not been completed.

Her defeat may give further confidence to Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia, who is trying to win back the World Open title, having already regained the British Open from Rachael Grinham five months ago in Liverpool.

David has had a rest day and will restart her challenge with a second round match against Rebecca Chiu of Hongkong on Thursday.

Botwright's shock success has guaranteed a home semi-finalist because she next plays Alison Waters, the British national champion, in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Earlier Natalie Grinham suffered no such alarms as her sister, reaching the quarter-finals by beating Annie Au of Hongkong 11-6, 11-7, 11-4. She now plays Jenny Dincalf, the British Open finalist from England.

Women's 2nd round (lower half of draw):
[5] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [12] Kasey Brown (AUS)
11-8, 11-2, 13-11 (33m)

[3] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [Q] Annie Au (HKG)
11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (27m)

[7] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [15] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)
11-3, 11-1, 11-7 (25m)

[11] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [2] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
5-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 (47m)

--Photos by Fritz Borchert

Nicol through to Round Two

2008-10-15T11:48:00.004+08:00

Main draw action in the women's World Open got underway today with world number one Nicol David confidently beginning her bid to reclaim the title she lost last year by crushing compatriot Sharon Wee 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 in just 19 minutes. David now goes on to face Asian rival Rebecca Chiu, the 13th seed from Hong Kong who recovered from two games down to beat England's Lauren Briggs 8-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.

Australia's defending champion Rachael Grinham also had an untroubled passage through to the last sixteen, beating New Zealander Louise Crome 11-7, 11-6, 11-2.

But there were two significant first round upsets which deprived Mexican number one Samantha Teran and former world champion Vanessa Atkinson of second round places. Teran, the 16th seed crashed out to rising star Annie Au, a 19-year-old qualifier from Hong Kong who took 36 minutes to earn her 11-5, 11-4, 3-11, 11-5 upset.

New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes caused Atkinson's downfall, resisting a fight back by the 10th seed from the Netherlands to win 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12, 11-5 in 56 minutes.

Malaysian juniors Low Wee Wern and Delia Arnold both reached their goal of qualifying for the Main Draw but crashed out in Round One. While unseeded Hisham Ashour upset tenth seed Ong Beng Hee, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9-- leaving Datuk Nicol as the last Malaysian standing.

Men's 2nd Round
Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (40m)

Women's 1st Round
Nicol David (MAS) bt Sharon Wee (MAS)
11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (19m)

Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS)
11-5, 11-13, 11-4, 13-11 (79m)

Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt Delia Arnold (MAS)
11-7, 11-7, 11-4 (32m)

David the famous starts in obscurity

2008-10-15T11:39:00.005+08:00

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) — Nicol David, arguably the most honoured squash player of all time, found herself on an outside court while starting her bid to regain the World Open title on Tuesday.

David began with a comfortable 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 win over Sharon Wee, her fellow Malaysian, on a conventional plaster court, which means she will have to adapt to the totally different all-glass show court when she plays her second round on Thursday.

It was a weirdly, low-key beginning for a player who in recent months has been awarded two rare and highly-prestigious awards in Malaysia, the Order of Merit and the title of Datuk, as well as becoming Asian sportswoman of the year and being world number one for more than two years consecutively.

"I was just expecting anything when I came to the tournament," David said, when she was questioned about this. "It's men and women together at this tournament so you just have to see.

"It's difficult to start off on the outside courts, but you just have to expect these things to happen. You just have to play your game and not think about it.

"But it would be great to have some of the girls on (the show court) with the guys so people can see both straight away in the first round. It's just a matter of organising times."

David will get a chance to practise on the slower all-glass court with spectators looking in on all four sides instead of just through the back wall, before playing her second round against Rebecca Chiu, the world number 14 from Hong Kong.

Four Malaysians in the Main Draw

2008-10-14T11:09:00.010+08:00

The world's leading players from more than 30 countries are competing in the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008, the first ever joint staging of the Men's World Open and Women's World Open in the UK.

Manchester City Council Head of Leisure Eamonn O'Rourke welcomed the crowds in the centre at the official Opening Ceremony. "This is Manchester's sixth world championships this year and we're delighted to be hosting the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships."

In highlighting the significance of Squash in the city, O'Rourke pointed out that "there are 6,000 kids who are part of the Manchester Squash Development Programme."

After reigning world champions Amr Shabana and Rachael Grinham, of Australia, handed over the official World Squash Federation flag to England captains Lee Beachill and Vicky Botwright, England Squash Chairman Zena Wooldridge declared the championships open.

Men's 1st round:
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Tom Richards (ENG)
11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8 (70m)

Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS)
12-14, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (59m)

Women's qualifying finals:
Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG)
8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-3 (52m)

Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND)
4-11, 12-14, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 (67m)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malaysians in the Men's 2nd round & Women's 1st round draw:
Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)
Nicol David (MAS) v Sharon Wee (MAS)
Kasey Brown (AUS) v Low Wee Wern (MAS)
Shelley Kitchen (NZL) v Delia Arnold (MAS)

Coach: Nicol will be under pressure to live up to top billing

2008-10-14T11:01:00.002+08:00

World number one Nicol David has adapted well to the 11-point scoring system and will start as the overwhelming favourite to win a third World Open title in the championships starting today in Manchester.

The Penangite won her first title in 2005 in Hong Kong and retained it the following year in Belfast. But last year, she suffered a shock second-round defeat by Shelley Kitchen of New Zealand in Madrid.

National chief coach Jamie Hickox said that he saw no reason for Nicol not regaining the title.

“Nicol has been in excellent form this year and she has been unbeaten in 38 matches.

“She has also adapted very well to the new scoring system (which was introduced in the Malaysian Open in July),’’ said the 44-year-old Canadian.

Nicol, who is based in Amsterdam, has won seven Wispa (Women’s International Squash Players Association) titles this year €” the Apawamis, Kuala Lumpur Open, British Open, Seoul Open, Malaysia Open, Singapore Masters and Dutch Open.

But Hickox felt that Nicol will be under pressure to live up to her top billing.

“There are five or six players who have been training very hard to get the better of Nicol. And Nicol should stay focussed and take one match at a time,’’ he said.

The top seeded Nicol has in her half of the draw world number four Natalie Grainger of America.
She will start against team-mate Sharon Wee and is expected to meet Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong in the second round.

In the same quarter is eight seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro of England, whom Nicol needed five sets to beat in the quarter-finals of the Dutch Open.

Defending champion Rachael Grinham of Australia is the seeded second while her younger sister, Natalie, who now represents Holland is the third seed.

Malaysians in the Qualifiers

2008-10-13T12:20:00.008+08:00

Ford, from Kent, beat higher-ranked Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan - then announced that his first ever appearance in the world's most prestigious event may be his last on the professional tour.

The 33-year-old world number 89 from Welling, fought back from a game down to despatch Adnan - ranked 30 places higher - 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 in 66 minutes to claim a place in the World Open main draw for the first time.

Sarah Kippax survived an all-Cheshire clash to claim a place in the qualifying finals of the Women's World Open. The Chester-born 25-year-old is the event's 'Official Ambassador', who faced Cheshire county team-mate Laura Mylotte in the first qualifying round.

Lauren Siddall and Suzie Pierrepont will also be taking English interest through to the women's qualifying finals. Siddall, 23, from Pontefract in Yorkshire, beat Sweden's Anna-Carin Forstadius 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 and will now take on USA's Latasha Khan for a place in the main draw. Sussex player Pierrepont, who is now based in Philadelphia, USA, recovered from a game down to beat Hong Kong's Joey Chan 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 and will now meet Malaysian Low Wee Wern.

Men's qualifying finals:

Ben Ford (ENG) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)

10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (66m)

Women's 1st qualifying round:

Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Amelia Pittock (AUS)

11-9, 11-3, 11-8 (27m)

Delia Arnold (MAS) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE)

11-5, 11-4, 12-10 (26m)

David targets World Open rebirth

2008-10-13T12:10:00.005+08:00

MANCHESTER: Malaysia golden girl Nicol David, having recaptured her British Open title, now has her sights set on taking back her World Open crown here this week.

Buoyed by being conferred with the honour of Datuk, an ultra-prestigious award given only to the worthiest Malaysian citizens, David is riding a wave of optimism.

She regained the British Open from Rachael Grinham at Liverpool in May, and now she is hot favourite to win back the World Open, also from the Australian, when the women's event begins here on Tuesday.

Asked whether, during her first World Open as a Datuk, her new title might deflect her mind, the 25-year-old David said: "I shall try to use it."

David also became Asian Sportswoman of the Year in December, shortly before becoming WISPA Tour's player of the year for the third successive time.

At the same time her sequence as world number has extended beyond two years and her tally of WISPA Tour titles reached 28, more than any other active female player.

No wonder David feels everything has changed since last October in Madrid when she lost the world title at the second round stage in bouncy, oven-hot conditions with defeat by Shelley Kitchen, the hard-hitting New Zealander.

"It is a different situation now," David said. "You learn so much from what happens in a year. And you put things in place. That's what experience is all about.

"You don't take all the losses out of context. You use it for what you can do in future tournaments, and this year I have got my game up," David said, referring to the attacking options she has been trying to integrate into her fleet-footed game.

All the Best to.. Team Malaysia!

2008-10-11T12:00:00.004+08:00

In the Main Draw:
1. Nicol David
Datuk Nicol is the World Number One and two time World Champion. Nicol won her first British Open crown in September and her maiden World title in Hong Kong in December 2005. Further World Open success came in Belfast in 2006 and two more British Open titles in 2006 and 2008. Nicol is expected to meet fellow Malaysian Sharon Wee in the 1st Round.

2. Sharon Wee

Malacca-born Sharon is currently ranked 22 in the world. The 31-year old's reached her highest world ranking in December 2006, ranked at 18. Sharon last played at the Enschede Open in September where she was ousted by England's Sarah Kippax in the semi-finals. The Malaysian No.2 female player is expected to meet compatriot Nicol David in the 1st Round.

3. Ong Beng Hee
Ong Beng Hee is one of Malaysia's most successful squash players of all-time. In August 1998, the then 18-year-old young Penangite was world junior champion in the USA – an achievement which made him the first non-Pakistani Asian to claim the world junior title. Beng Hee reached the world No.7 ranking in 2001 and is currently ranked at No.10. He won a silver medal in the mixed doubles at the 2002 Commonwealth Games partnering Nicol David. The Malaysian will play englishman Tom Richards in Round One.

4. Mohd. Azlan Iskandar
London based Azlan Iskandar joined the Professional Squash Association(PSA) in the year 2000 and is currently No.12 in the World Rankings. The 26 year-old Eurasian in coached by Neil Harvey and Peter Genever, and is eagerly working to break into the World top-10. Azlan is seeded to face New Zealand's Kashif Shuja in the 1st Round, set to be held on the 13th of October at the Manchester National Squash Center.

Malaysians in the Qualifiers:

Low Wee Wern

Delia Arnold

Nafiizwan Adnan

Nafzahizam Adnan

Nicol David criticises squash scoring system

2008-10-10T21:35:00.010+08:00

World number one Nicol David has criticised proposals made to the World Squash Federation which would impose a professional scoring system upon the whole sport.

The WSF is said to be considering making everyone play with the point-a-rally 11-up scoring used by the two pro tours, believing it would make squash easier to understand and establish unity for its Olympic bid.

But David - now a Datuk, a rare and highly prestigious title bestowed upon outstanding Malaysian citizens - believes it would be a mistake to abandon the traditional hand in hand-out scoring used for more than 80 years.

Asked if there was a risk of such a change producing very short matches, David replied: "Yes, definitely. Normal scoring would be so much better for the juniors and grass roots.

"The game is all about how to come back when you are down. It's never over till it's over: the essence of the normal scoring.

"But with American (point a rally) scoring you will get less fightbacks.That would be such a shame and I really hope it doesn't go that way."

David, who is a strong favourite to regain the title at next week's World Open in Manchester after topping the rankings for 26 consecutive months, also has doubts about the effects of the point-a-rally scoring upon the women's professional game.

The new system was only adopted by the WISPA Tour in July, copying the PSA (men's) tour, and will be used for the first time in a world championship here.

"It's a big change," David said. "Having established women's squash at such a good level with the normal scoring, and changing it to American scoring, it's a bit difficult for most girls to have to adapt straight away.

"But in the end you have to deal with what's going on. Hopefully the quality of what we produced with nine-point scoring will transfer to American scoring.

"But there are some variations in our matches now. Some top players don't like it. Somehow we have to adapt. It could be disruptive."

Rachael Grinham, who will defend the world title against David's challenge, is also unsure how the new scoring will affect the women's professional game.

"I wasn't keen on the change in the beginning but I understand it was inevitable really so I've been trying to look at the positive sides of it," the Australian said.

"I agree that it makes it more interesting from a spectator's point of view, although it's only because it makes so many games much closer - I don't think it makes the actual squash more interesting.

"That's down to the players you watch; the scoring system will never make a difference there.

"From a player's point of view, it's taking a bit to get used to. I'm finding myself quite unsure a lot of the time as to how to play, whether to attack or play safe.

"So I think it's going to take a good six months to settle into it. I'm still getting used to it and need to play a little more to form an opinion."

The chief executive of women's tour (WISPA), Andrew Shelley, was also critical of point-a-rally scoring being imposed on the whole sport. But he thinks it is good for the women's tour.
"We spent 16 months testing it, and we knew there would be disadvantages," Shelley said. "If someone has a long lead, the chances of recovering are reduced (with point-a-rally), but if a match is close the scoring adds a frisson of excitement. So overall it works.

"But we wouldn't advocate it for the game as a whole," he emphasised, referring to the WSF's forthcoming decision. "Pro scoring, as we prefer to call it, works for the leading players. We wouldn't advocate for the general public."

Huge demand means finals already sold out

2008-10-10T09:52:00.005+08:00

Tickets for the men’s and women’s finals of The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 on Sunday 19th October have sold out with only limited numbers of seats still available for the semi-finals.

Demand for tickets to the Championships, which get underway this Saturday (11th October) with the qualifying rounds which are free to the public, have also resulted in all hospitality packages for the finals being sold out.

With both the men’s and women’s World Opens running concurrently at the National Squash Centre in Manchester’s Sportcity, the nine day tournament will see the leading 64 men and top 32 women in action in what promises to be the biggest squash tournament ever staged.

Amr Shabana of Egypt and Nicol David of Malaysia will be favourites to retain their titles but there will be no shortage of home grown players on show with no fewer than 17 British players guaranteed to line up for the knock out stages, and tickets are still available to see all the action up to and including the semi-finals but fans are advised to purchase soon as numbers are becoming limited.

There will also be a strong presence of players from the north west, including National Squash Centre coach and world number 12 Vicky Botwright, who will be retiring from the elite level after the Championships and Cheshire’s Sarah Kippax, the official ambassador of The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships.

Photos: The showcourt and seating being set up in the main arena

Videos from Nicol's past World Opens

2008-10-09T06:15:00.005+08:00

Hong Kong 2005- Youngest in squash history and first-ever Asian World Champion

Belfast 2006- 4th person in history to retain the World Championship

Madrid 2007- Nicol is eliminated by Shelley Kitchen in the 1st Round

Also: First Round of WWO 2007

Manchester 2008- Nicol is out to win her 3rd World Open! All hail Queen Nicol!!

For more videos of Nicol, click here.
For more squash related videos, click here.

Telegraph Increases Coverage

2008-10-08T12:00:00.004+08:00

With squash coverage in the mainstream press often relegated to the small print of the sports results section, it was promising to see that the Telegraph appears to be bucking the trend - at least online.

The squash page on its website has started to carry regular updates, written by journalist Rod Gilmour ...

The page appears to be carrying features and interviews - as well as news updates - and will hopefully boost interest amongst the readership in the run-up to the World Squash Championships in Manchester later this month.

Daily Telegraph squash page

--SquashBlog

Top Players Drive Demand at Squash Worlds

2008-10-07T06:08:00.009+08:00

Official Release
Issued by iSPORTmedia

Squash’s biggest stars are proving to be a massive draw for The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 with tickets selling out fast as the world’s best men and women prepare to battle it out at the National Squash Centre from 11th October – 19th October.

Defending Champions Amr Shabana and Nicol David have been seeded to regain their titles but there will be plenty of home interest for the Manchester crowds with 12 British men, including world number 3 James Willstrop, in the main draw and no fewer than six women, led by Harrogate’s Jenny Duncalf, guaranteed to line up in the women’s main draw.

With very few tickets remaining for the final weekend and all other days selling fast, hopeful spectators are advised not to delay or face disappointment in missing out on the squash spectacular of the year.

Popular demand has seen an Economy Season Ticket launched for the first time, allowing spectators access to all nine sessions of the event for the specially reduced rate of just £36 for adults (standard rate for all nine session is £70) and £18 for juniors (standard rate for all nine sessions is £47.50).

The tickets will be valid from Monday 13th October through to the thrilling finals day on Sunday 19th October when the world’s best male and female players will be battling it out for the title of World Champion.

Player of the Year Award Nominees

2008-10-06T12:00:00.007+08:00

PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

2008 Nominees

WISPA Players of the Year 2008

WISPA PLAYER OF YEAR

Nicol David (MAS)

Shelley Kitchen (NZL)

Madeline Perry (IRL)

Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)

Samantha Teran (MEX)

WISPA YOUNG PLAYER

Annie Au (HKG)

Nour El Tayeb (EGY)

Heba El Torky (EGY)

Low Wee Wern (MAS)

Dipika Pallikal (IND)

WISPA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Delia Arnold (MAS)

Kasey Brown (AUS)

Louise Crome (NZL)

Line Hansen (DEN)

Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG)

PSA Players of the Year 2008

PSA PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Ramy Ashour

Amr Shabana

James Willstrop

PSA YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Aamir Atlas Khan

Omar Mosad

Tarek Momen

Alphabetical Order.

--Squash Player

Nicol @ Internazionali di Squash di Roma

2008-10-04T18:24:00.014+08:00

Datuk Nicol was present at the Internazionali Di Squash Di Roma which was held from the 27th to 29th of June. Team NDOnline would like to thank Mr. Massimiliano for the following translation:

"The competitive Amateur Squash Association RSC, legally affiliated with the Italian Squash Games Federation of 1988, with the intent of offering a prestigious showcase in Lazio and Italy, an overwhelming world of squash and a new experience for sport fans, is proud to present the first meeting of the Squash Internationals of Rome 2008, which takes place June 27, 28, 29 at the Roman Sport Center, via del Ga0loppatoio 33, within the confines of Villa Borghese.
In the presence of international and italian Squash players it will be possible to take part in a spectacular high level competition, in an event that draws attention to a fascinating sport that is growing in public interest. It is with great pride and satisfaction for the Society and the Roman Sport Center that, united by a competitive association established over the course of more than twenty years, they prepare to give a thrust to the Italian squash movement by way of new and challenging programs, offering the public an international event wherein the squash elite, for the first time at a roman venue, will give a symbolic seal officially recognizing the Italian Squash Games Federation, on the part of CONI."

The event, held at the Roman Sport Center, ended with Nicol David and Stephan Galifi as the winners.

Malaysian Nicol David showed some world-class action when she defeated Ireland's Madeline Perry 3-0. Both players maintained a strong pace throughout the game, with Madeline leading 8-6 in the second set, but faced difficulty in winning the set with her opponent's precision. Nicol David accelerated the game even further in the third set, showcasing an exceptional level of squash.

The final score: 11/8, 11/8, 11/7

In the final for third place saw a clash between Danish Line Hansen and Ellen Hamborg. The hard-fought game ended with Line Hansen winning 3-1.

The men's finals saw an exhausting five sets between Frenchman Stephan Galifi, who prevailed on Danish Rasmus Nielsen.

The final score: 11/9, 11/5, 8/11, 9/11, 14/12

The men's finals for the third place with Italian champion Andrea Torricini against Andrea Capella could not be contested due to an arm injury by one of the players.

The event received much media attention, esp. with the added participation of World No.1 Nicol David. News clippings of the event can be found here.

The content of this post was obtained from RomanInternazionaliSquash and translated by NicolDavidOnline. We would once again like to thank Mr. Massimiliano for his generous contributions.

Natalie Grinham climbs above sister Rachael

2008-10-01T16:12:00.003+08:00

Nicol David's position as world No 1 may look untenable, but the fight for second is hotting up with the World Open in Manchester approaching.

The Malaysian has held top spot for over two years while in recent months Natalie and Rachael Grinham have taken sibling rivalry to a new level.

The latest rankings show that Natalie has reclaimed second spot after older sister Rachael overtook the recently-turned Dutch national last month. It is the third time in successive months the pair have changed ranking.

USA's Natalie Grainger retains fourth, ahead of England's Jenny Duncalf. Harrogate-based Duncalf, seeded five for Manchester, heads four English players who have been seeded for the women's event.

They include reigning National Champion Alison Waters, who has raced up the rankings in recent months.

Waters was in 11th two months ago, but now sits high in sixth after the 24-year-old claimed a surprise semi-final berth in the Dutch Open afterbeating Rachael Grinham.

Meanwhile, the World Open draw sees David top-seeded to win her third title. She will be desperately keen to avoid her blip in Madrid last year when she lost to New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen in the last 16.

It was the first time she had failed to make the quarter finals of a WISPA tour event since April 2004.

An IOC delegate is expected to attend the event in Manchester as squash begins a year of frantic activity to get on the Olympic agenda ahead of a vote in Copenhagen next October.

The global appeal is clearly evident in the women's event with the top 16 seeds represented by 11 countries.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

2008-09-28T21:02:00.003+08:00

To all Malaysians celebrating Hari Raya, we say Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir & Batin.

Kepada Muslimin dan Muslimat, semoga Lebaran ini dipenuhi rahmat dan kebahagiaan untuk kita semua, dan semoga bumi Malaysia terus dikurniakan keamanan dan kesejahteraan.

From all of us here at NicolDavidOnline, Thank You for your continued support.

Squash360.com Dunlop Competition

2008-09-26T06:19:00.009+08:00

Dunlop is giving you the chance to win the Official World Squash Championship's Racket!

All you have to do is answer: 'Where in England is the training base of World number 31 ranked player Sarah Kippax'

If you think you know where Sarah's club is, then please send your answer to: squash360@gmail dot com

Winners will be announced during the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships in October.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Video Interviews with James & Sarah from Media Day

2008-09-20T21:28:00.014+08:00

Hi-Tec World Squash Championships

Media Day
Manchester, England
** Video Interviews **

Squash360 correspondent James Poole attended the Hi-Tec World Squash Championship’s Media Day at the National Squash Centre in Manchester on Thursday.

Be sure and check out James' videos with:
James Willstrop - World #3
Nick Rider - CEO of England Squash
Sarah Kippax - World #31, Tournament Ambassador

Liz Irving: Great the way it is

2008-09-19T23:26:00.004+08:00

Liz Irving, a former world no.2, one of the sport’s top coaches and coach to World Champion Nicol David is critical of the WISPA move to PAR 11

"Why does the club player get addicted to this wonderful game of squash? I have had a racket in my hand for 41 years – from the age of two – and I still love the game! I love what it stands for and what it gives you as a person. You learn so much about yourself as you struggle away: how to control your emotions, solve problems and deal with pressure. You are forever learning how to better yourself.

The women’s game over the last 20 years has been all about building credibility. The men in ‘my’ day did not want a women’s event attached to their events. We were the poor relations and were put under a lot of pressure to follow the men’s way of scoring (PAR to 15) – or we wouldn’t even have events in certain countries.

Later we decided as a group that this didn’t enhance our game or give us TV exposure or generate more top women's events. We felt that the time had come to stand alone and not be put on the back courts at men’s events. On top of that we believed that traditional scoring was the best way to ensure the quality of matches.

Today, I think the women’s game is great the way it is. The length of matches is right and the women are supporting their own events well. With traditional scoring it is always possible for there to be a great comeback. How satisfying it is to come back from 8/0 down and win a game ... especially the fifth! And on the other hand, how soul destroying it is to lose those matches. This is what makes great squash.

In all sports you have the defender and the attacker. Traditional scoring allows this to hold true for squash. You see a game develop strategically. You also see players rewarded with a point for good strategy.

Men are and always will be at a completely different physical level from women and shortening the women's matches will, I feel, detract from their credibility as athletes and generally. It will make the sport look easy – and who wants to travel to watch a ten-minute match, whether it be a first round or a final?

I also feel that PAR to 11 scoring will lower the quality of the game, as it will be hard sometimes to see any substance in a match. I have seen many of the top players throw games or matches when there is no chance of recovering a deficit – which certainly does not go down well with the paying public.

I find it hard to believe that people cannot understand the simple concept of winning a point when you are the server. Squash is an intelligent sport and there is nothing better than playing in front of an understanding, articulate crowd.

The aim of a unified scoring system seems to be to get squash into the Olympics in perhaps eight years’ time, which I would love to see. But if the move to pro scoring does not achieve Olympic status for squash, enhance the women's tour, improve credibility, increase worldwide exposure or guarantee top-level events, then I hope we can revert to traditional scoring before all that we worked for is lost!"

Liz Irving

--Interview by Squash Player

Run-up to the 2008 World Open..

2008-09-18T16:02:00.018+08:00

The World Open is set to take place in one of the world's liveliest cities this coming October. And fans of Nicol David here at her No.1 fansite have no intention of missing out on the fun!

So keep following NicolDavidOnline.com for the build-up and excitement of the WWO 2008!

Jericho Squash Commandments ... Thou Shalt Not

2008-09-18T16:02:00.017+08:00

From Jericho Tennis Club
With thanks to Shauna Flath

THOU SHALT NOT…

1. Arrive late to your match, leave the court without thanking your opponent & shaking han

ds, or fail to buy beer(s) when in a losing position.

2. Challenge your opponents’ retrievals or “gets” or neglect to call your own double bounces, out of court shots, and carries.

3. Wear street shoes on a squash court or wear squash shoes outside.

4. Shout or curse on court or in ear shot of your opponent &/or hit your racquet on the wall or floor.

5. Expect a let/stroke without requesting a let, hit a bad shot & ask for a let, or repeatedly fail to clear.

6. Stall excessively between points & between games.

7. Hit more than 50% of the warm up shots to your side of the court (max 2 shots and hit to opponent).

8. Employ an excessive swing, and neglect to attempt to reduce it.

9. Leave towels, old grips, food wrappers or other refuse outside the court.

10. Wear perfume, cologne or unwashed smelly clothes on court.

11. Both players must be present to access the court when the court is occupied.

Visit: Squash360

A third for Nicol?

2008-09-16T00:05:00.007+08:00

Nicol David Seeded To Win Third World Open Title In Manchester

Malaysia’s Nicol David has been seeded to win her third World Open title at The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 which will run from 11-19 October at the National Squash Centre in the English city of Manchester.

The 25-year-old has been the dominant force in women’s squash since winning the first of her successive World Opens in 2005 - but suffered a shock defeat to New Zealand’s Shelley Kitchen in the second round last year, which was the first time she had failed to make the quarter-finals of a WISPA World Tour event since April 2004.

David, who was honoured earlier this year with a Datukship by her native country, bounced straight back to form and has won all nine Tour events she has played in since and has gone on to extend her stay at the world number one position for a remarkable 26 straight months.

The Penang-based star will play fellow Malaysian Sharon Wee in the opening round and is seeded to meet England’sLaura Lengthorn-Massaro (seeded 8) in the quarter-finals before a potential clash with America’s number four seed Natalie Grainger in the semi-finals.

Defending champion Rachael Grinham from Australia has been seeded two to recapture the title which she won in the first all-sister World Open final in Madrid last October when overcoming Natalie Grinham in straight games.

Showing the enormous global appeal of women’s squash, no fewer than eleven countries are represented among the top 16 seeds (Malaysia, Hong Kong, England, Egypt, USA, Netherlands, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Mexico and France) with England having the strongest representation with four seeds, followed by Australia and the Netherlands who have two each.

Tickets for The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008, which will see both the men’s and women’s events staged together for the first time ever in England, are now available at the official website www.worldsquash2008.com and include a special season ticket which gives admission to all nine sessions.

Datuk Nicol David interview with Football Crazy

2008-09-09T14:32:00.002+08:00

Exclusive from NicolDavidOnline.com

Dutch Open Squash 2008 Finals

2008-09-08T21:22:00.002+08:00

Malaysian Nicol guns for Olympic inclusion

2008-09-08T14:30:00.008+08:00

Squash has every reason to be part of the Olympic Games, Nicol David says, and the world number one plans to muster all her influence to ensure that outcome.

The International Olympic Committee will decide next October whether up to two new sports will be included in the 2016 Games and squash along with golf, rugby, karate, baseball, softball and rollersports are in full election mode.

Malaysian Nicol lobbied hard but unsuccessfully in 2005 for the sport's inclusion at London 2012 and is determined to see squash admitted next time round.

"It's very disappointing not having squash in the Olympics because it's the pinnacle for any athlete in every sport to be associated with the Olympic Games," the 25-year-old told Reuters.

"I say squash has every reason to be amongst the other racket sports in the Olympic Games and I'm sure in the future hopefully squash will get that opportunity."

Tennis, badminton and table tennis all feature in the modern Olympics.

Olympic inclusion would help squash gain the funding it needs to progress, Nicol said.

"Hopefully, if squash gets into the Olympics, more countries will have the proper backing from their sports councils to get funding for the sport itself in their country," she said in an email interview.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT
"We also need a lot more media attention and to make it (more) visual on TV for people to follow the sport."

Nicol on Sunday won her seventh consecutive Women's International Squash Players Association (Wispa) title with victory in the Dutch Open final in Amsterdam.

She said it was possible to make a living from the sport.

"It's reasonably fine for the top 20 players to work with the prize money from tournaments but funding from the government and sponsors are essential to keep maintaining their position in the rankings for the rest of the other players outside the top 20.

"At the moment every squash player is doing their part in trying to promote the sport and to gain recognition in the world."

Playing in the Olympics would cap a remarkable career.

"That would be truly the highlight of my career ... representing Malaysia in the Olympics and being among the best athletes in the world in their respective sports," Nicol said.

Forexx Dutch Open Day 2 - John White and Nicol David

2008-09-07T11:32:00.002+08:00

Nicol's Forexx Dutch Open Day 1 Highlights

2008-09-05T21:02:00.003+08:00

Interesting action at 2:10minutes

Happy Birthday Nicol!

2008-09-01T11:37:00.005+08:00

The idea of sending a birthday gift from the fans at NicolDavidOnline.com to Nicol David has been around for quite some time. 10 years ago, myself and a few fans made arrangements with Hitz.fm (at that time Hitz FM) Morning Crew (at that time lil kev and fly guy if I’m not wrong) to wish Happy Birthday to Nicol on-air.

And now 10 years later, the distance factor between Malaysia and Netherlands has limit us to only a few options as far as sending a gift for her birthday. We thank all the fans for many great suggestions and ideas that we received and finally we decided to keep it simple and order flowers online. You can’t go wrong with flowers, can you?

A day before her birthday, WMsiew and myself went online to scout for “Orange-looking Tulips” to reflect the colour of our ‘Home’ (NicolDavidOnline.com). We ended up getting these flowers:

The order form:

We have requested the florist to take photos of the flowers with our message on the card but unfortunately after ordering, the florist went into silent. Few emails went unanswered and that explains why I got worried and feared that the flowers will never arrive.

The good news came in this morning when Nicol herself, went to our Fan Forum and left a message that is very identical to our wishes on the flowers’ card. “From Azuan, Wei Mei and ffans at NicolDavidOnline.com”. We have verified that the below “Nicol” is really Nicol David :) Ladies and Gentleman, congratulations for all your hard work and loyalty to NicolDavidOnline.com, Nicol appreciates it!

Let us all continue to be active and plan for more future activities! Cheers all

Changing Malaysia: Athletes

2008-09-01T10:35:00.003+08:00

The Star's Merdeka Special focuses on Malaysian athletes and the Government's efforts in encouraging them to pursue sports. Two-time world squash champion Nicol David and rhythmic gymnast Brenda Yap share their views with Rajes Paul.

Flashback- Forexx Dutch Open 2007

2008-08-28T02:45:00.004+08:00

Agong hands out awards to 297

2008-08-21T12:06:00.005+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin yesterday conferred awards on 297 people at Istana Negara in conjunction with his birthday on June 2.

Heading the list was national squash queen and world number one women's squash player Datuk Nicol Ann David, 24, who was the sole recipient of the Darjah Bakti award.

It is the nation's highest sporting award and only 10 people have received it since it was introduced in 1975.

"I am so happy. This award motivates me further to scale greater heights and if given the opportunity, I look forward to helping more Malaysians to seek excellence in squash," Nicol said after the investiture.

Full article here.

NGWA Datuk Nicol's field mission to the Gombak Forest Reserve

2008-08-21T09:43:00.012+08:00

Exclusive from NicolDavidOnline.comUNDP National Goodwill Ambassador(NGWA), Datuk Nicol David, visited the Gombak Forest Reserve to learn first hand about the Conservation of Biological Diversity through Improved Forest Planning Tools project, which seeks to develop better economic and ecological tools for improved forest management.

Datuk Nicol David inspecting a moth trap with researcher Anthony, who is from the Philippines. Anthony designed the moth trap to be portable and to be able to turn on automatically at night.

The team visiting the Temuan village

The project team at camp

Colours of Sweat by Hasnee A. Rahman

2008-08-19T09:03:00.006+08:00

Hasnee A. Rahman started painting elaborate pictures at the tender age of 9, a time when most of his friends were playing catch.

Now 46, the artist can look back on a prolific career in art.

The public can visit an exhibition of his works, themed "Colours of Sweat", at the New Straits Times Press Bhd main lobby from Aug 4 to 29.Aside from displaying Hasnee's great artistic skill, the exhibition also highlights his other passion -- sports.

"This particular theme depicts not only my love for sports but also the struggle I endured throughout my life to become an artist," said Hasnee, who dabbled in 13 professions before settling on his main love of art 10 years ago.
Hasnee has excelled in both art and sports as he represented Malaysia in cycling at the Asia Cycling Championship and the World Junior Cycling Championship in Italy.

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, he finished seventh out of 40 contestants in the "Olympic Art and Sport" competition.His series of "sport paintings" is now among the permanent collection of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Hasnee's pieces in "Colours of Sweat" will be retailing for between RM3,000 and RM77,000 each.

Consistency. The mark of a true champion.

2008-08-15T21:00:00.001+08:00

Congratulations Datuk Nicol David on winning the CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championships and CIMB Singapore Women's Squash Masters 2008. Six titles this year. Oh, how every Malaysian wishes you could compete in the Beijing Olympics!

Sponsored by: CIMB Group

Datuk Nicol at the launch of CIMB Cafe Banking

2008-08-14T14:14:00.006+08:00

CIMB Bank Bhd plans to invest RM3 million to RM5 million over the next two years to roll out 10 more “eat & bank” cafe outlets in the Klang Valley, Penang and Malacca.

Its head of consumer sales and distribution, Sulaiman Mohd Tahir, said the 10 cafe banking outlets will offer a new banking and dining experience to its customers.

“It will cost us RM300,000 to RM500,000 to set up a branch depending on the location and size,” he told reporters after the launch of CIMB Bank’s first cafe banking outlet in partnership with premier white coffee producer, OldTown White Coffee, in Kuala Lumpur today.

Sulaiman said CIMB Bank’s cafe banking will offer customers the convenience of carrying out their banking activities and enjoying the experience of having their OldTown White Coffee meals or drinks in one location.

The outlet was launched by squash champion Datuk Nicol David, CIMB Group chief executive Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and his wife Datin Seri Azlina Aziz as well as OldTown White Coffee’s managing director, Lee Siew Heng.

Related: CIMB to invest RM5mil in cafe banking outlets
CIMB plans 10 cafe banking outlets