Washington, D.C. To Host The World's Largest Squash Championship

The World Squash Federation (WSF) Men's World Team Championship has announced that it will take place in the United States for the first time in the event's 50-year history, choosing Washington, D.C. as the host city for the event between December 14-21, 2019. D.C.'s premier squash facility, Squash On Fire, will serve as the hub for the championship, accommodating the majority of the matches over the week-long event.

Men's World Squash Team Championship Makes US Debut in Washington, D.C.

The World Squash Federation is the governing body for the sport of squash, representing 150 National Federation members and around 50,000 courts worldwide. Since its launch in 1967 in Australia, the Men's World Team Championship has been staged in twelve countries—including Canada in 1977, and most recently in France in 2017—but never before in the United States. Team USA has competed in the championship since recording a fifth-place finish in the 1973 event in South Africa, and has seen tremendous support in recent years coinciding with an unprecedented period of growth stateside in the sport. Thirty-two national teams are set to make their way to Washington, D.C. for the event this December.

"The United States continues to be one of the most exciting and fastest-growing markets for squash in the World," said Andrew Shelley, CEO of the World Squash Federation. "Three major World titles in an 18-month period, with the World Masters in Charlottesville, VA, the World Individual Championships Open in Chicago and the World Men's Team Championships in Washington, D.C. this year, amply demonstrate the vibrancy of squash in the United States. An international city, Washington, D.C. is the perfect backdrop to showcase this major world event as it has clearly become a top-tier sports destination."

In addition to Squash On Fire, attendees will be able to experience this historic event in one of D.C.'s landmark buildings, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Located in the heart of our nation's capital, this highly trafficked, historic venue will be home to the final three days of exhibition matches, with a showcase court erected in the building.

Over the past year, Squash On Fire has hosted six major squash tournaments, and, for the first time ever in the U.S., will host top players from around the world competing in the Men's World Team Championship. Boasting eight courts, including an all-glass showcase court, Squash On Fire's unmatched world-class services secured the rights to this event within a week of opening its doors as the ideal place to host the inaugural Men's World Team Championship in the U.S.

Opened in 2017, Squash On Fire leads the trend away from squash being played in private clubs and instead offers a unique "pay to play," no membership model with programming designed by award-winning coaches such as Belgian National Coach Ronny Vlassaks and Amir Wagih, who recently returned to Egypt to prepare its national team for this tournament.

"The arrival of Squash On Fire has revolutionized the way squash is played in the District, and hosting the 2019 WSF Men's World Team Championship is a testament to that," said Philippe Lanier, Co-Founder of Squash On Fire. "We want to make D.C. the squash capital of the United States this year and it is an honor to host this event in our game-changing facility. We are looking forward to welcoming players from all over the world."

"It is a proud moment anytime I'm competing for Team USA, but getting the opportunity to showcase the Men's Team at the World Team Championships in D.C. is truly a special event," said Chris Hanson (NY) Dartmouth Grad '13, 2x and Defending U.S. Champion & Team USA Veteran. "Our team travels all around the world for these kinds of events, so playing this one at home will give us the opportunity to make our fans and country proud. It's great to have a club like Squash On Fire carving a new path for the growth of squash by having a 'no-membership' required approach. I believe accessibility will be one of the key drivers of growth for squash in this country, so these kinds of innovative concepts are crucial to continue moving in the right direction."

For more information on the 2019 Championship event, including schedule, tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit worldteamsquashdc.com.

About Squash On Fire:
Squash On Fire is the world-class, high-end, eight-court squash facility that is igniting squash in the Washington, D.C. area. Centrally located, easily accessible, and with programs designed by award-winning coaches, Squash On Fire is designed from the ground up to be unlike any other squash facility in the D.C. area. For more information, visit https://www.squashonfire.com

CREDIT: BEZINGA NEWS

CANARY WHARF CLASSIC - DAY ONE

The first round of the 2019 Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic gets underway today at London’s East Wintergarden, where a best-of-three games format is being trialled.

The action begins at 13:00 GMT, with Egypt’s Mazen Hesham facing former World No.1 James Willstrop on the glass court. They will be followed by another Englishman in Adrian Waller, who faces Raphael Kandra.

The eight matches today will decide who faces the eight seeded players in the second round, which starts tomorrow. In amongst those eight seeds are former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, and New Zealand’s Paul Coll, who reached the final of the Canada Cup last time out.

Matches from the glass court inside East Wintergarden will be live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and Facebook (excluding Europe and Japan).

Can’t watch the action? You can also follow the live scores from Canary Wharf.

Day One Schedule


Willstrop Dispatches Hesham in Day’s First Match


James Willstrop (right) v Mazen Hesham (left)

Three-time winner James Willstrop got his campaign at the 2019 Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic off to a winning start as he defeated Egypt’s Mazen Hesham in the opening match of the PSA World Tour Gold event.

Hesham got the better of Willstrop in their only other meeting on the PSA Tour, winning in straight games at the Houston Open two years ago.

But, inside a sun-drenched East Wintergarden, Willstrop showed his class in a controlled display that saw him limit Hesham’s attacking prowess to win 2-0.

The Canary Wharf Classic is trialling a best-of-three games format for a second year running and the opening game was crucial as Hesham pushed Willstrop all the way as he showed glimpses of his shot-making talents.

But 35-year-old Willstrop drew on his experience to close out the opening game and he controlled the ’T’ well in the second to complete an 11-9, 11-7 victory in 29 minutes.

READ MORE:PSA NEWS

Two PSA Gold events in one week!

It's a good week for squash fans!

Two PSA World Tour Gold tournaments are LIVE on SQUASHTV: the Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic 2019 and the CIB Black Ball Squash Open 2019.

The London-based event started yesterday with some fantastic performances throughout the eight-match day. Don't worry if you missed it, you can watch the full matches in our Replay section.

Today we have the first half of Round 2 streamed live from Canary Wharf, here's the draw:

18:00 - Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v James Willstrop (ENG)

18:45 - Raphael Kandra (GER) v Tarek Momen (EGY)
20:00 - Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Borja Golan (ESP)
20:45 - Declan James (ENG) v Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
Times in local time (GMT 0)

The Black Ball Open starts today, with the tournament hosting a stellar line-up at the Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo, Egypt.

Tune into SQUASHTV now to watch, here's today's draw:

15:30 - Yathreb Adel (EGY) v Mayar Hany (EGY)
Follow - Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v Annie Au (HKG)
17:00 - Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v Salma Youssef (EGY)
Follow - Nele Gilis (BEL) v Salma Hany (EGY)
18:30 - Mariam Metwally (EGY) v Tesni Evans (WAL)
Follow - Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Nicol David (MAS)
20:00 - Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v Joey Chan (HKG)
Follow - Alison Waters (ENG) v Zeina Mickawy (EGY)
All times in local time (GMT +2)

With an annual pass, you can catch over 20 live tournaments a year, watch thousands of matches in the replay section and improve your game with our selection of coaching videos.

For a limited time only you can use the code MARCH60 for a year of SQUASHTV half price at just $60 USD.

READ MORE: SQUASH TV

English Quartet Claim Wins on Opening Day of Citigold Canary Wharf Classic

The opening day of action at the 2019 Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic saw a quartet of Englishmen claim victories on 'People's Sunday' at London’s East Wintergarden as James Willstrop, Tom Richards, Declan James and Daryl Selby all advanced to the last 16 of the PSA World Tour Gold tournament.


The Citigold Canary Wharf Classic is trialling a best-of-three games format up to and including the quarter-finals for a second year in a row and Willstrop - the highest ranked English male on the tour - put in a composed display to see off Egyptian shot-maker Mazen Hesham by an 11-9, 11-7 scoreline.


"I don’t very often fist pump, but walking into this [atmosphere] this morning, I don’t want to stop doing this job," said Harrogate-based Willstrop.


"It’s an incredible thing to walk into this atmosphere, and [Tournament Director] Tim Garner and everyone behind this makes it an incredible event.


"I want to be here tomorrow and play again in that atmosphere. This doesn’t happen by accident, and what a great crowd. It’s become one of the top events on the tour, and it’s certainly one of my favourites."


Willstrop will play Australia’s No.8 seed Ryan Cuskelly in round two and will be joined by his England teammate James after he got the better of Scotland’s Greg Lobban.


Together with Willstrop, James claimed a Commonwealth Games Bronze medal in the men’s doubles event last April in Australia, and the duo overcame Lobban and his teammate, Alan Clyne, in the playoff.


Lobban had beaten James in the final qualifying round of this tournament last year, but this time the win went the way of the Englishman as he hit his lines well and played through some traffic issues to win 11-8, 11-5 in 31 minutes.


“I think we both started pretty nervously and there was a bit of traffic in the middle,” James said afterwards.


“I think that was because there were a few nerves and we weren’t quite hitting through the ball, that’s why it got a little bit scrappy. The end of the first was crucial really, I managed to find my basics and was able to put away a couple of shots at the end."


World No.10 Marwan ElShorbagy lies in wait for James in the next round, while Richards will go up against New Zealand’s World No.7 Paul Coll after beating Clyne 2-0.


Elsewhere, an all-English clash between World No.21 Selby and George Parker, the World No.31, saw Selby emerge victorious after he came from a game behind to dispatch the man from Leicester.


“I knew it would be [tough], George is a phenomenal athlete, a phenomenal player and, to be honest, he is only getting better," Selby said.


“Every win I can get against him I cherish now because, and I have told him many times before, I think he is going to go to the top. He has a few things that he is always working on, but I am happy to beat George to be honest, it was a tough draw."


36-year-old Selby was one of five players over the age of 30 to claim wins on day one, with Willstrop, Richards, Borja Golan and Mathieu Castagnet the other veterans to advance to the last 16.


Golan defeated fellow 36-year-old Cameron Pilley to set up a second round encounter against defending champion Mohamed ElShorbagy, while 2016 champion Castagnet eliminated rising English talent Sam Todd.


Aged just 15, Todd is the youngest player ever to appear at the prestigious Citigold Canary Wharf Classic, and the World No.494 has found great success on the junior circuit, reaching the final of the British Junior U17 Open in January, before winning the British U23 Open later that month.


However, the experience of Castagnet shone through at East Wintergarden as the Frenchman won 11-6, 11-1 in 17 minutes, and the World No.26 will play World No.5 Simon Rösner for a place in the quarter-finals.


“He surprised me to be honest. I used to train with the French players, the under 13s, 15s and 17s and the quality of his shots were just amazing," said Castagnet.


“When he is better physically, and he is more focused on his game plan and more solid, he is probably going to be an English No.1, for sure."


There were also wins for Germany’s Raphael Kandra and Welshman Joel Makin, who beat England’s Adrian Waller and France’s Gregoire Marche, respectively. Kandra will line up against World Championship runner-up Tarek Momen next, while Makin will play Hong Kong’s Max Lee.


The second round begins on Monday March 11 at 18:00 (GMT) and the action will be broadcast live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (excluding Europe and Japan).


Results - First Round: 2019 Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic

Borja Golan (ESP) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 2-1: 11-8, 6-11, 11-8 (65m)

Declan James (ENG) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 2-0: 11-8, 11-5 (31m)

James Willstrop (ENG) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY) 2-0: 11-9, 11-7 (29m)

Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 2-0: 11-2, 11-2 (15m)

Tom Richards (ENG) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 2-0: 11-4, 12-10 (29m)

Joel Makin (WAL) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 2-0: 11-5, 11-7 (32m)

Daryl Selby (ENG) bt George Parker (ENG) 2-1: 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (52m)

Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [WC] Sam Todd (ENG) 2-0: 11-6, 11-1 (17m)


Draw - Second Round (Top Half): To Be Played March 11th

[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Borja Golan (ESP)

Declan James (ENG) v [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)

[8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v James Willstrop (ENG)

Raphael Kandra (GER) v [3] Tarek Momen (EGY)


Draw - Second Round (Bottom Half): To Be Played March 12th

[4] Paul Coll (NZL) v Tom Richards (ENG)

Joel Makin (WAL) v [6] Max Lee (HKG)

[7] Fares Dessouky (EGY) v Daryl Selby (ENG)

Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v [2] Simon Rösner (GER)

CREDIT:PSA NEWS

Nour El Sherbini makes history as the youngest athlete to thrice win World Squash Championships

Sherbini, age 23, recently became the youngest three-time winner of the World Squash Championships when she took home this year’s trophy.

Sherbini is the fifth woman to earn three World Squash Championships titles alongside New Zealand’s Susan Devoy, Australia’s Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Australia’s Michelle Martin, and Malaysia’s Nicol David.

In the World Championships that took place in Chicago from February 26-March 2, Sherbini won four out of five matches.

Alongside stars Mohamed Salah and five other Egyptians, Forbes included Sherbini’s name on the “30 under 30 Middle East” 2019 list in which the American magazine profiles Arab youths who thrive in their fields.

Sherbini had already made headlines this year after snatching the 2019 J.P. Morgan title from her Egyptian counterpart Raneem El Weleily, who ranks number one in the world while Sherbini sits second in the rankings.

The young star’s sponsorship values have witnessed noticeable growth in recent years, especially in 2018 when she accumulated $195,000 (expected to reach $205,000) in sponsorship money, according to Forbes. Sherbini has been sponsored by Ezz Steel Company since 2014. She has won a total of $477,000 in prize money throughout her career to this point.

Alexandrian Sherbini was the youngest woman to capture the Women’s World Squash Championships title in 2016 when she defeated English player Laura Massaro 3-0. Sherbini is Massaro’s younger by almost ten years.

Sherbini won her first world championship at age 13 when she earned first place at the Women’s World Junior Squash Championship. She was also the youngest woman to earn that title. Sherbini clinched the prize after defeating Egyptian player Heba El Turk, who was ranked first at the time, as well as Nour El Tayeb, Forbes reported.

Sherbini won the National Squash Championship when she was only eight years old.

CREDIT: Egypy Independent

CANARY WHARF CLASSIC TOURNAMENT PREVIEW

The Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Squash Classic gets underway this weekend in the heart of England’s capital.

East Wintergarden will play host to the event, which is being held for the 16th time, with defending Champion Mohamed ElShorbagy looking to retain his crown.

There is a prize pot of $109,000 for the tournament, with the victor taking home just under $18,000 of it for winning the PSA Gold event.

The first round begins on Sunday afternoon at 13:00 GMT, as Mazen Hesham takes on home favourite James Willstrop on the glass court.

Willstrop is one of seven Englishmen who will be looking for glory on home soil. World No.494 Sam Todd is the wildcard for the event, with Declan James, Adrian Waller, Tom Richards, George Parker and Daryl Selby also representing the country.


Tarek Momen (r) and Marwan ElShorbagy will be in action in London this week

The top eight seeds have received a bye through to the second round. They include four Egyptians, in the ElShorbagy brothers, Tarek Momen and Fares Dessouky.

They will face the winners of the first round ties, with the second round draw being split across Monday and Tuesday evenings, with the top half playing first.

The quarter finals will then be played on Wednesday evening, with the semi finals the following night. The final of the Canary Wharf Classic will take place on Friday March 15.

First Round Draw: Sunday March 10
Borja Golan (ESP) v [9/16] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[9/16] Declan James (ENG) v Greg Lobban (SCO)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) v [9/16] James Willstrop (ENG)
[9/16] Raphael Kandra (GER) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [9/16] Tom Richards (ENG)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
George Parker (ENG) v [9/16] Daryl Selby (ENG)
[9/16] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v [WC] Sam Todd (ENG)

Second Round Draw (Top Half): Monday March 11
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Golan/Mosaad
James/Lobban v [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
[8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v Hesham/Willstrop
Kandra/Waller v [3] Tarek Momen (EGY)

Second Round Draw (Bottom Half): Tuesday March 12
[4] Paul Coll (AUS) v Pilley/Richards
Makin/Marche v [6] Max Lee (HKG)
[7] Fares Dessouky (EGY) v Parker/Selby
Castagnet/Todd v [2] Simon Rösner (GER)

CREDIT: PSA NEWS

BREKING: Paris 2024 rejects Olympic pleas by karate and squash

News reaching us this morning according to a report published by CHANNEL NEWS ASIA yesterday; The International Olympic Committee on Friday (Mar 8) quashed the hopes of karate and squash which had kept lobbying for inclusion in the 2024 Games even after Paris organisers had announced its roster.

In a rejuvenating overhaul, Paris 2024 announced in February that it would include breakdancing, climbing, surfing and skateboarding, subject to approval by the IOC at a meeting at Lausanne March 26-28. A final decision will be delivered in December.

There should be 28 sports with 319 events on the 2024 list, with the four candidate sports yet to be rubber stamped.

Karate officials, whose sport has been included on the 2020 Tokyo roster, were in Paris this week to try and persuade a change of heart. Squash partisans are also planning to continue their campaign for inclusion.

However Kit McConnell, head of sports at IOC, told AFP Friday it was too late for additional candidates.

"Once the original proposal is made, it's over," the New Zealander McConnell told AFP.

"The process was clear: we have explained that the IOC could not add any more sports," he said.

"But we can cut one of the sports," he said.

"The proposal will be discussed during the meeting of the executive commission," he said

"And if the session approves the recommendation, these sports will be provisionally approved. The final decision will be made in December 2020."

Bermuda Squash Open Semi-Final Results

The Bermuda Squash Open 2019 Finals are now set after the Semi-Final night was held at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club in Devonshire.

Fans were treated to true battles, with the first two matches going five games and the other two matches decided in four games.

In the Men’s Semi-Finals, Jaymie Haycocks from England defeated the number one seed Chris Binnie from Jamaica 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 13-11. Binnie, who just recently returned to the game after suffering a mini-stroke in December, twice came from a game down but it was Haycocks who would win the fifth and final game by two points.

In the other Semi-Final, Nick Shavie from Canada defeated Lyell Fuller from England in another battle, but this match needed four games to decide a winner 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7.

In the first Women’s Semi-Final match, England’s Anna Kimberley came from two games down and 7-1 down in the third game to defeat Nessrine Arrifin from Malaysia who just last night defeated the number one seed Nicole Bunyan from Canada. Kimberley advanced to the final winning 12-14, 3-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9

Marina Stefanoni from USA, the youngest player in the tournament, would need four games to defeat her opponent Catalina Pelaez from Columbia. Stefanoni has won the United States Junior Open four times, she has been ranked No. 1 in the USA Under-19 Division since March 2016, when she was just 13. She advanced to the Final winning 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7.

PERRY AND SOBHY SEEDED TO MEET IN TEXAS OPEN FINAL

England’s No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry and United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy have been seeded to meet each other in the final of the J Warren Young Memorial Texas Open when the PSA Bronze tournament takes place from March 26-31 in Dallas, United States.

The Texas Open is hosted in alternatively Dallas and Houston every year and is the second oldest women’s professional squash tournament to be held in the United States.

This year’s tournament, which will be held at the T Boone Pickens YMCA, sees the prize purse increase as the tournament becomes a PSA Bronze tier event for the first time with a star-studded line-up set to descend on Dallas later this month.

World No.6 Perry is the top seed and has been drawn to meet World No.13 Sobhy in the final, but will first have to navigate a draw that contains the likes of compatriot and World No.14 Victoria Lust, former World No.1 and World Champion Rachael Grinham and Netherland’s Milou van der Heijden.

Perry. along with the other top eight seeds at the tournament. will receive a bye into the second round, where she will face either Egypt’s Hana Moataz or Scotland’s Lisa Aitken for a place in the quarter-finals.

At the opposite end of the draw, Sobhy – who will face either Canada’s Nicole Bunyan or Czech Republic’s Anna Serme in round two – will have to do battle with the likes of recent British National champion Tesni Evans and Egyptians Nadine Shahin and Nada Abbas.

Meanwhile, home hopes Haley Mendez and Olivia Fiechter will start their tournaments against Netherlands’ Tessa ter Sluis and Colombia’s Catalina Pelaez, respectively.

For more information on the tournament visit: www.texasopen.net.

Main Draw: J Warren Young Memorial Texas Open
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [Bye]
Hana Moataz (EGY) v [9/16] Lisa Aitken (SCO)
[9/16] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Menna Nasser (EGY)
[7] Rachael Grinham (AUS) [Bye]
[6] Milou van der Heijden (NED) [Bye]
Salma Youssef (EGY) v [9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL)
[9/16] Emilia Soini (FIN) v Nadia Pfister (SUI)
[4] Victoria Lust (ENG) [Bye]
[3] Tesni Evans (WAL) [Bye]
Catalina Pelaez (COL) v [9/16] Olivia Fiechter (USA)
[9/16] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Ali Loke (WAL)
[8] Nada Abbas (EGY) [Bye]
[5] Nadine Shahin (EGY) [Bye]
Tessa ter Sluis (NED) v [9/16] Haley Mendez (USA)
[9/16] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) v Anna Serme (CZE)
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA)

CREDIT:PSA NEWS

NEW ZEALAND TO HOST 2021 WSF MEN'S WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

World team squash returns to the North Island city of Tauranga after just four years when New Zealand hosts the WSF Men’s World Team Championship in 2021.

It was in 2017 that the fifth largest city in New Zealand staged the Women’s World Junior Team Championship – and now the Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre (pictured above during the 2017 championships) will welcome the world’s leading men for the Men’s World Team Championship, 38 years after the biennial World Squash Federation (WSF) championship was last held in New Zealand, in Auckland, in 1983.

Subject to final confirmation, the event will take place from 13-19 December 2021.

“I am thrilled that Tauranga has been chosen to host the 2021 World Men’s Team Championship,” said the country’s top male player Paul Coll, the world No.7. “The event has not been hosted in New Zealand since 1983, which means an entire generation of New Zealanders have not had the opportunity to view this level of squash at its best.


“Tauranga is an amazing place to visit and is one of the best coastal destinations in the world – I have no doubt the players will enjoy the opportunity to visit Tauranga.” [Picture above shows the city’s iconic landmark Mount Maunganui]

Wayne Werder, the Chair of the Organising Committee, added: “I have fond memories of playing for NZ in this event and have always viewed it as an important part of the international squash calendar. We are delighted to see this event back in New Zealand and for Tauranga to be named as the host of the 2021 World Championship.

“The World Junior Championships in 2017 was very well received and showed Tauranga’s ability to deliver world events – we look forward to delivering another world class event in 2021.”

Reigning title-holders Egypt are likely to be favourites for the 2019 championship this December in Washington DC in the USA – while top contenders for the 2021 championship are sure to also include 1983 champions Pakistan and former champions Australia and England, as well as recent high finishers Hong Kong China and France.

Hosts New Zealand, who finished in sixth place in the 2017 championship in France, will be bidding to better runner-up berths on three occasions – in 1977, 1985 and 1987.

WSF CEO Andrew Shelley concluded: “Our World Team Championships are flagship events attracting a great array of national teams, and as soon as they read this announcement the men will be looking forward to a great Kiwi experience in 2021! Over the years, New Zealand has proved itself as a great host nation and the combination of great facilities, top notch management and hospitality will add to it in two years’ time.”

BLACK BALL OPEN: TOURNAMENT PREVIEW

The world’s leading female squash players will descend on Cairo next week for the CIB Black Ball Squash Open with the PSA Gold event taking place from March 11-15 in the Egyptian capital.

The Black Ball Squash Open will be the first major women’s tournament to take place in Cairo since the 2016 Wadi Degla Open when El Welily took home the title and she will be looking to repeat that performance as she headlines the draw in her home city this month.

The World No.1 – who, along with the other top eight seeds receives a bye into the second round – will open her tournament against either compatriot and World Junior Champion Rowan Elaraby or Hong Kong’s Annie Au.

El Welily saw her World Championship title defence come to an end in Chicago last week at the hands of Nour El Tayeb and she will no doubt be looking to bounce back quickly to take the PSA Gold title at the Black Ball Sporting Club.

She could face El Tayeb in the semi-finals, should both players play to their seeding in a re-match of last week's PSA World Championship semi-final, which saw El Tayeb end her compatriot's run at the tournament in a dramatic five-game thriller.

Meanwhile, seeded at the opposite end of the draw is World No.2 Nour El Sherbini, who is the new World Champion after defeating El Tayeb in last week’s final in Chicago, and she will face either England’s former World No.3 Alison Waters or Egypt’s Zeina Mickawy for a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Other home favourites include World No.3 and World Championship runner-up El Tayeb and World No.8 Nouran Gohar. Cairo-born El Tayeb will face one of her compatriots in Hania El Hammamy or wildcard Salma Youssef in round two, while Gohar – who was also born in Cairo – will take on either Belgium’s Nele Gilis or Egypt’s Salma Hany for a place in the quarter-finals.

France’s World No.4 Camille Serme opens her tournament against either England’s Millie Tomlinson or Hong Kong’s Joey Chan in round two, while New Zealand’s World No.5 Joelle King will go up against Egypt’s Mariam Metwally or Welshwoman Tesni Evans. The Kiwi also faces the prospect of meeting World Champion El Sherbini in the semi-finals should both players play to their seeding.

English duo Sarah-Jane Perry and Laura Massaro will also both be in action in the Egyptian capital. Perry – who made her first appearance of 2019 at the World Championships following elbow surgery – faces either India's Joshna Chinappa or Malaysia's eight-time World Champion Nicol David in round two.

Meanwhile, Massaro will come up against either Egypt's Yathreb Adel or Mayar Hany for a place in the last eight.

All matches will be shown live on SQUASHTV (rest of world) and Eurosport Player (Europe only), as well as on Facebook (excluding Europe and Japan).

You can keep up with the latest from the Black Ball Squash Open at the tournament’s website and on Twitter.

Main Draw – Black Ball Squash Open:
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) [Bye]
Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v [9/16] Annie Au (HKG)
[9/16] Yathreb Adel (EGY) v Mayar Hany (EGY)
[7] Laura Massaro (ENG) [Bye]
[8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) [Bye]
Nele Gilis (BEL) v [9/16] Salma Hany (EGY)
[9/16] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v [WC] Salma Youssef (EGY)
[4] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [Bye]
[3] Joelle King (NZL) [Bye]
Mariam Metwally (EGY) v [9/16] Tesni Evans (WAL)
[9/16] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Nicol David (MAS)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [Bye]
[5] Camille Serme (FRA) [Bye]
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [9/16] Joey Chan (HKG)
[9/16] Alison Waters (ENG) v Zeina Mickawy (EGY)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) [Bye]

CREDIT: PSA NEWS

COLL AND ELIAS SET UP CANADA CUP SQUASH FINAL

New Zealand’s World No.7 Paul Coll and Peru’s World No.9 Diego Elias will meet in the final of the Troilus Canada Cup Squash after defeating Egyptians Mohamed Abouelghar and Marwan ElShorbagy, respectively.

This season’s Canada Cup Squash tournament is the biggest PSA tournament in the country’s history with a total prize purse of $81,500 on offer in Toronto.

Kiwi Coll powered past Egypt’s Abouelghar in straight-games in a rematch of their China Squash Open final meeting which saw the Egyptian claim the win.

However, top seed Coll who has been in strong form all week, only dropping one game en route to the final, was again on song to dispatch Abouelghar by an 11-8, 11-8, 11-2 scoreline to advance to his first final since the China Squash Open.

He will now face Elias in the final after the Peruvian defeated Egypt’s World No.10 ElShorbagy in straight-games to advance.
Number four seed Elias took just 31 minutes to send number two seed ElShorbagy out of the tournament as he claimed an 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 victory.

The final will be played on March 7 at 18:45 local time (UTC-5).

Results: Semi-finals
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [3] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-2 (48m)
[4] Diego Elias (PER) bt [2] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)

Draw: Final – to be played March 7
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) v Diego Elias (PER)

Perry and Sobhy Seeded to Meet in Texas Open Final

England’s No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry and United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy have been seeded to meet each other in the final of the J Warren Young Memorial Texas Open when the PSA Bronze tournament takes place from March 26-31 in Dallas, United States.

The Texas Open is hosted in alternatively Dallas and Houston every year and is the second oldest women’s professional squash tournament to be held in the United States.

This year’s tournament, which will be held at the T Boone Pickens YMCA, sees the prize purse increase as the tournament becomes a PSA Bronze tier event for the first time with a star-studded line-up set to descend on Dallas later this month.

World No.6 Perry is the top seed and has been drawn to meet World No.13 Sobhy in the final, but will first have to navigate a draw that contains the likes of compatriot and World No.14 Victoria Lust, former World No.1 and World Champion Rachael Grinham and Netherland’s Milou van der Heijden.

Perry. along with the other top eight seeds at the tournament. will receive a bye into the second round, where she will face either Egypt’s Hana Moataz or Scotland’s Lisa Aitken for a place in the quarter-finals.

At the opposite end of the draw, Sobhy – who will face either Canada’s Nicole Bunyan or Czech Republic’s Anna Serme in round two - will have to do battle with the likes of recent British National champion Tesni Evans and Egyptians Nadine Shahin and Nada Abbas.

Meanwhile, home hopes Haley Mendez and Olivia Fiechter will start their tournaments against Netherlands’ Tessa ter Sluis and Colombia’s Catalina Pelaez, respectively.

For more information on the tournament visit: www.texasopen.net.

Main Draw: J Warren Young Memorial Texas Open

[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [Bye]

Hana Moataz (EGY) v [9/16] Lisa Aitken (SCO)

[9/16] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Menna Nasser (EGY)

[7] Rachael Grinham (AUS) [Bye]

[6] Milou van der Heijden (NED) [Bye]

Salma Youssef (EGY) v [9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL)

[9/16] Emilia Soini (FIN) v Nadia Pfister (SUI)

[4] Victoria Lust (ENG) [Bye]

[3] Tesni Evans (WAL) [Bye]

Catalina Pelaez (COL) v [9/16] Olivia Fiechter (USA)

[9/16] Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Ali Loke (WAL)

[8] Nada Abbas (EGY) [Bye]

[5] Nadine Shahin (EGY) [Bye]

Tessa ter Sluis (NED) v [9/16] Haley Mendez (USA)

[9/16] Nicole Bunyan (CAN) v Anna Serme (CZE)

[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA)

World’s Best to Line Up in Eindhoven for DPD Open

The world’s greatest squash players - including reigning World Champions Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini - will line up in Eindhoven between April 9-14 as they do battle for the 2019 DPD Open, PSA World Tour Gold titles.

Held at the new DPD Hub in Oirschot, the DPD Open will offer up a prize purse of $212,000, which is split equally between the men’s and women’s events. Farag and El Sherbini will look to replicate the form which saw them claim the most prestigious titles in squash last week at the PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family.

Farag dethroned fellow Egyptian Mohamed ElShorbagy to rise to World No.1 earlier this month, and both players will feature in a top-class draw that also features stars such as former World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad, Germany’s Simon Rösner, Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez, Netherlands-based Paul Coll, World No.8 Mohamed Abouelghar and former World No.3 Marwan ElShorbagy.

The women’s draw will feature the entirety of the top 10, with World No.1 Raneem El Welily headlining the draw ahead of El Sherbini, World Championship runner-up Nour El Tayeb, France’s Camille Serme, New Zealand’s Joelle King, English duo Sarah-Jane Perry and Laura Massaro, and World No.8 Nouran Gohar.

Also included is Dutch No.1 Milou van der Heijden. Eindhoven-based van der Heijden currently holds a career-high World No.29 ranking and will head up home interest.

Dutch No.2 Tessa ter Sluis has been named the wildcard in the women’s event, while the men’s wildcard will be decided by a playoff between the top ranked Dutch male, Roshan Bharos, and World No.265 Thijs Roukens, prior to the tournament starting.

Matches will be split between the DPD Hub and Squash Time Eindhoven during round one, while all matches from the second round onwards will be held on the glass court erected at the DPD Hub.

Tickets for the DPD Open are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.

For more information, follow the tournament on Facebook and Instagram or visit the event’s website.

2019 DPD Open - Men’s Entry List
1) Ali Farag (EGY)
2) Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)
3) Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
4) Simon Rösner (GER)
5) Miguel Rodriguez (COL)
6) Paul Coll (NZL)
7) Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
8) Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
9) James Willstrop (ENG)
10) Raphael Kandra (GER)
11) Gregoire Marche (FRA)
12) Joel Makin (WAL)
13) Tom Richards (ENG)
14) Declan James (ENG)
15) Daryl Selby (ENG)
16) Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
17) Borja Golan (ESP)
18) George Parker (ENG)
19) Lucas Serme (FRA)
20) Mazen Hesham (EGY)
21) Chris Simpson (ENG)
22) Cameron Pilley (AUS)
23) Mostafa Asal (EGY)
Wildcard) TBC

2019 DPD Open - Women’s Entry List
1) Raneem El Welily (EGY)
2) Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
3) Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
4) Camille Serme (FRA)
5) Joelle King (NZL)
6) Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
7) Laura Massaro (ENG)
8) Nouran Gohar (EGY)
9) Alison Waters (ENG)
10) Tesni Evans (WAL)
11) Amanda Sobhy (USA)
12) Yathreb Adel (EGY)
13) Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
14) Emily Whitlock (ENG)
15) Nicol David (MAS)
16) Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
17) Mariam Metwally (ENG)
18) Nele Gilis (BEL)
19) Rowan Elaraby (EGY)
20) Milou van der Heijden (NED)
21) Hollie Naughton (CAN)
22) Rachael Grinham (AUS)
23) Coline Aumard (FRA)
Wildcard) Tessa ter Sluis (NED)

CREDIT: PSA NEWS

100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport: Raneem El Welily

Raneem El Welily, Egypt

100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport >> Arabs
Squash

Egypt’s vice-grip on squash is storied. If you peek the women’s rankings for example, you’ll see that three of the top five all hail from the north-African country and atop sits Alexandria’s Raneem El Welily. Hailed as squash’s ‘most enigmatic’ star, the 30-year-old’s tussle for top spot with friend and compatriot Nour El Sherbini has really captured the imagination over the last couple of years. Considering she last held the coveted No1 ranking in 2015 – a feat which saw her become the first Egyptian female in any sport to become world No1 – it’s a real testament to El Welily’s spirit that she is back on top. One of the most prominent Arab athletes, ‘The Egyptian Marvel’ is set to bring her attacking brand of squash to the court in what will be another fascinating season.

– The Egyptian star is married to fellow squash player Tarek Momen and they have been dubbed as squash’s power couple.

– A fan-voted greatest of all time list, released by the PSA, saw El Welily secure fifth

– The 2017/8 season saw El Welily finish runner-up in both the British Open and World Series Finals before claiming the China Open and US Open at the back end of the year.

Did you know…

El Welily is a massive jigsaw puzzle enthusiast and is a self-proclaimed Sudoku addict.

“None of us know how to be successful all the time or number one all the time. We also don’t know how to always show sportsmanship and mental fortitude when faced with daily obstacles. What’s important though is that we try.” – El Welily, 2016, TEDx Cairo

Twitter: @RaneemElWelily

Instagram: RaneemElWelily

NEWS CREDIT: Sport360