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Marwan set to meet Fares in Wimbledon blockbuster

Published in Squash
Tuesday, 30 April 2019 23:32

Fares Dessouky produces a shock win over Mohamed ElShorbagy in El Gouna

Top seed faces tough time
By ALAN THATCHER and ELLIE MAWSON

Top seed Marwan ElShorbagy faces a tough task to win next month’s Wimbledon Club Squash Squared Open – with a likely clash against Fares Dessouky for starters!

World No.11 ElShorbagy is seeded to meet fellow Egyptian Omar Mosaad in the final of the PSA World Tour Bronze tournament, which takes place between May 11-16.

After receiving a bye in the first round, ElShorbagy faces the winner of the first round tie featuring Dessouky and Pakistan’s Asim Khan.

Dessouky is in a rich vein of form, having overcome British Open champion Miguel Rodriguez and Marwan’s brother Mohamed to reach the semi-finals of last week’s El Gouna International, where he fell to Karim Abdel Gawad.

This year’s tournament, which takes place at the Wimbledon Club in London, will be the fourth instalment of the event and the largest to date, with a prize purse of $50,000 on offer.

Marwan ElShorbagy in action against Declan James in the Citigold Canary Wharf Classic

ElShorbagy is seeded on the same side of the draw as the likes of France’s former World No.6 and defending champion Mathieu Castagnet and Mexico’s Cesar Salazar.

The Bristol-based Egyptian is also seeded to meet England’s No.1 Declan James in the semi-finals in what will be their first meeting since the Englishman claimed a shock win over ElShorbagy in the second round of March’s Canary Wharf Classic.

At the opposite end of the draw, former World No.3 Mosaad is seeded to meet England’s former World No.1 James Willstrop in the semi-finals, but will first have to navigate through a draw which includes Willstrop’s compatriots Tom Richards and Daryl Selby.

English pair Jordan Warne and Tom Walsh occupy the wildcard spots and will face Egypt’s Mostafa Asal and France’s Lucas Serme, respectively, in round one.

The event is a significant fundraiser for Squash Squared, which is a UK registered squash and education charity supporting disadvantaged students for academic and sporting success. Tickets can be purchased via the tournament website and prices start from £20 for adults and £10 for juniors.  

The Wimbledon Club Squash Squared Open, May 11-16, The Wimbledon Club, London, England.

Main Draw:

[1] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) [Bye]
Asim Khan (PAK) v [9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY)
[9/16] Lucas Serme (FRA) v [WC] Tom Walsh (ENG)
[6] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) [Bye]
[8] Cesar Salazar (MEX) [Bye]
Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) v [9/16] Ramit Tandon (IND)
[9/16] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v [WC] Jordan Warne (ENG)
[3] Declan James (ENG) [Bye]
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) [Bye]
Olli Tuominen (FIN) v [9/16] Chris Simpson (ENG)
[9/16] Ben Coleman (ENG) v Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP)
[5] Tom Richards (ENG) [Bye]
[7] Daryl Selby (ENG) [Bye]
Baptiste Masotti (FRA) v [9/16] George Parker (ENG)
[9/16] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) v Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA)
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) [Bye]

Preview by ELLIE MAWSON (PSA Media Team). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PATRICK LAUSON and PSA

Posted on May 1, 2019

El Gouna champions Raneem El Welily and Ali Farag

Egypt’s top stars power ahead on the Road to Cairo 
By ELLIE MAWSON

Egyptian World No.1s Ali Farag and Raneem El Welily have extended their respective advantages at the top of the men’s and women’s PSA World Tour Finals Leaderboard.

The PSA World Tour Finals will take place in Cairo, Egypt from June 9-14 and will feature both a men’s and women’s tournament.

The reigning World Champions and all seven PSA World Tour Platinum winners will qualify for the prestigious event. The remaining places are allocated to the highest ranked players on the PSA World Tour Finals leaderboard and points are on offer at all PSA World Tour events throughout the season.

Farag continued his strong run of form, which has seen him claim six PSA titles this season, after winning both the DPD Open Squash and El Gouna International this month.

The World No.1 sits at the top with 21,225 points, with compatriot and World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy in second place on 15,615, World No.3 Tarek Momen in third and Karim Abdel Gawad in fourth.

Both ElShorbagy and former World No.1 Gawad have already sealed their places at the season-ending tournament. ElShorbagy won both the U.S. Open and Hong Kong Open titles, while Gawad claimed victory at December’s Black Ball Squash Open.

Germany’s Simon Rösner, New Zealand’s Paul Coll, Peru’s Diego Elias and Egypt’s Mohamed Abouelghar occupy the remaining places in the top eight on the leaderboard.

Meanwhile on the women’s leaderboard, El Welily heads the standings with 16,455 points after winning three successive PSA World Tour tournaments, including the Black Ball Squash Open, DPD Open Squash and the El Gouna International.

Compatriot and World Champion Nour El Sherbini remains in second place on 12,085 points, with World No.3 Nour El Tayeb behind her on 8,360 points.

France’s Camille Serme moves up to fourth after reaching the semi-finals of the El Gouna International and DPD Open Squash while New Zealand’s Joelle King sits in fifth but has already claimed her place at the season-ending tournament after winning the Hong Kong Open in November.

England’s Sarah-Jane Perry, Egypt’s Nouran Gohar and Wales’ Tesni Evans hold the last three spots in the top eight on the women’s leaderboard.

The world’s top male and female players head to Hull, England next month for the prestigious Allam British Open. The final PSA World Tour Platinum event of the season will be held between May 20-26. 

PSA World Tour Finals Leaderboard.

Article by ELLIE MAWSON (PSA Media Team). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Picture and graphic courtesy of PSA  

Posted on May 1, 2019

England welcome European rivals to Edgbaston Priory

Published in Squash
Tuesday, 30 April 2019 23:56

The England squad are welcomed to the court

Busy time at Edgbaston as Europeans follow National Club finals
By JULIE O’HARE

More than 200 players representing 22 countries assembled in the arena for the opening ceremony of the 2019 European Team Championships at the Edgbaston Priory club in Birmingham.

Priory Club Chairman, David Tucker, extended a warm welcome to the players, saying: “On behalf of the members and staff at Edgbaston Priory Club, we look forward to your company in the clubhouse over the next four days and to seeing some close and exciting matches on court.”

Players from each country then carried their flags on to the court to a soundtrack of legends of the Birmingham music scene before the President of the European Squash Federation, Zena Wooldridge, declared the Championships officially open.

Addressing the players, Zena Wooldridge said: “On behalf of the European Squash Federation, we welcome you to Birmingham and the Edgbaston Priory Club for this the 47th Men’s and the 42nd women’s championships.

Zena Wooldridge welcomes players from 22 nations

“England last hosted the European Team Championships in 2003 and I am delighted that England Squash backed Edgbaston Priory Club to host this event in 2019.

“This club is one of the most prestigious in the country and as well as having a reputation for delivering excellent tournaments has a fine pedigree in winning titles. The club hosted the National Club Championships at the weekend with the club lifting both the women’s and men’s titles.”

Zena went on to extend her thanks to all the club’s staff, especially Mike Edwards and Mike Harris, volunteers and sponsors for their hard work and support in bringing the event to fruition. 

Flag bearers for every competing nation arrive on court

Pictures courtesy of  Edgbaston Priory and England Squash

Posted on May 1, 2019

Amanda Sobhy climbs back into the world top ten

Published in Squash
Wednesday, 01 May 2019 02:37

Amanda Sobhy beats Laura Massaro in El Gouna

Raneem roars ahead for sixth month in a row
By SEAN REUTHE 

United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy has risen four places to sit at World No.8 after the PSA Women’s World Rankings for May were released today (May 1).

Sobhy, the 25-year-old Harvard-graduate from Boston, last week reached her first PSA World Tour Platinum semi-final since rupturing her achilles in March 2017, with a run to the last four of the El Gouna International Squash Open.

Sobhy, who beat World No.3 Nour El Tayeb and World No.10 Laura Massaro en route to the semis, has returned to the top 10 after a two-month absence.

Meanwhile, El Gouna International champion Raneem El Welily remains at World No.1 for a sixth successive month ahead of World No.2 Nour El Sherbini. El Tayeb stays at No.3 ahead of France’s Camille Serme, who has cut the gap on the Egyptian to just 20 points. New Zealand’s Joelle King rounds off the top five.

England’s Sarah-Jane Perry stays at No.6 ahead of El Gouna runner-up Nouran Gohar. Wales’ Tesni Evans drops to No.9, while England’s Massaro drops two spots to No.10, her lowest ranking since May 2008.

Hong Kong’s Annie Au drops a spot to No.11, while Alison Waters falls two places to No.12. England’s Victoria Lust stays at No.13, with Egypt’s Salma Hany (No.14) and India’s Joshna Chinappa completing the top 15.

Yathreb Adel rises two places to a career-high No.16 ranking to sit ahead of fellow Egyptian Hania El Hammamy.

Malaysia’s former World No.1 Nicol David moves up a place to No.18. David, 35, spent an unprecedented nine years atop the World Rankings between 2006-2015 and will make her final appearance in the rankings this month as she brings a trophy-laden career to a close at the Allam British Open between May 20-26.

Hong Kong’s Joey Chan drops two places to No.19, while America’s Olivia Blatchford Clyne completes the top 20.

PSA Women’s World Rankings Top 20 – May 2019.

Pictures and graphic courtesy of PSA  

Posted on May 1, 2019

Joel Makin in action against Paul Coll in the Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic

Welshman is highest-ranked British male on PSA Tour
By ALAN THATCHER and SEAN REUTHE

Joel Makin is the highest-ranked male player in Great Britain after climbing to a career-best position of 12 in the latest PSA World Rankings for May.

Makin has made solid progress under coach Robert Owen with significant progress over the past two years.

He has added more depth, tactical options and a greater awareness of the mental side of the game to his renowned strength, speed and fitness.

The 24-year-old Birmingham-based Welshman came close to a magnificent win over Karim Abdel Gawad in the Tournament of Champions in New York in January before conceding the match after twisting his ankle.

His progress is not unlike that achieved by New Zealander Paul Coll, who recently beat Makin on the way to winning the biggest title of his career, the Citigold Canary Wharf Classic in March.

Coll, who has dropped a place to six the May rankings, has added similar guile, consistency and skill to his physical presence and Makin will be targeting a similar path into the top ten.

Fares Dessouky celebrates victory over Mohamed ElShorbagy in El Gouna

A semi-final finish at last week’s El Gouna International Open has seen Egypt’s Fares Dessouky rise 24 places to World No.18 after the PSA Men’s World Rankings for May were released today (May 1).

Dessouky, a former World No.8, had been ranked outside of the top 20 for 12 months as he recovered from a torn ACL sustained in November 2017.

The 24-year-old was in fine form in El Gouna as he beat the likes of World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy and World No.7 Miguel Rodriguez en route to the semi-finals as he reached the last four of a PSA Platinum tournament for the first time in two years.

Eventual El Gouna International winner Ali Farag tops the men’s rankings for a third successive month ahead of ElShorbagy, while Tarek Momen ensures that it’s an all-Egyptian top three for a fourth month in a row.

El Gouna finalist Karim Abdel Gawad moves up two places to No.4, while Germany’s Simon Rösner completes the top five.

Coll slips a place to No.6, with Colombia’s Rodriguez staying at No.7. Peru’s Diego Elias rises to a career-high No.8 ranking after winning the Macau Open in April. He swaps places with Egypt’s Mohamed Abouelghar, while India’s Saurav Ghosal stays at No.10.

Egypt’s Omar Mosaad rises a place to No.11, with Makin rising three spots to a career-high No.12 ranking. Germany’s Raphael Kandra also reaches a career-high position, moving up one place to No.13, to sit ahead of Egyptian Zahed Salem and England’s Declan James, who also now occupies a career-high No.15 ranking.

Frenchman Gregoire Marche is the fifth player in the top 20 to reach a career-high ranking this month as he moves up two spots to No.16. Former World No.1 James Willstrop, Dessouky, Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly and England’s Daryl Selby complete the top 20.

Meanwhile, former world champion Gregory Gaultier has dropped out of the top 20 for the first time since April 2003. The Frenchman has not played on the PSA Tour since October 2018 due to surgery on a knee injury and has fallen 13 places to No.26.

Egypt’s Marwan ElShorbagy also drops out of the top 20, and is at his lowest ranking since April 2014 after falling 10 places to No.21.

PSA Men’s World Rankings Top 20 – May 2019.

Pictures and courtesy of PSA and PATRICK LAUSON  

Posted on May 1, 2019

Samoa winger Ken Pisi will leave Northampton at the end of the season after seven years with the Saints.

The 30-year-old, who has played 138 games for the club, moved from New Zealand side North Harbour in 2012 and helped Saints win the 2014 Premiership after losing in the final in 2013.

He was also in the side which lifted the European Challenge Cup in 2014 and has scored 34 tries for the club.

Pisi, whose brother George also played for Northampton, has 13 caps for Samoa.

"I'm very proud to have spent the majority of my career playing for Northampton Saints in front of this great crowd at Franklin's Gardens," he told the club website.

"When I first came over, I didn't know what to expect, but I have felt welcomed by the amazing rugby community here in Northampton ever since I first pulled on a Black, Green and Gold jersey.

"In seven seasons as a Saint I have been blessed enough to win some silverware, make lifelong uso's [brothers] and create many unbelievable memories which I'll always treasure."

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says he could not stand in the way of Nic White playing in a World Cup after confirming the Australian scrum-half will leave the Chiefs in 2020.

White, 28, will join a Super Rugby franchise and in so doing be eligible for selection by the Wallabies for this autumn's showpiece event in Japan.

He joined Exeter in 2017 and has scored 10 tries in 44 games for the club.

White has 22 caps and told BBC Sport in November that he hoped to add to them.

"Nic's got our full blessing," Baxter told BBC Sport.

"He's fully contracted with us now for this season and the season coming, but by signing for an Australian franchise, that allows Australia to pick him now which makes him available for the World Cup.

"Nic's always wanted to play in a World Cup, it's been a big ambition of his.

"As much as we'd like Nic to stay here long term, he's a very good player for us and done very well, there is a reality that we also think it's part of what we're about that if we can help someone reignite their career and do well that we don't want to stand in their way."

It means Exeter have a year to decide how to replace White, who began his career at the Brumbies before moving to French side Montpellier in 2017.

Exeter are blessed with a number of home-grown options at nine; Stu Townsend started the 2017 Premiership final, but is recovering from a serious knee injury, while Jack Maunder won an England cap in 2017 and his brother Sam has played age-group rugby for England.

"You'd like to keep all your top players and keep adding to it, but that isn't the reality," said Baxter.

"We'll keep our eye on the market, interesting players will become available, but first and foremost we'll look at the form of the young nines we've got here and see if we start to anticipate a year's time is the right time for them all to step up and fight for the one, two and three spots just on their own."

Gloucester fly-half Danny Cipriani has been nominated for the Rugby Players Association Player of the Year award.

The 31-year-old, who moved from Wasps last summer, has impressed this season despite a troubled start at Kingsholm.

He was fined for an assault at a Jersey nightclub in August and received a three-week ban for a high tackle during a game against Munster in October.

Northampton's Cobus Reinach, Sale's Faf de Klerk and Exeter's Santiago Cordero and Henry Slade are also nominated.

Cipriani's Gloucester team-mate Ollie Thorley is one of the five players nominated for Young Player of the Year.

He is up against Bath's England winger Joe Cokanasiga, Tom Curry of Sale, Harlequins' forward Alex Dombrandt and Rory Hutchinson from Northampton Saints.

Curry, along with Jonny May and Mark Wilson, are nominated as England Men's Player of the Year.

Sarah Bern, Katy Daley-Mclean and Sarah McKenna are the nominees for England Women's Player of the Year after the Red Roses won the Grand Slam.

Connacht are not underdogs against Ulster - McFarland

Published in Rugby
Tuesday, 30 April 2019 22:39

Ulster do not have far to look to gain an insight into the Connacht mindset ahead of their Pro14 quarter-final.

On their previous visit, Connacht clinched their first Belfast win in 58 years and they return just seven months later seeking a repeat performance.

Ulster's Dan McFarland and John Cooney have both been inside the Connacht dressing room and know what to expect.

"For a long time Connacht were not considered an equal - and I was part of that fight," said McFarland.

"But they are where they are now through the perseverance and the passion of the people involved in the organisation."

McFarland, who began coaching at Connacht after finishing his playing career at the Sportsground, added: "I know what that's like because I was there but make no mistake, this is a team that can beat anybody on their day - they've beaten us twice already (this season) - they've had the better of us.

"I don't consider them coming here as underdogs at all and that's certainly not how I'm going to approach it."

Connacht have qualified for the Pro14 play-offs for the first time since they won the trophy in 2016 - a title that helped the western province to escape the underachievers tag that plagued them for much of the professional era.

Connacht supporters marched on the headquarters of the IRFU in 2003 to protest against their team being disbanded and the Galway-based side struggled to compete against their provincial rivals for over a decade before winning their first silverware.

Cooney made a short cameo for Connacht in the 2016 Grand Final win over Leinster and spent three seasons at the Sportsground where he struck up a close friendship with fly-half Jack Carty before his move to Ulster.

"At Connacht I found that people always underestimated you and playing with that squad of players that always worked really hard for each other and never gave up, the likes of John Muldoon, it was a good mentality that I really liked and one I always thrived in," said the Ireland scrum-half.

"I know that Connacht will always have that mentality because they have that 'fight for every inch' attitude so it will be two very similar squads, who like to work hard for each other, going up against each other (on Saturday)."

Ulster have enjoyed an impressive campaign since McFarland's arrival as head coach and have lost just three matches since the beginning of 2019 as they emerged from the pool stages of the Champions Cup to narrowly lose to Leinster in the quarter-finals.

But Cooney accepts that their record against Connacht is a black mark against the players and management.

"We seem to be a team that are performing better under pressure, we really thrive in these big games at the moment, so we are pretty annoyed about Connacht," the scrum-half acknowledged.

"They actually beat us away last year as well so three of the last four games they've won and they've all been pretty tight.

"It was a heart-breaking game at home this year because it was the first time they had won here in nearly 60 years so that was pretty annoying and I know that they were confident about winning both of those games.

"So this week it will be different Connacht side, a confident side, and it will be us with the chip on our shoulder so hopefully we'll be able to get the fans behind us for this one."

For the moment, reaching the European quarter-finals is Ulster's best achievement under McFarland but the former prop has taken greater satisfaction from the tenacity his side have shown when faced by adversity throughout the season.

"We've had to fight for every inch on a number of occasions this year to garner the points to finish second in our conference," added the Ulster coach.

"And those key moments, (show that) we know that we can fight it out - that doesn't mean that we win every game - but we know that we have that capacity to be able to really dog it out when it counts."

Head coach Warren Gatland says Rhys Carre's eligibility to play for England did not influence his decision to include him in Wales' extended World Cup squad.

The 21-year-old uncapped loose-head prop is leaving Cardiff Blues to join Saracens next season.

Gatland admitted he discussed how Carre's selection would be perceived.

"But I would not let that influence me in terms of feeling he was the right person for the job," he said.

Carre has come through the Blues age-grade system and represented Wales Under-20s, but also qualifies for England through a family link.

He would not be tied to Wales until he has played in a senior Test match.

Another complication is Wales' selection policy means international players can only continue to represent the senior national side while playing for a club outside Wales if they have won 60 caps.

However, Carre could play for Wales even after joining Saracens as he is yet to make a senior appearance.

Gatland sees him as a "player of the future" and immediate cover for the injured Rob Evans, while Wyn Jones has also suffered calf problems in the last year.

But the New Zealander says he is surprised at Carre's decision to play his club rugby in England from next season.

"John Mulvihill (Blues head coach) asked me to talk to Rhys but I felt it was not my position to do so; it was more appropriate that Wayne Pivac spoke to him because he will be in the role after me," Gatland said.

"He sees it as a chance to go and get experience at one of the best clubs in Europe. I can understand that, but he also needs to play and that is the risk he takes going there.

"I cannot see him overtaking Mako Vunipola where he could potentially have been a regular starter for the Blues next season.

"He has made the decision and if he feels it is the right one, good luck to him."

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