Squash catches ’em young!

There is innocence toddling in every inch of the ICL Squash Academy, now replete with the gentle bustle and bubbly chirps of 32 tots, who have enrolled for the summer camp.
Some might bloom, some might wither, but they have all made their first gentle strides into the world of squash.
For a whole lot of them, this is their first taste of squash. Neither as popular as cricket nor as glamorous as tennis, squash might not have swayed their fancy.
So the first shot of the course was to get them acquainted with the game. Chief coach Cyrus Poncha’s lecture on basic strokes in squash,which was followed by a video footage of the same, featuring SRFI consultant coach Major Maniam and World No. 1 player Nicol David. “Later, we demonstrated the shots on the court,” explained Poncha.

Dunlop British Open, Final

[3] Rachael Grinham (Aus) bt [1] Nicol David (Mas)7/9, 4/9, 9/3, 10/8, 9/1 (87m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [4] Thierry Lincou (Fra) 11/4, 10/12, 11/6, 11/3 (63m)

Maniam: Nicol David can rule the game for years to come

Malaysia’s squash queen Nicol David is capable of setting more world standards and joining big sports personalities like golfer Tiger Woods and former German tennis superstar Steffi Graf, said her former coach Major (rtd) S. Maniam. Nicol, 24, now a fully mature player, is not only relying on physical fitness but has all-round ability in squash and there is hardly any rival to match her performance at present, he said. “She has immense talent and I think she will break records in women’s squash. She will win more titles and matches and become a legend, just like Pakistan’s Jahanghir Khan, who ruled men’s squash in the 70s and 80s.

“At present I do not see anyone coming close to threatening her throne as she has managed to widen the gap with the rest,” said Maniam. At present, Nicol is officially the world number one in women’s squash and the current British Open and World Open champion. She also won the World Junior title twice in 1999 and 2000. Maniam, who is based in Chennai, has been the Asian Squash Federation’s Director of Coaching for the last 12 years and is also a consultant coach for the Squash Rackets Federation of India.

Qatar Classic Finals

[3] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [2] David Palmer (Aus) 8/11, 11/9, 11/9, 11/6 (66m)
[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) 9/7, 2/9, 9/7, 9/2 (69m)

Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Squash Open, Final

[1] Nicol David (Mas) bt [2] Natalie Grinham (Aus) 9/6, 10/8, 2/9, 9/1 (93m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (Egy) bt [1] Amr Shabana (Egy) 11/5, 11/3, 12/10 (34m)

World Squash Awards 2006

PSA Male player of the year: Amr Shabana
WISPA Female player of the year: Nicol David
PSA Young player of the year: Ramy Ashour
WISPA Young player of the year: Tenille Swartz
WISPA Most improved player: Nicolette Fernandes
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jonah Barrington

Doha Diary 5

Double gold for Malaysia, Nicol defeated Rebecca who had upset her at the last games , Ong retained his title.

[1]Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 9/0, 9/3, 9/3 (34m)
[2] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [1] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (Mas) 5/9, 9/1, 10/9, 9/5 (73m)

Doha Diary 4

Diminutive Saurav Ghosal had the crowd entertained with his delightful front game and his awesome retrieving skills. Beng Hee picked up almost all of Saurav’s attacking shots to the front and at the same time threw in a few of his. Saurav continued with the same sort of game in the third and slowly it was beginning to produce results. Beng Hee was either getting a little late to the ball or were tinning his returns. Saurav took a well deserve third. The fourth was looking good for Saurav as he raced to a 3-0 and 4-1 lead with yet again – delicate drop shots. Beng Hee decided that he should keep Saurav away from the front and went back to playing a lot more lobs as he did in the first two games. Rallies were now getting longer and Saurav’s legs getting wearier. Beng Hee finished of well against a fighting Saurav 9/1, 9/2, 6/9, 9/4

Doha Diary 3

I  am thrilled that India has won a medal for squash at the Asian Games. Four years ago Ritwik was very close to winning a medal when he had stretched Azlan to 5 games. It is unfortunate this time round my boys had to play each other. Ritwik was unlucky not to go thru,  Saurav took his chances well and reaped the reward. Credit for Saurav’s win must go to his parents, the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) who has supported him over the past few years, the management and coaches of the India Cements Squash Academy who have always stood behind him and Malcolm Willstrop who has worked very closely with Saurav for the past 18 months.

Asian Games, Doha, Qatar

Howard Harding, Media Manager, WSF: After a short break to celebrate her successful defence of the World Open Squash Championship title in Belfast on Sunday, Malaysian Nicol David must set her sights on reclaiming a major title she does not hold, at the Asian Games in Qatar in December. David and compatriot Mohd Azlan Iskandar have been named as top squash seeds in the sport’s third appearance in the quadrennial Asian Games, in Doha from 10-14 December.