Dunlop Appointed Official Racket & Ball Supplier

May 2008
For the Full Version: http://www.squashweb.nl/cms/nieuws/nl_squash_nieuws/dunlop_sponsor_van_forexx_dutch_open.html ____



Leading British sports brand Dunlop has been appointed as 'Official Ball & Racket Supplier’ of the 2008 Forexx Dutch Open, continental Europe’s biggest squash championship this year. The Forexx Dutch Open Squash 2008 will be staged at the beginning of the new squash season at the renowned Frans Otten Stadion in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, from 2-7 September. The event will feature a US$53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold championship and a PSA Tour 3 star tournament boasting a US$30,000 prize-fund.

Tommy Berden, tournament director for event organisers Next Events, said: “We are delighted to have secured the support of Dunlop. Over the last two years we have developed a great relationship with the worlds leading brand as we are both committed to developing squash. To have them on board again is great news for the Forexx Dutch Open and we’re very excited at the prospect of working closely with Dunlop during the build up to the tournament.”

With a total prize fund of US$83,500 - a rise of more than 30% compared to last year - the Forexx Dutch Open 2008 is sure to attract the world’s best players to the capital of the Netherlands. Among them will be Dunlop sponsored players Dylan Bennett, Margriet Huisman, Dutch based ‘Aussie’ Bradley Hindle and British Champion Alison Waters, as well as the female’s world number one Nicol David, the newly Dutch world number two Natalie Grinham and 3-time Dutch national champion Laurens Jan Anjema, currently ranked 17th on the PSA World Rankings. Other participants will be announced at a later stage, closer to entry deadline (August 5).

Tickets for the Forexx Dutch Open 2008 are now available exclusively on the event’s website www.dutchopensquash.nl.

Nicol David @ British Open 2008

Nicol Crowned 2007 National Sportswoman

May 14, 2008

For the full version: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_sports.php?id=332836

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Kien Keat-Boon Heong, Nicol Crowned 2007 Sportsman And Sportswoman

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- Shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and squash player Nicol David were crowned Sportsman and Sportswoman of 2007 in a glittering National Sports Awards ceremony here Tuesday night.

Nicol, the undisputed queen of Malaysian squash and the darling of world squash, swept the award for the third consecutive year and fifth overall to cap a superb week as she had also clinched the British Open in Liverpool on Tuesday morning, her third after 2005 and 2006.

The petite Penang lass, simply known as "Pocket Dynamite" who enjoyed the best year of her career in 2007, winning eight WISPA World Tour titles from ten final appearances despite the World Open eluding her grasp, also beat 12 other nominees for the award.

The 24-year-old who was voted Asian Sportswoman of 2007 by the Asian Sports Press Union by beating about 100 other illustrious names in Asia, has also won the WISPA Player of the Year for three years in a row starting 2005.

Last year, she won the CIMB KL Open, Kuwait Open, Qatar Classic, Qatar Open, Malaysian Open, Singapore Masters, Dutch Open, Hong Kong Open and capped a brilliant year by capturing her sixth consecutive Asian Championship though she failed to defend her World Open title for the third year in a row.

Nicol was also not at the ceremony to receive her award as she is still in England.

Nicol's father, Desmond David received the award on behalf of her daughter while BAM Vice President Datuk Roland Wong received on behalf of Koo Ken Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

Nicol said by telephone from England that she was sorry that she could not attend but thanked the National Sports Council for awarding her the award while Ken Keat-Boon Heong who spoke over the phone from Jakarta said they felt sad and sorry that they could not be present at the ceremony to receive their awards.

David rises to occasion as she regains British title

May 12, 2008

For the full version: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gf6v7b9U7iET7wk2KnnXzeoJlGBw

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LIVERPOOL (AFP) — Nicol David, the Asian sportswoman of the year, on Monday won back the British Open title she lost in such an upsetting fashion last year.

David triumphed 9-1, 10-8, 9-0 against Jenny Duncalf, the surprise finalist from England, making up for her defeat from match point up in last year's final.

That was against Rachael Grinham, the World Open champion from Australia, who was this year halted by Duncalf. But there was no way David was going to allow the giant-killer a follow-up.

The world number one from Malaysia was as superbly nimble as ever, and gave further evidence that she is developing into a better all round player, as she started and finished superbly.

In between David had to save a game point, but that was the only crisis moment in a match which she mostly dominated.

"This definitely meant a lot to me," she said after her 40-minute success in the world's oldest tournament.

"When I lost last year it was a huge disappointment. I was devastated, and I set about trying to find out how to be stronger this time."

She was, both physicaly and mentally. David began, as she had in both her previous two matches, a little slowly, but once she had gained the feel of the court and the conditions, started to play formidably well.

"After playing so many tournaments and so many finals, and with all the experiences, I have come back from the losses," she said, referring to the World Open as well as the British Open last year.

But she felt it was too early to talk about winning the World Open back as well.

"Now the girls are going to start seeking something else to play against me, so it could all be different by then," she said, referring to the October event.

"You can see what I am trying to do, become a better all round player, and still try to be as consistent as possible. But for the moment I feel very happy to have won this back."

Malaysian David earns revenge at British Open

May 10, 2008
For the full version: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iFWOPXyuO2uN_KXSSPmMiphiBAQ
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Malaysian David earns revenge at British Open

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) — Nicol David, the Asian sportswoman of the year, dug herself out of trouble to earn a notable revenge and a place in the semi-finals of the British Open.

The world number one from Malaysia was a game and 4-7 down and yet recovered to win 7-9, 9-7, 9-5, 9-2 against Shelley Kitchen, the New Zealander who had delivered her a stunning defeat in the World Open in Madrid seven months ago.

Kitchen looked if anything to a better player now than she did then, but David did a better job of dealing with the pressure which the hard-hitting six-foot two-inch Kiwi applied.

"I had to get my bearings. I had to get things going, and I told myself not to let her in before I got my rhythm and gained momentum." said David, referring to the need to adapt from the first match, which was played on a conventional plaster court for the first round, to a cooler, slower glass show-court.

"I'm really pleased to win that," said David. "She's been giving everyone a hard time and it wasn't at all easy."

David now plays Natalie Grainger, the former world number one who was born only 30 miles away from here but who is now an American.

The winner is bound to play a surprise finalist because both Rachael Grinham, the defending champion, and her younger sister Natalie Grinham, the Commonwealth champion, were beaten in the bottom half.

26 In Running For Athletes Of The Year Awards

May 09, 2008 For the full version: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_sports.php?id=331927
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26 In Running For Athletes Of The Year Awards

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- A total of 13 male and 13 female athletes have been nominated for the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards that will be presented at a gala dinner here on Tuesday.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is scheduled to grace the occasion to be held at the Palace of Golden Horses Hotel in Seri Kembangan here.

The process of selecting the athletes was done by a selection committee chaired by Datuk Mohd Yasin Mohd Salleh, the secretary-general of the Youth and Sports Ministry, the National Sports Council's public relations unit said in a statement today.

The women athletes in contention are Wong Mew Choo (badminton), Chow Siao Foong (basketball), Shalin Zulkifli (bowling), Quzandria Nur Mahamad Fathil (equestrian), Lim Wen Chen (rythmic gymnastics), G. Yamini (karate-do), Siti Zalina Ahmad (lawn bowls), Roslinda Samsu (athletics), Ng Sock Khim (table-tennis), Khoo Cai Lin (swimming), Nicol Ann David (squash), Che Chew Chan (taekwondo) and Chai Fong Yin (wushu).

-- BERNAMA

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Koo-Tan and Nicol set for awards

Saturday May 10, 2008- The Star Online

http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/5/10/sports/21212717&sec=sports
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PETALING JAYA: Badminton and squash players are set to win top honours at the National Sports Awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

A total of nine awards will be given out in recognition of last year’s achievements.
Men’s doubles shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are the frontrunners, ahead of 12 other candidates for the 2007 Sportsman award.

As for the Sportswoman award, the strong contenders are squash queen Nicol David and national singles badminton player Wong Mew Choo.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong were strongly tipped to win the award in 2006 after winning the first Asian Games badminton gold medal for Malaysia in 36 years. But body-builder Sazali Samad pipped them to the award for winning the world title for the third time.

The other candidates for the Sportsman award are Sazali (body-building), Mohd Rizal Tisin (cycling), Sazali Samad (bodybuilding), Koh Way Tek (basketball), Zulmazran Zulkifli (bowling), Mohd Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil (equestrian), Chua Boon Huat (hockey), Lim Yoke Wai (karate), Safuan Said (lawn bowls), Cheng Chu Sian (archery), Lee Hup Wei (athletics), Daniel Bego (swimming) and Mohd Azlan Iskandar (squash).

The others in the running for the Sportswoman award are Chow Siao Foong (basketball), Shalin Zulkifli (bowling), Quzandria Nur Mahamad Fathil (equestrian), Lim Wen Chen (gimrama), Yamini Gopalasamy (karate), Siti Zalina Ahmad (lawn bowls), Roslinda Samsu (athletics), Ng Sock Khim (table tennis), Khoo Cai Lin (aquatics), Che Chew Chan (taekwondo) and Chai Fong Ying (wushu).

The archery, squash and 4x400m relay teams are the front-runners for the men’s team award while the Korat SEA Games gold medal-winning basketball team and the bowling, table tennis and squash teams are vying for the award in the women’s category.

The candidates for the best male coach award are Suod Hussain (cycling), Tan See Wah (basketball), Sarjit Singh (hockey), Azmi Md Yunus (boxing), P. Arivalagan (karate) and R. Dhanaraj (taekwondo).

Yoong Sze Yuin (basketball) and Rosmimi Jamalani (hockey) are the candidates for the best female coach award.

Legends of Squash head for Echo Arena

May 6 2008

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/other-sports/2008/05/06/legends-of-squash-head-for-echo-arena-100252-20867794/

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Legends of Squash head for Echo Arena

THE greatest players in world squash are in Liverpool this week to take part in the Dunlop British Open.

The championships are regarded as the sport’s most prestigious competition and it will be the first international sporting event to be staged at the Echo Arena.

The qualifying rounds got underway at Liverpool Cricket Club in Aigburth today and the action moves on to the spectacular all-glass show court in the arena on Friday through to the finals on Monday, May 12.

World number ones Amr Shabana and Nicol David head the distinguished list of competitors.

Egyptian Shabana, who has been top of the men’s world rankings for 25 consecutive months, is the longest serving number one since Pakistan's legendary Jansher Khan more than ten years ago.

Malaysian David is in her third year as women's world number one and is the reigning Asian Sportswoman of the Year.

Shabana’s biggest threat will come from fellow countryman and world number two Ramy Ashour. They have enjoyed some titanic battles on the international circuit and Ashour recently beat him in the final of the Hurghada International in Egypt.

Shabana won his third World Open title last December but the British Open crown is the only major trophy to have eluded him so far and he is keen to put that right.

“It’s amazing when you look back at the great players who have won the British Open, and it would be fantastic to have my name on the trophy alongside the likes of Jonah Barrington, Geoff Hunt, Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan.”

"The British Open is a massive event with huge prestige and lots of history. Winning it is part of every squash player's hopes and aspirations.”

The British Open also features the world's largest and most successful annual Masters Championships, with 13 events ranging from men's and women's over-35 age group categories to men's over-70.

Tickets for the Dunlop British Open can be booked online at www.accliverpool.com/whatson/squash.asp or by phone on 0844 8000 400.

Dunlop British Open 2008

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Abdel Kawy Up To Six In New World Rankings

May 03, 2008- PRESS RELEASES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS MOVEMENT
http://www.sportsfeatures.com/index.php?section=pp&action=show&id=46584
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Abdel Kawy Up To Six In New World Rankings

While Malaysia's Nicol David maintains her grip on pole position in the May Women's World Squash Rankings, Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy leaps three places to No6 in the list published today (Friday) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

Abdel Kawy, 22, from Cairo, claimed her fifth WISPA World Tour title last month at the Hurghada International in her home country - reaching the final for the fifth time in a row after upsetting Australia's world champion Rachael Grinham in the semi-finals.

Grinham retains her third place in the list, just behind younger sister Natalie Grinham, at No2, and ahead of fourth-placed Natalie Grainger, from the USA, and England's Tania Bailey at five.

Dutch star Vanessa Atkinson, the former world champion who reached the semi-finals of March's KL Open in Malaysia unseeded, rises to nine.

Australia's Kasey Brown celebrates a career-high ranking in the May list: The 22-year-old from New South Wales won the Atwater Cup in Canada last month - bringing her Tour title haul to eight - and now rises to world No13.

France's Isabelle Stoehr is also celebrating a return to the top 20. The 28-year-old from Montpellier finished as runner-up in the Atwater Cup - and moves up four places to 18.

Of special note is the fact that players occupying the first seven places represent seven different countries - and the top twenty is made up of players from 10 nations!

[1] Nicol David MAS
[2] Natalie Grinham NED
[3] Rachael Grinham AUS
[4] Natalie Grainger USA
[5] Tania Bailey ENG
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
[7] Shelley Kitchen NZL
[8] Jenny Duncalf ENG
[9] Vanessa Atkinson NED
[10] Vicky Botwright ENG
For the complete WISPA ranking list, see http://www.wispa.net/