Nicol David Back In Charge With ‘A Great Feeling’ At The Malaysian Open
15 September 2013
RESULTS: Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Final:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (34m)
Malaysian squash star Nicol David admitted today that it was ‘a great feeling’ to regain the Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open title – avenging her final defeat last year by beating defending champion Raneem El Weleily to claim the trophy for the eighth time since 2005.
The world number one from Penang was celebrating her 11th successive appearance in the final – and was arguably more determined than ever before to secure her country’s prized title after the shock 2012 victory by Egyptian El Weleily.
David dropped just one game en-route to the final of the WSA World Series event – beating her semi-final opponent Camille Serme in straight games in 42 minutes at the Curve Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
But El Weleily, the third seed from Cairo, was taken the full distance in the other semi before finally overcoming England’s higher-ranked Laura Massaro in a 78-minute marathon.
“In last year’s final, Raneem probably played the match of her life,” reported event spokesman Andrew Cross. “Could she repeat that performance in this year’s final? Nicol looked determined today and a very large vocal crowd had turned up to watch her play the final – it was the busiest I have seen the venue with lots of people wanting to get a glimpse of Nicol.

“Nicol started better with Raneem almost playing catch up throughout the whole opening game. Raneem was hitting more tins than winners and that was the story throughout most of the match. Nicol won the opening two games and in the third Nicol started well taking a lead to 8-3 then converting this to 10-3.
“Raneem wasn’t quite finished as she started to fight back – but it wasn’t enough as Nicol won the game to clinch the match.”
An overjoyed David was thrilled with her 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 triumph in 34 minutes. “It’s great to win it this time around, in the Malaysian Open – and finally got a good win in Malaysia after a year,” the new champion told squashstars.com later.
“It’s such a great feeling! And I think it’s one of the biggest crowds ever at the Malaysian Open.
“With Raneem having a big match yesterday, I think she felt it a little bit today. I just had to take advantage and come out firing. I’m just happy to win it three love!”
The win, David’s first ranking title of the year, takes the 30-year-old’s career Tour tally to 67 titles – 35 more than her nearest rival!

Nicol David Makes It An 11th Successive Malaysian Open Final
14 September 2013
RESULTS: Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [10] Camille Serme (FRA) 12-10, 11-7, 11-6 (42m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9 (78m)
Malaysian squash star Nicol David delighted the packed and partisan crowd surrounding the all-glass court in the Curve Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, today when she beat French rival Camille Serme to reach the final of the Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open for the 11th year in a row!.
It was back in 2003 that the 19-year-old qualifier reached the event’s final in her home country’s capital city for the first time – three years later taking over the world number one ranking and retaining it until this day!
In today’s semi-finals, the 30-year-old top seed faced outsider Serme, the No10 seed from Creteil near Paris who upset fourth seed Alison Waters en-route to the last four.

After coming through a close first game, David  took control and closed out the match 12-10, 11-7, 11-6 in 42 minutes.
“The first game was really close,” David told squashstars.com later. “I was really happy to get through the second – and got a lot more control in the third.
“Camille is a fighter and is coming on strong so I needed to be sharp and alert,” added David, now in the 86th Tour final of her career. “I’m pleased to be in the final and I’ll give it my best tomorrow.”
David will meet defending champion Raneem El Weleily in a repeat of the 2012 final which ended the Malaysian star’s seven-year grip on the title.
The third-seeded Egyptian upset England’s world No2 Laura Massaro – but needed five games and 78 minutes to prevail 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9.
Massaro, the reigning British Open champion, saved a match-ball in the fourth to force the decider – and saved two further match-balls in the fifth before former world number two El Weleily clinched victory.
“That was a very, very, very long match,” said the relieved 24-year-old from Cairo later. “I think I played OK, and she played really well as well. It could have gone either way.
“I had to give it everything I had – but I am so happy to be in the final,” said El Weleily, celebrating her 15th Tour final.
Massaro added: “Raneem played really well. I’m obviously disappointed to lose but she is so talented and if you don’t play the right tactic you get punished.”

Massaro Stretched In Malaysian Open Quarters
13 September 2013
RESULTS: Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-4, 11-6, 3-11, 11-5 (56m)
[10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 (50m)
[3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 4-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (39m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [5] Joelle King (NZL) 12-14, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (69m)

England’s world No2 Laura Massaro acknowledged that Joelle King ‘made it really hard for me’ as she battled for five games to overcome the New Zealander in today’s longest quarter-final of the Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championship at the Curve Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya in Selangor.
The second seed from Preston, who had reached the last eight without dropping a game, was pushed from the off by fifth seed King, the 24-year-old world No5 eager to make the semi-finals for the first time.Massaro lost the opener after a tie-break – but fought back to take a 2/1 lead. But again King countered to draw level. England’s recently-crowned British Open champion had the upper hand in the decider, however, finally closing out the match 12-14, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 in 69 minutes.
“I managed to play really well in the fifth game and won that fairly comfortably,” Massaro told squashstars.com later. “The other four games were quite tight.
“Joelle played great – the match was really tough the whole way through. She made it really hard for me – and that’s what these matches are all about.”
Massaro, in the semis for the second year in a row, now meets No3 seed Raneem El Weleily, the defending champion from Egypt.
England’s former world No2 Jenny Duncalf boasts a 5/3 head-to-head Tour record over El Weleily – and duly took the opening game. But the 24-year-old from Cairo, who won the pair’s last encounter at the British Open in May, began to take control of the match and after 39 minutes wrapped up a 4-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 victory.”It was a really tough match today against Jenny,” said the title-holder (pictured above, foreground, with Duncalf). “I had a really, really, really slow start – but luckily I managed to get back into it.
“You never know how it’s going to go against Jenny – I think we have similar games and tactics. I think I’m very lucky to be through today and look forward to tomorrow.”
Second round giant-killer Camille Serme continued her fine form in the event by beating England’s 16th seed Sarah-Jane Perry 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 in 50 minutes. The 10th seed from France caused a mighty upset 24 hours earlier by ousting fourth seed Alison Waters.
“I thought my game was a bit less good than yesterday – but I still managed to win 3/1 and am very happy to be in the semi-finals,” said the 24-year-old European champion from Creteil.
“In the second game, she played really good shots and I lost a bit of my length and made a few mistakes. The fourth was really important and I was so happy to win the last game.”

Before a packed crowd at the end of the evening, event favourite Nicol David survived an all-Malaysian clash with fellow Penangite Low Wee Wern beating the sixth seed 11-4, 11-6, 3-11, 11-5 in 56 minutes.
It was world number one David’s fifth Tour win over Wern – but the first in which the Malaysian No2 had taken a game. David is now one match away from a remarkable 11th successive appearance in the final.
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [10] Camille Serme (FRA)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY)

12 September 2013

2nd round: [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (38m) [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (73m) [10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (48m) [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8 (50m) [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5 (35m) [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 (41m) [5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [12] Annie Au (HKG) 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 (36m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (40m)

Alison Waters, the world No4 from England who has reached at least the quarter-finals in her last 12 WSA World Tour events, today crashed out of the second round of the Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championship in Kuala Lumpur after an impressive performance from Camille Serme, the world No12 from France.

It was after an injury-affected 2010 and 2011 that Londoner Waters slumped to 44 in the world – but bounced back stronger than ever at the beginning of last year, winning five Tour titles in six months and soaring back to a world ranking just one position short of her career-high world No3.

But today belonged to European champion Serme, whose effective use of lobs and drop shots in the last 16 round of the third WSA World Series event of the year at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre saw the 10th seed clinch a shock 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 win in 48 minutes – her career-first victory over 29-year-old Waters.

“I thought I could win this match and I knew I had to show her I could win the match,” explained the French number one from Creteil afterwards.  “I wanted to try and get inside her head a bit by reducing my errors.”

“I feel very happy with my win today and with the way I played.  I had never beaten her before so I knew it was going to be tough!

“But I managed to play the right tactic plan and I was feeling good physically.  I was pushing hard so I’m glad I won at the end.”

Serme will now play her third English opponent in the event after Sarah-Jane Perry, the Birmingham-born 16th seed ended Joey Chan‘s run by beating the unseeded 25-year-old from Hong Kong 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8.

“Good match for me,” said Perry.  “I’ve never played Joey before – she is nimble and fast around the court, so I had to be in the best of form to beat her.  It’s my first time here and I’m enjoying it.

“I’ve not really been on the tour for long because of studies, so getting into the quarters is a good result for me.”

Top seed Nicol David, the Malaysian star whose first round win yesterday was enough to ensure a remarkable 87th successive month at the top of the women’s world rankings next month, moved comfortably into the quarter-finals after an 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 win over career-long rival Omneya Abdel Kawy.

The victory over the 11th seed from Egypt sets up an all-Malaysian affair at the Curve Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya against fellow Penangite Low Wee Wern.

Sixth seed Wern needed 73 minutes to subdue ninth-seeded Australian Kasey Brown 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3.

“The season is really kicking off now at this CIMB Malaysian Open and we’ll be moving over to the glass court at The Curve Shopping Mall,” said David after today’s match.

“I’ll be playing Low Wee Wern tomorrow in the quarters.  It’s been some time since we’ve played each other in competitions and suddenly I’m playing her for the second time within the last two weeks – at the Nationals and at this tournament.  Should be a good match out there tomorrow!”

England team-mates Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro also reserved their anticipated places in the last eight – No7 seed Duncalf beating Australian rival Rachael Grinham 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5 in the pair’s 17th Tour clash since 2003, and second seed Massaro ending the run of Guyana qualifier Nicolette Fernandes 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 after 40 minutes.

“Today was the round of last 16 and I was playing Nicolette Fernandes from Guyana,” explained world No2 Massaro in a blog from the event.  “She had a great win in the first round beating the seeded Donna Urquhart 3/0 so I knew she was in form and playing well.

“I respect Nicolette a lot as she is over in Harrogate a lot where we both train with David Pearson.  Although I haven’t been on court with her I see her professionalism and this made me take the challenge of playing her very seriously.

“Tomorrow I’m up against world number 5 Joelle King from New Zealand at 2pm on the glass court at the Curve Mall.”

King, the fifth seed beat Hong Kong’s Annie Au 13-11, 11-8, 11-9 – while third seed Raneem El Weleily single-handedly carried Egyptian intertest into the last eight by beating India’s Dipika Pallikal 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2.

Quarter-final line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) [10] Camille Serme (FRA) v [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [5] Joelle King (NZL)

11 September 2013

RESULTS: Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1st round: [1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Lisa Aitken (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (35m) [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-4 (63m) [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-9, 13-11, 11-9 (50m) [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (45m) [4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 (27m) [10] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG) 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-13, 11-5 (63m) [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6 (35m) Joey Chan (HKG) bt [8] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 (52m) [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-4, 9-11, 11-0, 11-4 (35m) [14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 7-11, 16-14, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 (57m) [13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-6, 3-11, 13-11, 11-9 (47m) [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Joshana Chinappa (IND) 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (24m) [5] Joelle King (NZL) bt [Q] Siyoli Waters (RSA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (24m) [12] Annie Au (HKG) bt [WC] Rachel Arnold (MAS) 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 (25m) [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt [15] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (31m) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Latasha Khan (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (21m)

MADELINE AND AISLING LOSE OUT

An upset took place when two-time quarter-finalist Madeline Perry, the No8 seed from Ireland, lost out to unseeded and World no. 20, Hong Kong opponent Joey Chan.

“Joey took the opening game and then continued this in the second, working the court using her boast effectively,” said event spokesman Andrew Cross.  “In the third, Madeline changed her game and this won her the game – but Joey came back to win the fourth for a place in the second round.”

Chan, later recalled how she was determined not to repeat a previous mistake in KL when she was leading by two games:   “I was a bit more patient this time and at 2/0 up I relaxed a bit – but then I remembered what happened last time when I was 2/0 up against Alison (Waters) in the CIMB KL Open, and lost 3/2.

“Usually I’ve lost to Madeline in three games – so this time it’s nice to win,” added the 25-year-old after her 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 victory in 52 minutes.

Unfortunatly Ireland’s other participant, Aisling Blake lost out to no. 13 seed, World No. 16,  Dipika Pallikal from India 11-6, 3-11, 13-11, 11-9 in 47m. A tough match which could have gone either way.

Guyana qualifier Nicolette Fernandes produced the biggest upset in today’s opening day of main draw action in the Women’s CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championship in Kuala Lumpur when she dismissed Australia’s 15th seed Donna Urquhart to secure an unexpected place in the last 16 of the third WSA World Series event of the year at the Bukit Jalil National Squash Centre.

The Toronto-born 30-year-old – who celebrated a career-high world No23 ranking this month – beat left-hander Urquhart (pictured above, right, with Fernandes), currently ranked only five places higher, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8 in 31 minutes.

“I’ve had a great few months at home training with my coach, Carl Ince,” said the jubilant Fernandes after one of the best wins of her career.  “It was nice to end the summer with the Caribbean Championships being held at home and the team doing so well!

“Since then I’ve been in England working with David Pearson.  Carl and David complement each other so all in all it’s been a great off season.  This is my first tournament back so I’m just really excited to play tournaments now!

“Today I played three solid games – it was good to get back into it after at the start of the season.”

Fernandes, making her maiden appearance in the Malaysian Open, now plays Laura Massaro, the world No2 from England.  Massaro, playing in her first Tour event since May when she became the first English winner of the British Open since 1991, defeated US qualifier Latasha Khan 11-5, 11-5, 11-6.

“The last time I lost to Laura – so this time I want to do better and we will see what happens tomorrow,” added Fernandes.

The match of the day for most of the crowd took place when top seed Nicol David, the Queen of Malaysian squash, took to the court for her first round match against qualifier Lisa Aitken, the former Scottish international making her debut as an English player.

Bidding to reach the final for a remarkable 11th successive year, and win the title for a record eighth time, David brushed Aitken aside 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 in 35 minutes.

The world number one from Penang now renews her career-long rivalry with Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy, the 28-year-old from Cairo whom she first met in the British Junior U14 Open final in January 1997!  The pair has since met 17 times on the WSA Tour, including three times in the Malaysian Open.

Seasoned campaigner Abdel Kawy faced young compatriot Nour El Tayeb.  The unseeded 20-year-old, ranked 19 in the world, twice led Kawy – and held a match-ball in the fourth game.

But 11th seed Kawy, a former world No4, called upon all her experience to force a decider – and went on to win 6-11, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-4 after 63 minutes.

2nd round line-up: [1] Nicol David (MAS) v [11] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) [6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v [9] Kasey Brown (AUS) [4] Alison Waters (ENG) v [10] Camille Serme (FRA) Joey Chan (HKG) v [16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) [3] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) v [13] Dipika Pallikal (IND) [5] Joelle King (NZL) v [12] Annie Au (HKG) [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)

The Munster Senior Open takes place in Cork over the weekend of 4th – 6th October.

Entries are now open and can be made on-line.

Click on this link

http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=371ACCDA-53DC-48D8-909A-15AEC9505B56

IOC Decision Is ‘Heart-Breaking’ Says WSF President
Sunday 8 September, Buenos Aires:

World Squash Federation (WSF) President N Ramachandran, who led the Squash presentation at Sunday’s IOC Session in Buenos Aires, admitted that he was heart-broken at the decision.
“This decision is heart-breaking for the millions of Squash players around the world, particularly given the 10-year journey we have been on to join the Olympic Games Sports Programme,” said President Ramachandran.
“As the only new Olympic sport on the shortlist, we believed Squash offered something for the future and I still hope that our inclusion may still be possible.
“The feedback we have received from many IOC members for our campaign and our presentation has been very positive and I am encouraged by the vote we received . We have much to offer the Olympic Movement and I am hopeful that this  is not the end of our Olympic journey.”

MOUNT PLEASANT JUNIOR MIXED OPEN 2013

WHERE: Mount Pleasant, Ranelagh, Dublin 6

WHEN: Sat/Sun 7th/8th September 2013

Just to say thank you to all who played in the Mount Pleasant JMO at the week-end. We are all very happy with the success of the event. To have girls and boys and players of different ages competing against each was as fantastic as it was unusual to see. In addition to be able to present three full draws in a squash competition was very satisfying. I know that the players, particularly all our younger competitors got a great buzz from competing – many for the first time.

Over 53 junior players played in this pioneering event, with most of the entrants 13 years or younger.
The ‘ability’ format of the Mount Pleasant JMO, categorising players on ability, as opposed to age and gender and is designed to give all players a more challenging and competitive experience.

There are three sections with a full 16 person draw playing the Swiss format and a 5 person round robin.

RESULTS

A section – Conor Moran (Sutton LTC) bt Harry Lloyd (Fitzwilliam LTC) 11-5,11-4,5-11,14-12

B section – Sophie O’Rourke (Highfield SC) bt Emma McGugan (D. Lloyd, Belfast) 9-11,10-12,11-8,11-9,12-10

C section – Rachel kavanagh (CarlowLTC) bt Jake Somers (Carlow LTC) 11-4,11-6,11-8

D section – Matthew Polley (Westwood) won in a 5 person round robin.

The Connacht Junior Open takes place on September 28th & 29th in Galway. On line entry is now open HERE

Ireland celebrated success in the squash with Shaun McKee -Gold in Men’s Open, John Dulligan -Gold in Mens over 40’s, Mike Ellis- Gold in Mens over 50’s and Keith Flynn (pictured on the right) winning a silver medal in the over 30’s category. Well done to them all!

European Masters Individual Championship 2013, was held in Prague, Czech Republic from the 29.8.-1.9.2013. There were several Irish players competing.  There was 16 events with men and women O35 through to O70 and a men’s O75 event also.

There were 687 players playing in the 16 events a truly magnificent field. Our Irish players faired very well with 8 finishing in the top 10 and 4 in the top 5. Barbara Sanderson won the Over 70’s (pictured above) with Alex Richardson coming 3rd in the over 75 event.(pictured below) 

There were 15 Irish players playing – Alex Richardson, Barbara Sanderson, Brian Mahon, Ciaran McCoy, Damien O’Reilly, Dave Lalor, Dara O’Flynn, Frank Fahey, Gerry Callanan, Gerry Fahey, Jim Flynn, John Hurley, Michael Cowhie, Myron Evans and Tom Cantwell.

Here is how they faired.

Alex Richardson – O75/Finish 3rd

Had a great match vs John Woodliffe(Eng) in his first match but lost in a 5 seter in 45min. John won the event and Alex was the only player to push him to a tight match.

Barbara Sanderson – O70/1st

Barbara beat an English and a French player in 3  to win the event easily.

Brian Mahon – O50/83rd

Brian had 2 tough opening matches losing to 2 Germans he then had a great win vs a Hungarian and just lost a tight 5 setter and 4 setter vs a German and Spandard.

Ciaran McCoy O40/6th

Ciaran had 3 good victories in the opening matches but lost to Manuel Fistonic from Croatia in the quarters. He had a walkover and had to give a walkover to finish 6th overall a superb result in a field of 128 players.

 Dara O’Flynn O40/10th

dara had 3 good wins vs a German, Spaniard and an English player before losing to Jesus Souto from Spain who went on to finis 2nd. Dara then just lost out to jay francis from Holland to finish a superb 10th out of 128 players.

Damien O’Reilly O50/38th

Damien lost a tough opening match to Italian Drusiani Vittorio but then went on to 3 good wins in the play offs vs 2 Germans and a Finn before losing his final match in a great 5 seter 11-5,16-14,8-11,7-11,11-6.

Dave Lalor O50/72nd

Dave afteran opening loss had 2 good wins vs a Pole and a Czech and unfortunatly had to give a walkover in his final match.

Frank Fahey O70/5th

Frank lost a very tough opening match to Michael Gough of England but then beat a Swede and beat myron Evans in the final play off in a tough 4 seter to finish 5th.

Gerry Callanan O45/31st

He had a good opening win vs a German hadan epic match vs a Finn but just lost 25-23,11-6,17-15. In the end Gerry had to withdraw but finished a credible 31st out of 128 players.

Gerry Fahy O55/16th

Gerry had 2 great wins in his first matches vs a Finn and a German. Unfortunatly he had to withdraw in the last 16 match through injury.

Jim Flynn O45/28th

Jim had a great match vs a Finn in his first match having got a walkover. He just lost it in 4. he lost a another Finn in the play offs.

John Hurley O40/7th

A superb result for John finishing 7th out of 128 players. he had 3 superb wins to start but lost a tight match to Dovi Haruzi from Israel in the quarters. Unfortunatly he had to give a walkover to his Swiss opponent in the play off for 5th place.

Michael Cowhie O45/11th

Michael had 2 great wins in his first 2 matches vs a Finn and German. He then lost a very tight match to no. 1 seed Peter Gunter of England who went to win the event. Michael then won his next 2 matches vs a Hungarian and Finn to finish 11th, a superb result.

Myron Evans O70/6th

Myron lost his first match in a tight 5 seter to Bertil Walli of Finland. he then beat a German in 4 before losing to Frank Fahey in a very close 4 seter to finish 6th.

Tom Cantwell O65/5th

Tom had a great tournament finishing 5th out of 32. Hwe won his first match vs a Finn, lost the next in a tight match to a Spaniard but then won his next 2 matches. In the play off for 5th he won it comprehensively 11-8,11-5,11-4 vs Swiss Claudio Hassler.

Overall a great performance form the irish players!!

For results and the full draw clich HERE

Official Website for the tournament click HERE

Lets focus on the countdown by tweeting on Sunday 25 August please – Just 2 weeks until the #IOC decide if #squash can join the #Olympics; show your support and follow @vote4squash

Irish Squash President, Ed Dunne met Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland on August 19th. It is the second meeting between Irish Squash and Mr. Hickey in recent months, in the lead up to the selection of the final sport for the summer games of 2020. Accompying Ed were 2 of Ireland’s young stars Ellie McVeigh from Ulster and Scott Gillanders from Leinster. Both 13yrs old, they will be young adults when hopefully squash will make its first appearance in the Olympics in 2020 and here’s hoping both of them are on the Irish team for those Olympics.

The final selection meeting of the IOC executive council meet in Argentina on September 8th to select the sport to fill the final spot for the 2020 summer games. Squash is one of 3 sports to make the short list – along with baseball and wrestling.

See a letter of thanks from Andrew Shelley, Chief Executive of the World Squash Federation to Ed Dunne for the efforts from Irish Squash re the Olympic bid.

Andrew Shelley Letter

Please continue to support the 2020 bid through twitter.

Now 3weeks until the #IOC decide if #squash can join the #Olympics; show your support and follow @vote4squash

Ireland had great success at the 2013 World Transplant Games which took place in Durban, South Africa last week. Ireland had 2 competitors Deirdre Faul, an existing World Champion and Andrew Duncan. This was Andrew’s first games.

Both competitors came away as World Champions in their respective age categories.

Deirdre Faul (40-49 years)

Andrew Duncan (15- 17 years)

Andrew’s result is particularly impressive given that it was his first Games and he is the entry age of his category and as such will be able to defend his title in the same age category in two years time when the Games will be held in Mar Del Plata in Argentina.

Deirdre again defended her World title which she has held since 2007 when she attended her first World Transplant Games.

Very well done to both Deirdre and Andrew and hopefully both will defend their gold medals in the next games in 2 years time.