Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report Birmingham (USA):-France’s Victor Crouin and Belgium’s Tinne Gilis are the new The World Games champions after they beat France’s Grégoire Marche and Great Britain’s Lucy Beecroft, respectively, while Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez and France’s Coline Aumard won bronze. 3/4 seed Crouin came into the final having impressed in victories over Yannick Wilhelmi, 5/8 seed Shahjahan Khan and 3/4 seed Miguel Rodriguez. Today, just as in his quarter-final win over the USA’s Khan, Crouin was forced to call on his reserves of willpower and fight back from losing the first game. After top seed Marche took an even first game 11-9, World No.18 Crouin was in a challenging situation when Marche had two game balls at 10-8 in the second. The 23-year-old, though, was able to stay calm and saved both game balls before eventually levelling the tie with a 14-12 victory. This time, it was Marche’s turn to respond and the 32-year-old regained the lead with a razor-tight 12-10 win. From this point on, though, the World No.13 struggled, and Crouin was able to secure a first men’s squash gold at The World Games since Gregory Gaultier in 2013 with comfortable 11-3 and 11-2 wins. Afterwards, Crouin said: “I’m so happy! My goal was to win a medal at this event and I return home with the gold! To beat Miguel and Greg back to back is huge for me. I did my best to recover from yesterday’s brutal semi-final but still had a rough night due to soreness. So, to win today means a lot to me! “Winning the gold is a huge achievement for my country and myself and I am proud to have fought all the way until the end. So happy” Result (Men’s Final): [3/4] Victor Crouin (FRA) beat [1] Grégoire Marche (FRA) 3-2: 9-11, 14-12, 10-12, 11-3, 11-2 (66m) Gilis celebrates her win In the women’s final, top seed Gilis put in a mature performance to beat 5/8 seed Lucy Beecroft in straight games. The World No.13 was made to work hard for her wins in all three games by Beecroft who, like Gilis, had reached the final without dropping a game. After going 7-5 down in the first game, Gilis found her accuracy to put together a scoring run of five unanswered points to earn three game balls. Although Beecroft managed to save two of these, Gilis was able to convert the third as she took the first game 11-9. The second and third games followed a similar script to the first, with Beecroft more than holding her own before succumbing to a late scoring charge from the Belgian. In the second game, the 24-year-old accelerated away from 5-5 to 11-7, before a brilliant spell took her from 6-5 down in the third to an 11-6 winner. I’m really, really happy with my gold medal today,” Gilis said afterwards. “I hope I made my country proud, my family proud and everyone proud! I’m so, so happy, for sure!” Result: (Women’s Final): [1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) beat [5/8] Lucy Beecroft (GBR) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (30m) Rodriguez (right) serves against Steinmann. Elsewhere, there were bronze medals for Colombia’s Rodriguez and France’s Aumard after they beat Dimitri Steinmann of Switzerland and Haley Mendez of the USA. 3/4 seed Rodriguez, who also won the bronze medal in 2013, began his hunt for a second World Games medal with a fairly comfortable 11-5 win in the first game before being pegged back 11-4 by 5/8 seed Steinmann in the second. The fiercely tight games then followed, with Rodriguez saving two game balls to take the third game 12-10 and then edging the crucial fourth 13-11. Reacting after his win, Rodriguez said: “It is always really special to represent my country. For us, getting a medal at The World Games is as important as an Olympic medal or World Championship event. “After nine years, I am getting my second bronze at The World Games and I feel proud of the way I fought mentally to stay at the podium. Besides, we will keep our funding for our sport in Colombia and personally adding a bronze to the Colombian delegation total is enormous.” 3/4 seed Aumard, meanwhile, played a back-and-forth encounter with 5/8 seed Haley Mendez. Aumard took the first game 11-6 before Mendez responded with an 11-5 in game two. Aumard replied with an 11-9 in the third game to reclaim the lead, only for Mendez to once again level with an 11-6 win in the fourth. In the decisive fifth game, Aumard was able to keep ahead of Mendez, finally edging the encounter with an 11-8 win to earn France’s first of three medals that day. Result: (Men’s Bronze Medal Match): [3/4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) beat [5/8] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 3-1: 11-5, 4-11, 12-10, 13-11 (64m) Result: (Women’s Bronze Medal Match): [3/4] Coline Aumard (FRA) bt [5/8] Haley Mendez (USA) 3-2: 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8 (43m).

Sports Bulletin Report Houston (USA):-Houston Squash Club will hold a six-day training camp from August 1 to 6, 2022 at Houston Squash Club, as top mentors including Rehmat Khan and Jehanzeb Khan will enhance the game skills of bidding squash players during the training camp. According to an official of Houston Squash Club (HSC), the basic aim of the camp is to train the teenagers and accelerate their game skills and knowledge. Top international squash coach Rehmat Khan will train the boys during the six days camp. Rehmat Khan has a strong squash background, who was also coach the squash legend Jehangir Khan, who won the British Open title ten times in a row and also claimed the world championship title for six times. He has shown his muscles at world squash after reaching at 12 in the world ranking.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:- July 7th 2022 is 100 days to go until World Squash Day 2022. This annual festival of squash is the biggest grassroots promotion of the sport on the planet. Clubs and federations on every continent join forces to showcase the fun, friendships and fitness that squash delivers. And this year’s event promises to be the biggest in World Squash Day’s 21-year history as nations across the globe bid to help the game bounce back after the effects of the Covid pandemic. Zena Wooldridge, President of the World Squash Federation, led the call to action by stating: “Now is the time for every club in every Member Nation to start making plans for World Squash Day 2022. “The beauty of World Squash Day is its simplicity. All we want squash venues to do is to open their doors to show their communities a brilliant, fun sport that is available to all. “Covid also challenged people to create ways of playing squash outdoors and we look forward to seeing lots of fun events in streets, playgrounds and parks as well as on the courts on World Squash Day.” In the next month squash will be showcased as part of the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama (July 7-17), and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England (July 28 to August 8). Zena added: “These multi-sport games attract some of squash’s biggest live audiences and our biggest global broadcast reach, with our leading players delivering incredible feats of athleticism as well as producing tremendous entertainment. “Combine that with the energy of squash players on World Squash Day and it’s easy to see why squash is a perfect sport for the modern world.” World Squash Day founder Alan Thatcher added: “For the past two years our activities have been hampered by various lockdowns, but I can sense a real wave of energy to get the game bouncing back in style this year. “I have been in touch with friends from federations in numerous countries and I look forward to seeing some spectacular events on October 15th.”

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Promising Pakistan squash player, Noor Zaman has won the title of Under-19 Asian Junior Individual Squash Championship 2022 and claimed gold medal after beating Joachim Chuah from Malaysia 3-1 in the final at Pattaya, Thailand on Sunday. According to available information from abroad, Noor Zaman won the championship match with the score-line of 11-9, 10-12, 11-5 and 11-9, as the match lasted for 52 minutes. Pakistani teenagers squash players took part in Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 categories competitions. Noor Zaman was only player, who grabbed the title.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Noor Zaman has booked his berth in the semifinal of the Under-19 discipline of the 29th Asian Junior Individual Squash Championship after beating Edward Thng from Singapore in straight games 3-0 at Pattaya, Thailand. The final score-line was 11-8, 11-4 and 11-6, as the match lasted 25 minutes.  According to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), Noor Zaman will meet Andrik Lim from Malaysia in the semifinal on Saturday at the same venue. Rest of Pakistani players lost their matches and started their packing to fly back to home. Nouman and Ahmed Khalil failed to show impressive performance in the Under-13 quarterfinals. Results: Boys’ Under-13 (Quarterfinal): Sim Yeak Wei from (Malaysia) beat Nouman Khan (Pakistan) 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3 (24 minutes) Mohammad Raziq Putra (Malaysia) beat Ahmed Khalil (Pakistan) 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9 (38 minutes) Boys’ Under-15 (Quarterfinal): Aqil Mirza (Malaysia) beat Mubeen Khan (Pakistan) 5-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 (29 minutes) Boys’ Under-19 (Quarterfinal): Noor Zaman (Pakistan) beat Edward Thng (Singapore) 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (25 minutes)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Pakistani lad Noor Zaman moved into the quarterfinals of Boys’ Under-19 fixture of the ongoing 29th Asian Junior Individual Squash Championship at Pattaya, Thailand. According to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), around 200 players from 14 Asian countries, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand are playing in various age categories. Results: Boys’ Under-13:  In 2nd round of the championship, Nouman Khan (PAK) bt Toma Ikeda (JPN) 11-6, 12-10, 5-11, 12-10 (29 Min).  He would play against Sim Yeak Wei from Malaysia in the Quarter Finals on 17 Jun, 22.  Mr Ahmed Khalil (PAK) bt Agastya Bansal (IND) 11-7, 12-10, 11-2 (24 Min). He would play against Mohammad Raziq Putra from Malaysia in Quarter Finals on 17 Jun, 22. Boys’ Under-15: In the 3rd round of the championship, Mubeen Khan (PAK) bt Matheesha Wijesekara (SRI) 14-12, 11-5, 11-6 (23 Min). He would play against Aqil Mirza from Malaysia in the Quarter Finals on 17 Jun, 22. Boys’ Under-17:  In the 3rd round of championship, No 2 Seed, Harith Danial (MAS) bt Usman Nadeem (PAK) 11-5, 11-8, 13-11 (30 Min). Boys’ Under-19: In the 2nd round of championship, Noor Zaman (PAK) bt Samuel Lau (SIN) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (13 Min).  He would play against Edward Thng from Singapore in the Quarter Finals on 17 Jun, 22. GU-15. In the 2nd round of championship, Whitney Wilson (MAS) bt Luiza Aftab (PAK) 11-3,  11-0, 11-2 (10 Min) whereas, No 2 Seed Zhe Sim Ong (SIN) bt Amna Malik (PAK) 11-1, 11-1, 11-4 (12 Min).

Sports Bulletin Report Pattaya (Thailand):-The 29th Asian Junior Individual Squash Championship is being played at Pattaya, Thailand. Over 200 players from 14 Asian countries including Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand are playing in various age categories. 15 members contingent Pakistani contingent including 8 male players, 5 female players and 2 officials are participating in the regional squash championship. Luiza Aftab of Pakistan overcame Sri Lankan opponent Kumudi Ekanayake 3-2 with the score-line of 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 and 11-5. Results: Boys’ Under-13: Nouman Khan (PAK) got Walk Over against Wanchana Ruengrach (THA) Ahmed Khalil (PAK) beat Lokkesh Wigneswaran (MAS) 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 (16 Min) Boys’ Under-15: Azan Ali (PAK) and Mubeen Khan (PAK) got Bye Mubeen Khan beat Kul Oon Jayden (MAS) 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-8 (41 Min) Aryaveer Dewan (IND) beat Azan Ali (PAK) 11-8, 18-16, 7-11, 4-11, 11-1 (37 Min) Boys’ Under-17: Abdullah Nawaz (PAK) and Usman Nadeem Butt (PAK) got Bye Usman Nadeem beat Abdullah Khalifa (QAT) 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (13 Min) Jooyoung Na (KOR) beat Abdullah Nawaz 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 (39 Min) Boys’ Under-19: Noor Zaman (PAK) got Bye  Jujin Ikeda (JPN) beat Anas Ali Shah (PAK) 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5 (54 Min). Gorls’ Under-15: Luiza Aftab (PAK) beat Kumudi Ekanayake (SRI) 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 (23 Min) Amna Malik (PAK) beat Warisara Chujit (THA) 11-2, 11-6, 11-7 (20 Min) Girls’ Under-17: Vicky Lai Yue Ying (SIN) beat Mehwish Ali (PAK) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (20 Min) Goh Zhi Xuan (MAS) beat Sana Bahadar (PAK) 11-3, 11-4, 11-0 (12 Min) Girls’ Under-19: Pooja Arthi Raghu (IND) beat Mariam Malik (PAK) 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (20 Min).

More than 15 years after retiring from the professional game, Jonathon Power is still one of the best known names in the squash public consciousness. The former World No.1, who last year had a dazzling new court named after him, captured the public imagination with his spectacular shotmaking and personality on and off the court. The Canadian, who currently coaches Peru’s World No.5 Diego Elias, sat down with us for a Commonwealth Games Q&A session, looking back on his silver singles medal in the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur, the gold singles medal in the 2002 Games in Manchester, and looking forward to the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. What do you mean by misunderstood? “So, I’d never been in a real multi-sport games and I think, leading into that tournament, I’d beaten Peter Nicol six or seven times on the trot. And we weren’t playing for any prize money, so my care factor was really low. “I went to Bali with a bunch of guys and had a good time for 10 days before the event and played no squash and just did it because it was part of the Squash Canada mandate. I didn’t have any sort of understanding. “But then I got there and was around all the other athletes and got a sense of the village and the environment and what it all meant.” What changed the way you understood the Games? “I was pretty young at the time, so I didn’t really have any understanding. But [it all changed] once I got the response from back home, and realised how much people cared. “I played the final with Peter, and he won, and he played a great match. It was really well received and it was a close match. I realised that it was more important than typical tour events. So I really prioritised that, for Manchester. “The difference between the Commonwealth Games back then and now, is all the best players in the world were from the Commonwealth. I think there were nine out of the top 10 in Manchester. “Manchester [where Power beat Nicol, who was by this point representing England, in the final] was so special. I got to have a rematch with Peter in the final and played a great, great match and got some revenge there. So we both got to share in what it was like to win the gold and in different sort of time periods. And that was a great memory and different to any other event I played. Is revenge something you were focusing on before that 2002 final? “Oh yeah, the two of us were just ferociously competitive at that point. It was at the peak of our rivalry. Every tournament was me and him at that point. So yeah, definitely it was about avenging that. Plus it was in England and he was playing for England so it was meaningful for sure, in our rivalry.” After you beat Peter Nicol in Manchester, the BBC did a roundup of the Commonwealth Games, going through all the sports, and listed you as the ‘Best Entertainer of the Games.’ Can you talk to that a little? “That’s news to me – I just found out right now! Maybe on the dance floor after I won the goal that was the Entertainer of the Games’ moment. I’d say I’d give it that, as I definitely had a good time with the victory! “But I think my style was very much that you never knew what you were going to get. You’d come in and it could be it could be anything. I think the the anticipation [for the crowd] of not knowing what was going to happen was fun. It’s fun in any sport to go to something and not know if it’s all going to kick off, or what can happen. “I think I woke up every morning – and I still do in my life – and I don’t know what’s gonna happen! It could all blow up or it could all be great. I lived every match like that and I lived every day like that.”

Sports Bulletin Report GLASGOW (Scotland):-India’s squash players enjoyed a fairytale day as they won India’s first – and then second – ever gold medals in the finals of the 2022 WSF World Doubles Squash Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. The country, the first in Asia to win a World Doubles title, beat England in the mixed and the women’s doubles, with England securing a gold of their own in the men’s doubles final. India had been beaten finalists in the mixed doubles in 2016 and the men’s doubles in 2004. However, they may have felt confident in the mixed doubles final, with Ghosal and Pallikal Karthik No.2 seeds and their opponents, England’s Adrian Waller and Alison Waters, seeded fourth. In an electric start, Ghosal and Pallikal Karthik blasted their way into a 9/1 lead in the first game, with Waller and Waters unable to cope with the combination of power and accuracy both Indians had in spades. While the English duo did eventually manage to find a foothold in the match, the lead India had was too great and the No.2 seeds took the first game 11/6. In the second game, both sides went on scoring runs. India, though, were able to keep their noses ahead for the majority, with the duo eventually securing an 11/8 win to take the historic title. Afterwards, Pallikal Karthik, who returned to the game after three years out and having become a first-time mother to twins last October, said: “It’s just been a long journey for me to be here. And I’m just very, very excited to be playing with Saurav and being with the whole Indian team. There’s a lot of gratitude from me just being here today. “The plan was to always come back [to squash]. But in between it didn’t really seem likely. But I think I just had the right people with me, Saurav kept pushing me wherever he was in the world! And then obviously my husband [IPL cricketer Dinesh Karthik], my in-laws, my parents, all just making me be back here and playing again.” Ghosal added: “I think India is an emerging country. We are trying to do our best to put our foothold on the world squash map. Of course, countries like England and Australia and now Egypt have done exceedingly well and their history is very rich. This generation is trying to create create some history so that the next generations can follow us.” No sooner had Pallikal Karthik completed her post-match interviews than the 30-year-old was back on court, this time securing India’s second gold medal of all time and of the afternoon. Alongside Joshna Chinappa, Pallikal Karthik once again put England to the sword. After taking the first game 11/9, India were pegged back by an 11/4 second-game loss to women’s No.2 seeds Sarah-Jane Perry and Alison Waters. Although Perry and Waters had already beaten the Indian pair back in the group stage of the tournament, today there was to be no repeat, with Chinappa and Pallikal Karthik recovering to take the third 11/8. Chinappa said afterwards: “I feel great. After we lost to them a few days back, we really wanted to come out with a very strong plan. Fortunately, I have a very strong partner, so that helps me quite a bit on court!” Pallikal Karthik added that it was incredible to win her second gold medal of the day and that she would use the experience of the tournament as a springboard for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. After two demoralising defeats for England, there was joy for them in the last final of the day, as top seeds Declan James and James Willstrop broke home hearts with a 2-0 win over Scottish No.6 seeds Greg Lobban and Rory Stewart. At 10/8 down in the first game, the prospect of England’s long hunt for a championship gold – which they hadn’t won since 1997 in Hong Kong – seemed looming. James and Willstrop recovered spectacularly, though, saving the game balls and taking the first game 11/10 before winning the second 11/6 to take the title. “That was tremendous,” Willstrop said after the match. “We knew that we had to just be absolutely on it. We gave them full respect because they deserve it. And hopefully we deserve it. We’re chuffed to bits. “It’s a huge event, it’s a world title. We’re so grateful to Scottish Squash, to the WSF and for everyone who’s joined together to put this together and make it a huge event. “It’s a great facility, isn’t it? And it’s good memories from Glasgow [where the 2014 Commonwealth Games were played] for some of the old geezers in the team. So yeah, we’re thrilled with it. And we’re glad to be up here playing!” Lobban, meanwhile, reflected on the positives of a week in which Scottish teams played above their seedings and won silver and bronze medals in the men’s draw, a bronze medal in the mixed, and secured impressive fifth-place finishes in the mixed and women’s draws. He said: “The tournament was fantastic. I had a good run in the men’s with Rory and with Lisa [Aitken] in the mixed draw. Tonight, we came really close. “It’s tough to take but looking at the bigger picture, getting to the world championships is a big achievement that we’re very proud of. This is the first time Rory and I have played together in a major competition, so to come second in the men’s draw is a great achievement. We knew coming in we were one of the best teams and had a really good chance, so I’m pleased we came away with something.” Elsewhere, there were a number of other matches to decide final positions, including both South Africa and Australia ending the day with two wins apiece. At the medal ceremony, WSF President Zena Wooldridge and Scottish Squash President Mark Adderley thanked the players, partners, volunteers and everyone else who had made the tournament a success. Wooldridge added: “I think you’ll agree this has been an absolutely fabulous week of squash. Having been denied World Championships for nearly two and a half years, it’s just fantastic to be back.” Results: WSF World Doubles Squash Championships Finals Mixed Doubles Final: [2] Saurav Ghosal/Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) (11/6 11/8 22mins) [4] Adrian Waller/Alison Waters (ENG) Women’s Final: [3] Joshna Chinappa/Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) (11/9 4/11 11/8 40mins) [2] Sarah-Jane Perry/Alison Waters (ENG) Men’s Final: [1] Declan James/James Willstrop (ENG) (11/10 11/6 51mins) [6] Greg Lobban/Rory Stewart (SCO) All Other Results Mixed – Third/Fourth Playoff [5/6] Joel Makin/Tesni Evans (WAL) (8/11 9/11 28mins) [7/8] Greg Lobban/Lisa Aitken (SCO) Mixed – Position 01-08 [13/16] Rory Stewart/Georgia Adderley (SCO) (4/11 11/7 11/8 43mins) [5/6] Ryan Cuskelly/Rachael Grinham (AUS) Mixed – Position 09-16 [9/10] Vikram Malhotra/Joshna Chinappa (IND) (4/11 6/11 14mins) [9/10] Mohammad Syafiq Kamal/Aifa Azman (MAS) Women’s – Position 09-12 [11/12] Alexandra Fuller/Cheyna Wood (RSA) (11/10 10/11 11/10 34mins) [11/12] Abbie Palmer/Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) Women’s – Position 05-08 [5/6] Georgina Kennedy/Lucy Turmel (ENG) (5/11 11/3 4/11 25mins) [7/8] Georgia Adderley/Lisa Aitken (SCO) Men’s – Third/Fourth Playoff [5] Alan Clyne/Douglas Kempsell (SCO) (11/9 10/11 11/9 61mins) [2] Daryl Selby/Adrian Waller (ENG) Men’s – Position 01-16 [10/12] Rhys Dowling/Rex Hedrick (AUS) (11/9 9/11 11/10 63mins) [13/15] Tsz Kwan Lau/Henry Leung (HKG) Men’s Position 01-16 [16/18] Jean-Pierre Brits/Christo Potgieter (RSA) (10/11 11/7 11/3 33mins) Bernat Jaume/Joel Jaume Izcara (ESP) Men’s – Position 01-16 [7/9] Peter Creed/Emyr Evans (WAL) (11/5 11/5 23mins) [13/15] Addeen Idrakie/Sai Hung Ong (MAS) Men’s – Position 01-16 [3] Zac Alexander/Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) (11/7 11/8 23mins) [4] Eain Yow Ng/Ivan Yuen (MAS) Men’s – Position 17-32 [7/9] Vikram Malhotra/Ramit Tandon (IND) (11/7 11/10 37mins) Elliot Morris/Owain Taylor (WAL)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-Top seed Mohammad Asim Khan has won the title of DHA Islamabad International Squash Championship after overcoming Noor Zaman 3-2 in the final at Jacaranda Family Club (JFC) Islamabad on Wednesday. The final score-line was 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 7-11 and 11-6, as the championship match wasted 43 minutes. World No. 58 and top seed Mohammad Asim Khan had to struggle hard in the court to win the final, as his opponent Noor Zaman was also in farm. Noor Zaman, who defeated high ranked player in the semifinal and was full confidence to claim another upset victory. Both local players displayed top quality squash in the first game that went up neck-t-neck and Zaman finished at tie-break 12-10. Mohammad Asim won the second game at 11-5 and leveled the match score 1-1. He maintained the same pace in the third game by showing some quick work in the court and won at 11-7. Noor Zaman bounced back in the match after thrashing Asim 11-7 in the second last game of the match. However, in the fifth and final game, Mohammad Asim got rid of Noor Zaman 11-6 to become the champion. At the end in the closing ceremony, chief guest, former World Champion and squash icon Jehangir Khan distributed the trophies and cash prizes among the players and appreciated the game of young lads. Before this, tournament secretary Inam-ullah Khan presented the report of the DHA International Squash Championship 2022.