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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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



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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

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