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YEARS FIRST UAE NATIONAL JUNIOR SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIP CONCLUDES The first Dunlop and Sri Lankan Airlines backed UAE National Junior Squash Championship of the year 2008 which was being held at the Lifestyle Health Club, City Center Hotel and Residence got over with ten finals being played on the last day of the week long event. The top ranked players of almost every age group managed to take their respective titles with Egyptian girl Cherifa abou Alghar being the only player to take home two titles. The young 8 year old got past Jaida Hammam and Diya Chopra to take the Girl s Under 11 and Under 13 titles respectively. In the Girl s Under 9 event Jaida Hammam managed to secure the first position with Vaishvi Seth taking the second spot. Jaida also finished second in the Girl s Under 11 event ahead of Malak Elgohany who finished third. In the Boy s Under 9 event which featured the youngest competitor of the event, 3 years old Adham Hammam, (Jaida Hamam s younger brother), Abu Dhabi s Egyptian brothers, Zeyad Hassanien and Hussein Hassanien took the first and second spot respectively with Mazen Mohsen finishing third. The Boy s Under 11 saw Khalid Hamdy lift the title with Tanmay Das finishing second and Saif Salem third. Sandeep Ramachandran prevented a clean sweep for the alghar family when he overcame Cherifa s older brother Adham Abou Alghar in the final of the Boy s Under 13 event. Abdul Rehman Hamdy finished third. In the Girl s Under 13, Cherifa Abou al ghar took the winner s trophy with Diya Chopra finishing second and Mennah Ayman third. In the Under 15 Boy s Abu Dhabi s Mubarak Mohsin lifted the title defeating Adham Abou Algar while Sandeep Ramachandran finish third. Khalid and Abdul Rehman s older sister added the Girl s Under 15 title to the Hamdy family s list beating Diya Chopra in the final. Abu Dhabi s Fatima Farooq finished third. In the Under 17 Boy s Syed Ahmed Ali got the better of Mubarak Mohsin while Kshitig Aggarwal finished third. Trishya Reddy won the Under 17 Girl s defeating Neeraja Shankar in the final, while Basma Hamdy finished third. One of the main attraction of the championship was that the junior players could accumulate points towards the newly launched the National Junior Squash Rankings. We released the first UAE Junior Squash Rankings earlier this month based on the event we organized at the end of last year and looking at the entries at this year s first event one can see the positive effect the ranking has had on the players, said Maqbool Khawaja, the organizer of the championship. We are planning on having another such event in the next two months. Last year Mr. Khawaja Maqbool organized four such events which grew with each time. Over 150 entries were received this time and this shows that the event is gaining popularity in the country which is a very positive sign, said Andy Stains, the Chairman of the UAE Squash Racquet Association. Umbro Isotonic Sports Drink is the official drink of the event with Sri Lankan Airlines as the main sponsor, and Jotun Paints the co-sponsor. Adil to play 30th consecutive National Final 16 year old Ahmed Farooq, of ADCO defeated Ahmed Dada in the Division one semi-final of the DUNLOP backed UAE National Men's PSA Challenger Series No. 1 being held at the Lifestyle Health Club, City Center Hotel and Residence. Ahmed was very confident playing in his first senior tournament away from his home in Abu Dhabi fought till the very end to defeat Ahmed in three closely contested games. Ahmed won 11-10(1-0), 11-8, 11-7. In the other semifinal Usman Basarat came back from two games down to beat Gavin Pinnington in five with a score of 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-2. Super Division:In the Sri Lankan Airlines backed Super Division, 19-year-old Preston University student Khawaja Adil Maqbool, the UAE men's Number 1 since 2001, got past Pakistan's Asif Khan in four games winning 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-9. Winning the final tomorrow will give Adil a record 29th National Title win. In the other semifinal Saqib Rafi upset second seed Aamir Khan in four games winning 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-10(4-2). The match consisted of long and patient relliies, with Saqib winning at the end with a mistake from Aamir Khan. Division 2:Top seed Hisham Badr easily got past Elsharief Hassan 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 and Muhammad Bhatti ended the run of the talented 11 year old Sandeep ramanchadran winning in an epic five setter; 8-11, 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8. The Chairman of UAE Squash Racquet Association, Andy Stains on this particular PSA event says, "Great to see a good level of squash played by a good mix of nationalities. And as chairman of UAE SRA, we are very pleased to have this tournament played here." Umbro Isotonic Sports Drink is the official drink of the event with Sri Lankan Airlines as the main sponsor, and Juton Paints the co-sponsor. Al Nasr Leisureland womens and mens Tournaments Started from yesterday evening in AL NASR LEISURELAND squash club where different nationalities (INDIA, AUSTRALIA, GERMANY, PAKISTAN, EYGPT, ENGLAND, UAS AND UAE squash players are participating in this tournament. Women squash Tournament Top seed player from MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA ERIN CLARKE said, I am really enjoying squash in Dubai, Dubai is beautiful and I am hoping to win and take the ANL women open squash trophy to AUSTRALIA after the tournament but I know I have to work hard for this trophy because in Q.final Lauren Brown (England) semifinal with Bernadette Freear (England) I hope I will meet tournament No 2 seeded squash player SANGEETA SURANA in the Final. ERIN CLARKE beat Dr. JAIMALA SHUKLA From India and Doctor in Dubai. In the ANL Amateur squash tournament top seed ASIF BHATTI will play his match today. Tournaments are Sponsored By: CASAMIA STAR GESAMTPLANUNG REAL ESTATE DUBAI and Prince. UAE National Junior Squash Championship gets underway.
The first national ranking junior squash tournament of the year, one of the biggest junior events in country ever with over 150 overall entries, got under way at the Lifestyle Health Club, City Centre Hotel and Residence, a Press release stated yesterday. One of the main attractions of the junior championship is that since the UAE National Junior Ranking was launched earlier this month, this is the first event in which the junior can accumulate ranking points. "We published the first UAE National junior ranking based on the results of the last tournament we organized in October last year and the response of juniors from all over the UAE is overwhelming. Compared to last event's 65 entries we have over 90 entries this time," said Maqbool Khawaja, the organizer. He is also coach of UAE's top men's (Khawaja Adil Maqbool) and women's players (Trishya Reddy), "I am very pleased that we have received such a positive response from the junior players in the UAE. I hope that such ranking tournaments will encourage juniors to train harder and play with more commitment as they will have a motivation of improving their ranking." The tournament is being played in a round-robin format and will then move on to the semifinals and finals for the ten age groups, with an addition of the Boys and Girls under 9 categories this time. There are separate age groups for boys and girls under the ages of 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17. Dunlop is the title sponsor, Umbro Isotonic Sports Drink the official drink of the event along with Sri Lankan Airlines as the main sponsor, and Jotun Paints the co-sponsor. Day 2 and 3: Sandeep and Hamdi continue to surprise, Farooq progresses.
11 year old Sandeep Ramachandran and 12 year old Abdul Rehman Hamdi continued their move towards a semifinal clash with each other with imposing wins over their senior opponents in the pre.quarterfinals of the Division 2 category of the UAE National Men's PSA Challenger Series No. 1 being held at the Lifestyle Health Club, City Center Hotel and Residence. Egypt's Abdul Rehman Hamdi once again used his powerful drives and boasts to upset his Pakistani opponent, Nasim Ahmed, in a relatively short match winning 11-9m 11-3 and 11-7. Playing in his first national men's event Hamdi overcame his nervousness in the first game once again and then dominated the next two games with his hard hitting play. "I am gaining confidence with each match. I played well today and hope I can play well tomorrow also as I have a really tough match." A. Rehman now plays Mohd. Bhatti who upset the second seed Vettath Sukumarn in a see-saw five setter for a place in the semifinal. India's Sandeep Ramachandram showed some of his good racquet skills in overcoming an older opponent, Mohd. Saleh Haji, in straight sets to book himself a place in the quarterfinal of his first national senior event. "I have a good chance of winning if I play well tomorrow, and I hope Abdul (Rehman) also wins so that we can play together." Sandeep and Abdul Rehman both train together with Khawaja Maqbool Ahmed, the father and coach of the UAE Men's Number one Khawaja Adil Maqbool. In the other Division 2 matches top seed Hisham Badr got past Adham Coutry 3-0 and AUS student Elsharief Hassan overcame fellow AUS student Farhan Merchant for a place in the quarterfinal against Sarfraz Rao. Super Division: The Dunlop and Sri Lankan Airline's backed Men's Challenger Series started off with UAE Number 1 Khawaja Adil Maqbool brushing aside new comer Syed Hassan Ali 11-6, 11-2, and 11-8 in the first quarterfinal. In the main round matches earlier new comer Neil Chambers beat Ahmed Jaffer 3-1 wheras Asif Khan got past Tony Webb in comfortable straight sets. Fourth seed Saqib Rafi got through to the quarters with a convincing 3-0 victory over Waqas Salahuddin and second seed Aamir Khan got the better of Moshin Mosa in straight sets in an all-Abu Dhabi tie. Division 1: In the Division-1 matches 16 year old Syed Ahmed Farooq, over came two hours of fatigue of coming from Abu Dhabi and got past Ashraf Amin in short but explosive 4 games which had a lot of attacking in it and then Mohd. S. Bahjat went down fighting the top seed Usman Basharat in straight sets. Ahmed Dada and Gavin Pinnington on the other hand both had to go to the fifth to overcome their opponents Andrew Morley and Gerry Gibson, respectively, to book a place in the semifinals. Umbro Isotonic Sports Drink is the official drink of the event with Sri Lankan Airlines as the main sponsor, and Jotun Paints the co-sponsor. Day1: Teenagers Sandeep and Hamdi cause upsets 11 year old Sandeep Ramachandran and 12 year old Abdul Rehman Hamdi caused the main upsets in the first national junior and senior squash ranking tournament of the year as it kicked off at the Lifestyle Health Club, City Center Hotel and Residence yesterday with the Men's Division 1 and Division 2 first round matches. Egypt's Abdul Rehman Hamdi caused the first upset of the tournament when he beat a much older fellow Egyptian, Ahmed Shindi, 11-9, 11-4 and 11-5. Playing in his first national men's event Hamdi overcame his nervousness in the first game and then dominated the next two games with his hard hitting play. "I am very happy with a win in my first match. I trained really hard and now it's helping me. I owe it to my mother's support." Another teenager India's Sandeep Ramachandram also playing his first senior event overcame a much older opponent, Hisham Ycan with an identical 3-0 score. Sandeep seemed in control in the first game but then seemed to relax as Ycan tried to make a come back in the second and third game but eventually gave in to Sandeep's superior ball control. "I took it easy in the second a bit but then changed gear in the end of it and managed to win at the end. Just hope I can play well tomorrow as well and win, " said Sandeep after the match. The Dunlop and Sri Lankan Airline's backed Men's Challenger Series started off with UAE Number 1 Khawaja Adil Maqbool brushing aside Muhammed Atiq in straight sets in the first match of the evening for a place in the quarterfinal of the Super Men's Division. In the other Division-2 matches Anurag Uniyal beat Taher Surti in a closely fought match with a score of 11-10(3-1) in the fifth. American University's Elsharief Hassan beat Ahmed Zeeshan 3-1 and another AUS student Adham Courty beat Kevin O Connor 3-0. Ahmed Abou Alghar and Mohd. Bhatti beat Ali Mohsin and Sharif Waquib 3-0 respectively. Sarfraz Rao edged past AUS student Saeed al-Mazroui in a tense 3-2 match. In the Division-1 matches Mohd. S. Bahjat got past David Cowie with a 3-1 score and Gavin Pinnington beat Fabien Maupas 3-0. Umbro Isotonic Sports Drink is the official drink of the event with Sri Lankan Airlines as the main sponsor, and Jotun Paints the co-sponsor. Al Nasr Leisureland Tournaments
Cherifa Abouelghar (Egypt Under 11 Champion in action at ANL)
Men's League Dates Announced
Captains: Please see latest information in the Captain's Area and register here. Aspiring Captains / New Teams please contact Chris Wind for details and a password to the Captain's area to be able to register your team (you need a minimum of 4 players and a home court to be able to register a team) New Players who would like to play in the league, please have a look at the Clubs section of this website for a club nearest you, or most convenient to you, and contact them directlly to join one of their teams. We have many requests, but unfortunately, dubaisquash.org cannot place players in teams - you will have to find your own way into a team, or form your own. UAE National Junior Rankings LaunchedA National Ranking scheme for UAE Juniors under 17 has been launched. 4 separate categories for Girls as well as Boys (<11, <13, <15 and <17) are supported. These rankings are fed by the various Junior Tournaments being held at various times around the UAE. Please keep an eye on the events portion of this website if you have (or are) a Junior interested in joining in the rankings. If you are interested in holding a Junior Tournament of your own, or simply interested as to how these rankings work, please click here. Captain Underpants' mysterious injury explained at last!!
Unable to automobile home, and since his flying powers had deserted him, he bravely decided to walk (in a fashion). A kindly trucker, spotting Captn. U offered a lift. Since U's flight powers were still lacking he had to climb the heights into the cabin. Upon release at his destination he courteously thanked the good driver and stepped out of the cabin quite forgetting that his flight powers were gone for the night... THUMP. Not 1, but 2 Match reports - for the same Match!
Next up was veteran Keith against "Pieman" Elton. More long rallies ensued with Keith trying to psych out the Pieman by going for jogs inbetween games. This seemed to put Elton off slightly and a number of errors were made by the Flyers No. 1, but eventually he digged deep into his pie reserves and dug out a hard fought 3-2 victory.
The Dark SideIt all began with a trip to visit the Dark Side!! An intrepid Flyers expeditionary force assembled on the fringes of the civilized Galactic Empire to stock up on supplies and to plan their mission. Alas, an instant setback was delivered in the form of an announcement that "Princess" Deb had been captured by men in uniform and being held quite close to a Black Hole. Undeterred by Debs' plight (well Nokia's were used, jokes were made but still the men did not release him in time to join the mission) the merry band continued on their way. Since light sabres were missing (as Dr. Evil's MiniMe units had stolen them) Pool cues had to do and battle was joined. As the battle raged, the Dark forces gathered and began to play tricks on the Flyers' minds. They slowly lost the ability to reason and communications were drowned out by the din. They were assaulted by a band of midgets with pointy parts all of whom were clearly from the Dark Side. The heat of the battle, the loud noises and flashing lights made it extremely difficult to judge who was being overcome or not. It is believed all made it though and returned safe to the civilized Galaxy. Only slowly are all the parts of the story coming to light. Stay tuned. So, what of Deb, you may ask? Well, it seems the name has had to be changed due to the nature of the event that had befallen him, so it was decided on that very night that henceforth he would be "D2G". (This is quite apart from the logical fact that he could not remain a Debutante [in the classical sense] forever). This intrepid reporter, in fact, has paid a large sum of money to get a recent photo of him:
The Glove Remains Undefeated!
Adil Makes it to Final Qualifying of Canadian Classic GC goes missing at Squash Dinner, LATB club shattered!Flyers Crash Land in Al AinThe Flyers split into two squadrons (Mirdif and Jumeirah) and traveled to Al Ain to play the rearranged game. All was well with the squadrons arriving at the target on time. This was amazing considering the J squadron consisted of the rugged old warhorse Pops Steibelt not well known for his time keeping. Capn U was first up to take on the might of top of the table Al Ain. Maybe it was the journey, maybe it was the shock of seeing Pops, maybe he wasnít good enough, whatever happened he was roundly stuffed and crashed to earth losing 3-0. After this first game Al Ain decided to employ the divide and conquer tactic, using the two courts available. This meant that the cheering support was split. It obviously worked. Pieman was downed easily by the mighty B52 bomber, AKA the Al Ain number 1, 3-0. GC was blown away 3-0 complaining of jet lag. Pops salvaged some pride by getting a point but eventually tail spinning 3-1. The debrief was tough but the venue for it was pleasant. The excellent hosts provided great company. The J squadron limped home after a few hours. The M squadron had cleverly arranged a flight home on another aircraft thus freeing them up to fully enjoy Al Ain! Last seen debating whether to request a holding pattern by the pilot for the journey home to continue to a late night club!! Hayya Flyers bomb Marriot B into submission
Adil In Final Qualifying of Vancouver OpenDubai based Adil Maqbool reached the final qualifying round of second major squash tournament of the 2008 circuit. Playing in the fast growing $30000 Comfort Inn Vancouver Open being held Vancouver, Canada, Adil overcame his Canadian opponent in straight sets. He drew Canada's Matthew Serediak who is a former Canadian National Junior champion. The match was relatively sort being less than 30minutes which Adil won 11-9, 11-6 and 11-4. "As usual, it was a new court so it took me a game to get to used to it but then in the second it was fine and I was hitting the ball well.". Adil next plays fellow country man Yasir Butt, a former world number 42, currently ranked 72 for a place in the main round of the event. The Preston University student is participating in his second international event of the 2008 calendar after making it to the main round of the prestigious Tournament of Champions in New York last week. Maqbool Edges into the Tournament Of ChampionsDubai based Adil Maqbool made it to his first major events main round by winning his final qualifying round of his first international squash tournament of the 2008 circuit.
The next two games were exchanged with Clieve wining the third 11-9 and then Adil taking the next 11-8. The fifth game was an evenly contested game in which both the players were tested to their extremes. Adil took an early lead of 4-1 before Clieve took 7 points in a row to take a huge lead. At 10-7 Clieve served with four match balls in his hand which Adil saved and managed to win the match on the first match ball he got after taking the game to a tie break wining it 14-12. "This is the best performance of my life. I have managed to reach the main round of one of the biggest events on the PSA tour and that's a really big achievement for me. I am playing a much tougher opponent next after a days rest. Hopefully I will be able to recover. " Adil Makes It to Final Qualifying of Tournament Of Champions December 29, Edinburgh: 10 Year Old, Dubai-based, Sandeep Ramachandran won his first International title at the Scottish Junior Open Squash Championships being held at the Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sandeep, an Indian by birth, won the Boys Under 11 title outclassing all his opponents in straight sets through the tournament. Trained by Maqbool Khawaja, Sandeep easily outclassed his opponents prompting the coach of the Scottish team to compliment Sandeep for his " amazing squash".
Some Photos of Al Nasr Squash:
Some Information regarding the upcoming Saudi International in Al Khobar
Young Aamir, Jaffer upset yet again
19-year-old top seed Maqbool, the UAE men's Number 1 since 2001, on the other hand, crushed Jordan's Ala Harb in less than fifteen minutes 11-3, 11-4 and 11-3. “I have been training a lot alone since I came back from Egypt and all my shots actually seem to fall exactly where I want then to.” The Pakistani will now have to play against Iraq's Ahmed Jaffer on his home court. “I train at the Lifestyle Health Club, and maybe that's why I am so confident with my shots here.” Maqbool, Rafi Ease Into Dunlop Closed Satellite Quarterfinal
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Andrew Nicole (front) v. Yasir Khan |
England's Andrew Nichole kept his hopes alive of making it to his second PSA Closed Final with a comfortable straight games win over Pakistani teenager Yasir Khan with a score of 11-2, 11-7 and 11-7. Nicole now meets Yasin Amjad who got past Neeraj Makhija. Pakistan's second seed Saqib Rafi Khan resisted the challenge of compatriot Waqas Salahuddin also winning his match in straight games with a score of 11-5, 11-5 and 11-8. The qualifying of this PSA event were conducted on Tuesday with Waleed Hameed, Ahmed Dada, Yasin Amjad and Yasir Khan making into the main event from the 16 players who took part in the qualifiers. This is the fourth such event of its type, a PSA National Closed Satellite, being organized in the United Arab Emirates in the last 6 months. Although it is a national event organized along with the UAESRA, now with a new category of tournaments introduced by the Professional Squash Association, it is being recognized internationally as part of the PSA tour and allows World Ranking players to earn points from the event. |
Along with this senior event, the All UAE Junior National Squash Open is also taking place in which over 65 girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 17 years have entered. The Finals of all the junior age categories are set to take place at the Lifestyle Health Club's squash courts on Saturday, 6th of October, starting from 5pm with the Senior Professional's Final at 9pm. Dunlop is the title sponsor of the tournament, with Pocari Sweat being the Official Drink.
Al Nasr Leisureland postponed the upcoming junior squash tournament which was scheduled on 4th to 6th October 2007 to 18th to 20th Oct 2007, due to clashes on dates at Sofitel hotel tournament on same day.
"Sorry for any inconvenience" Say the ANL Organizers.
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Dunlop All UAE Junior Squash Open
@ Sofitel, City Center, Dubai |
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4th PSA Closed Satellite Championship
@ Sofitel, City Center, Dubai |
Note the Ramadan Tournaments in the Events section on the left of this page if you're desperate to play...
and just for fun: watch a video of Captain Underpants, of the famous DCC Flyers, in a training session.
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Less than 19 years after his birth in Abu Dhabi, UAE national number one Khawaja Adil Maqbool has celebrated his 27th National Senior title by winning two national finals in one night. Maqbool won the Dunlop backed PSA National Closed Satellite Circuit No.3, at the Dubai Country Club and then went on to win his 5th Abu Dhabi Open final later in the evening, at the Sheraton Club in Abu Dhabi. Winning his first at the age of 12, in the last 7 years Adil has only lost one national event's final in 2004, and has been unbeaten since then. Top seed Maqbool, based in Ajman, who completed his final year of A' levels earlier this month at the Ibn Seena English High School, faced Aamir Khan, the unseeded teenager, who upset the seeds earlier in the week, in the tournament in the climax of the PSA Closed Satellite event. |
Aamir took the first point of the match but did not seem to be able to cope with Adil's pace throughout the match, which got over in less than 25 minutes. Maqbool won the final in convincing staright games winning 11-3, 11-5 and 11-2.
Adil was full of praise of the fifteen year old from Abu Dhabi, as he said, “I have known Aamir since he was a very small kid, and comparing with last year he has improves tremendously. I do recon the UAE will see a lot of this kid in the near future.”
“I was really very stiff the day before form my quarter final and semi final, however I was able to get through. But today I was just too tired. Four days of playing tough games, does take its toll. Adil played a very tight game and I tried but ran out of steam. ”, Rafi added after the final.
Commenting on the tournament, the chairman of the UAESRA Andy Stains expressed his delight on the fact that the top players of the country competed in it allowing the spectators of the use to watch some quality squash. As Chairman of the DCC he also said that he was pleased that the tournament was held at the Country Club.
Maqbool finished at number 81 last year, but had to spend time preparing for his A Level examinations. A string of steady performances including two quarter finals in Iran and Canada, and this win which gives Maqbool 43.75 points for the world rankings will hopefully get him back into the top-100 in July, after six months off the circuit.
Maqbool, formerly ranked Number one is the world in the Under 13, 15 and 17 age groups, plans on playing squash full time from June onwards once his A' level exams get over, “I am going to Egypt in July to train for the British Open and the World Open next year.”
Final Results of Tournament are
15 year old Aamir Khan, upset two higher seeds in the DUNLOP backed PSA NATIONAL CLOSED SATELLITE in one day to book himself a place in the final against UAE Number 1, Khawaja Adil Maqbool.
Aamir was very confident playing in his first senior tournament away from his home in Abu Dhabi fought till the very end to upset the second seed of the event Saqib Rafi 3-2 in the quarter final. Winning the first after it went to tie break, Saqib relaxed a little too much and found him self 1-2 down as Aamir produced some fascinating shots. Aamir at match ball at 10-6 in the fourth seemed all set to finish off the match however his older compatriot saved 4 match balls to take the game and take the match into a decider. Aamir kept his cool and played flawless squash to reach 10-5 once again but this time after losing just one pint was able to wrap up the match to have his biggest National win.
During the match Saqib Rafi who beat Aamir the precious day in the Abu Dhabi Open semifinal, did complain of injury and did seem a bit ragged on court. However he did add that he did not want to take any credit away from Rafi who played an excellent game and worked really hard for the win.
Playing his semifinal match back-to-back Aamir then went on to beat the squash pro of Al-Nasr club dropping just one game in the process. Faheem, the seventh seed, won the first game 11-9; however Aamir then used some of his hard hitting strokes and outclassed Faheem after winning the second which went to a tie break. Aamir once again played a game well above his age and then went on to win the next two 11-9 and 11-9 to reach his first ever UAE National squash final.
19-year-old top seed Maqbool, the UAE men's Number 1 since 2001, on the other hand, crushed Iraq's Ahmed Jaffer in less than fifteen minutes 11-3, 11-3 and 11-2. Having finished his A' levels earlier this month, Maqbool seemed sharp once again and keeping it fast did not allow Jaffer into the game.
“I have been training a bit now for a week and am glad that I can finally train now as my studies are over.” The Pakistani will now have to play two finals in one day; the first of this event at 3pm and then travel all the way to Abu Dhabi, in order to try and in his fifth Abu Dhabi crown.
Maqbool, who recently reached the quarter finals of two PSA Tour events in Canada and Iran, hopes to better his best World Ranking of 81, from July onwards when he will participate in the HELIOPOLIS ROTARY OPEN in Egypt and then the British Open in September.
The Chairman of UAE Squash Racquet Association, Andy Stains on this particular PSA event says, “Great to see a good level of squash played by a good mix of nationalities. And as chairman of DCC, as well, we are very pleased to have this tournament played here at the DCC.”
Dunlop is the title sponsor of the tournament.
UAE's Number 1 squash player Khawaja Adil Maqbool, reached closer to his 26th National title after brushing aside the challenge of Alan Hicks in the quarter final of the DUNLOP backed PSA CLOSED SATELLITE CIRCUIT No. 3, winning comfortably 11-4, 11-8, and 11-5.
Playing his quarter final at 4pm, Maqbool then traveled to Abu Dhabi to play the Abu Dhabi Open's semi-final which he won against Mosin Musa in straight sets and now will again face Saqib Rafi in the final in Abu Dhabi.
Iraq's Ahmed Jaffer got past Ajay Vase of India in the quarter final, defeating him in a close encounter which lasted over an hour. Losing the first game 12-10 after it went to tie break, Ahmed came back to win the next two 11-8 11-5, before letting the fourth slip away 11-9. Ahmed determined in the fifth proved the seeding right by winning the game and the match 11-7.
Ahmed now faces Adil Maqbool in the semifinal.
Seventh seed Faheem Khan, survived a tough duel against India's Neeraj Makhija. This match too lasted over an hour and saw some good quality squash, with Faheem taking the first 11-8 and then lost the second 10-12 before taking the next 11-6. Faheem again left the fourth as Neeraj bounced back, taking the game 11-6. In the fifth the two players battled point for point till 5-all before Faheem produced some brilliant drop shots to finish off the game11-8.
Faheem's opponent in the semi final will be the winner of the match between to talented teenagers, Saqib Rafi, the second seed of the event and 15 year old Aamir Khan form Abu Dhabi. Aamir Khan playing is his first PSA Closed Satallite in Dubai, earlier upset seeded Waqas Hanif in the first round with an astounding 3-0 victory.
This is the third event of its type, a PSA National Closed Satellite, being organized in the United Arab Emirates. Although it is a national event being organized along with the UAESRA, now with a new category of tournaments introduced by the Professional Squash Association, it is being recognized internationally as part of the PSA tour and allows World Ranking players to earn points from the event.
Results are here.
June 1st Deadline - registration form is here.
Contact:
May 24th - 26th 2007
The DCC Squash 3's are Over...results are here
If you didn't see it you've missed the best (professional level, and fun) squash you will ever see! 365 days to the next one...
Cancel your travel plans, tell your family you're not available, take sick leave from your work!!
Come and watch the best Squash of the year! International and local players battle it out at the World Renowned DCC 3's.
Mens Squash League
