Commonwealth Games 2010 Boasts World-Class Squash Field

Led by nine players from both the men's and women's world top 20 rankings, the cast list for next week's Commonwealth Games Squash championships in Delhi will be world-class - with Malaysia's world number one Nicol David seeded to win the women's singles gold medal and England's Nick Matthew, the world No2, expected to take men's gold.

Players from 27 countries will compete in the two singles events which get underway at the superb new eleven-court Siri Fort Complex - which features an all-glass centre court - on Monday 4 October. Following the Gold and Bronze medal play-offs on Friday 8 October, the three Doubles championships (Men, Women & Mixed) will take place from Saturday 9th to Wednesday 13th October.

New medallists will be certain in the Women's Singles event - with no previous winners in the field, and after Nicol David finished only in fourth place in Melbourne in 2006. It was the 27-year-old from Penang's third successive appearance in the event following her debut in her home country in the sport's first appearance in the Games in 1998.

Nicol David, who celebrated her 50th successive month as world number one this month, is in sparkling form after winning a record-equalling fifth World Open title in Egypt earlier this month.

"After my win at the World Open in Sharm El Sheikh I'm looking forward to bringing that over to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games," said the Malaysian on the eve of her departure for Delhi. "The Games will be a completely different atmosphere and being part of the Malaysian contingent will be a nice boost to do my best out there for the country.

"The Commonwealth Games is always special and I will go all out for it!"

Nick Matthew is also enjoying the best form of his career this year after becoming the first player to win three PSA Super Series championships. But, after becoming England's first world number one for six years in June, the 30-year-old from Sheffield suffered a minor setback when illness forced him to withdraw from the British Grand Prix, the biggest event in Europe this year, in England earlier this month.

"I'm fully fit now and looking forward to being in Delhi," said Matthew as he joined his England team-mates for the flight to India. "I hear that the atmosphere in the England camp has been buzzing and we all can't wait to get out there and get amongst it now.

"On a personal point of view, it will be my second Commonwealth Games - and the first one was among the highlights of my career, so I can't wait to get playing, especially after missing the British Grand Prix.

"Hopefully the enforced rest has done me good," added the gold favourite.

Whilst a new gold medallist is assured in both the men's and women's events, Australia's David Palmer will be hoping to win his third successive medal after clinching Bronze in England in 2002 and Silver on home soil four years ago.

One his country's most successful players of all-time, Palmer celebrated ten complete years in the world's top 10 last month - and earlier this month rediscovered his former form by reaching the semi-finals of the British Grand Prix in Manchester.

Despite losing to Egypt's Ramy Ashour, the reigning world number one and the event's eventual champion, Palmer took positives from his performance: "It's given me encouragement," said the two-time World Open champion. "I haven't been able to play a match like that for the last four or five months.

"The Commonwealth Games is very important to me - and it looks as if I'm back in form. It's better late than never! "So I can go back home and be happy now.

"But it's going to be very tough in Delhi," admitted the 34-year-old fifth seed.

Men's 1st round draw:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) bye
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) v Hartaj Bains (KEN)
[10] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) v Masud Rana (BAN)
Colin Ramasra (TRI) v Jules Snagg (SVG)
[7] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Joe Chapman (IVB)
Siddharth Suchde (IND) v Michael Hopkins (JEY)
[14] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v Sandeep Jangra (IND)
Bradley Hindle (MLT) v Navin Samarasinghe (SRI)
[3] Peter Barker (ENG) v Kelvin Ndhlovu (ZAM)
Alan Clyne (SCO) v Nicholas Kyme (BER)
[11] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Ian Rukunya (UGA)
Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) v Lyall Paterson (SCO)
[8] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v Chris Small (SCO)
Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) v Shopon Pervez (BAN)
[13] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) v Samuel Kyagulanyi (UGA)
Yasir Butt (PAK) v Christopher Binnie (JAM)
Lefika Ragontse (BOT) v Harry Leitch (SCO)
[16] Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Ray Simbule (ZAM)
Robin Clarke (CAN) v Othniel Bailey (SVG)
[6] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v James Bentick (SVG)
Chris Simpson (GGY) v Aubrey Taulo (MAW)
[15] Martin Knight (NZL) v Hardeep Reel (KEN)
Danish Atlas Khan (PAK) v Bruce Burrowes (JAM)
[4] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Michael Rucklinger (PNG)
Lekgotla Mosope (BOT) v Shawn Simpson (BAR)
[9] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Lazarus Chiluba Chilufya (ZAM)
Andrew McDougall (CAN) v Brian Okumu (UGA)
[5] David Palmer (AUS) v Julius Taulo (MAW)
Shawn Delierre (CAN) v Henry Birch (GGY)
[12] Shahier Razik (CAN) v Michael Kawooya (UGA)
Ivan Yuen (MAS) v James Matewere (MAW)
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) bye

Women's 1st round draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bye
Damindhi Udangawa (SRI) bye
[15] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bye
Sharon Wee (MAS) bye
[5] Laura Massaro (ENG) bye
Lisa Aitken (SCO) bye
[16] Alana Miller (CAN) bye
Anwesha Reddy (IND) bye
[4] Madeline Perry (NIR) bye
Sharya Guruge (SRI) v Safina Madhani (KEN)
[13] Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bye
Frania Gillen-Buchert (SCO) v Ashley Khalil (GUY)
[6] Kasey Brown (AUS) bye
Miranda Ranieri (CAN) v Kate Cadigan (JEY)
[11] Delia Arnold (MAS) bye
Kerrie Sample (TRI) v Issey Norman-Ross (GGY)
Jeannine Cowie (JEY) v Barbara Stubbings (PNG)
[12] Joelle King (NZL) bye
Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) v Khaaliqa Nimji (KEN)
[8] Donna Urquhart (AUS) bye
Natalie Dodd (GGY) v Stephanie Edmison (CAN)
[14] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bye
Samantha Cornett (CAN) bye
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bye
Zoe Barr (NIR) bye
[9] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bye
Amelia Pittock (AUS) bye
[7] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) bye
Anaka Alankamony (IND) bye
[10] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bye
Zephanie Curgenven (GGY) bye
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bye

Issued by Howard Harding on behalf of the WSF
Tel: +44 1737-243333 or Mobile: +44 7773-325130
Email: HowHard@aol.com
WSQ 5776 29 September 2010

Delhi Team selections

28th September, 2010

In further continuation to my note dated 27th October 2010, Shri Arjun Khanna has been further co-opted as an additional member for the selection of the Delhi State National Team.

Thanking you,

Vijay Goel

President, DSA

Jr Nationals 2010: Selection of Delhi State teams

DELHI SQUASH ASSOCIATION

(Affiliated to The Squash Racket Federation of India)

E – 348, Greater Kailash – 2, New Delhi – 110048.

Ph No – 011 – 41636005, Fax- 011 – 29212209

E-mail – squashdelhi@gmail.com

27th September, 2010

DELHI TEAM FOR PARTICIPATION IN ALL INDIA JUNIOR INTER-STATE SQUASH TOURNAMENT FROM 29th OCT. 2010 TO 2ND NOV. 2010

1. We had sent a circular on 17.9.2010 wherein we had asked all squash players desirous of taking part in above tournament to send their names to Delhi Squash Association.

2. A number of names have been received.

3. JP Open is taking place from 1.10.2010 to 4.10.2010 at Greater Noida. Most of the squash playing children are taking part in the above tournament.

4. It has been decided that a tentative team will be selected by 6.10.2010 by the selection committee consisting of Shri Bharatinder Singh, Chairman, Shri Vijay Goel, Shri Lalit Advani & Sri Nikhil Pant. (they can co-opt any other member if they so like) based on the performance at JP Open and the past performance of the children.

5. If any children who are not satisfied with the selection of the children made by the committee should inform Mr. Sharad Sharma by 10th October, 2010 and send a payment of Rs.250/- by way of Demand Draft in favour of Delhi Squash Association or by cash.. The Committee will then fix a date for a trial and trial will be done accordingly.

Delhi Squash Association

Delhi Team Selections for Jr Nationals

CIRCULAR

(This circular is for DELHI JUNIOR SQUASH PLAYERS)
Delhi Squash Association will be conducting the Junior Delhi State Team Trial for Boys and Girls, U-15 and U-19
teams for the Junior Inter State Squash Championship to be held from 29th Oct to 2nd Nov 2010 at Chennai.

All players desirous of getting selected to any of the teams must send their entries to Delhi Squash Association.

Entries must be sent to DSA at squashdelhi@gmail.com or directly to B.I SINGH, Lalit Advani, NIKHIL PANT

Delhi State Trials Entries Close on 30th Sept 2010 at 5.00 P.M.

Thanking you,
SHARAD SHARMA
DELHI SQUASH ASSOCIATION

India to host the Squash World Cup 2011

Delhi kids and keen parents could plan to visit Chennai.......!!

"The already strong programme of squash majors has been enlivened
today by the announcement that the SDAT WSF World Cup will take place
in India next year from 812 March.

Spearheaded by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT),
the biennial event will be held in Chennai in 2011, 2013, and 2015,
with the final rounds next year being played on an all-glass show court
erected at the Express Avenue Mall, the largest shopping complex in
southern India.

Sixteen national teams featuring top players from all over the world
will compete, with two men and one woman being the format. Favourites
to be vying for the title are expected to include Australia, Egypt,
England, France, Malaysia, Netherlands, and hosts India.

Thanks to the relentless efforts of World Squash Federation President
Mr N Ramachandran, the Tamil Nadu Government is contributing a total of
one million dollars for the next five years. In granting this
sponsorship, the TN Government spoke highly of the efficient and
professional manner in which the Tamil Nadu Squash Rackets Association
functions:

We are eagerly looking forward to hosting the worlds best squash
players in Chennai, said a delighted TNSRA Secretary General Mr
Srivatsan Subramaniam. The event next year will feature a prize fund of
$(US)125,000, with $(US)50,000 going to the winning team.

Enthusiastically welcoming the championship which will be played in his
home city, WSF President Ramachandran explained: "Not only is this
exciting event a great boost for India, with the opportunity of
watching top stars competing in the flesh and on TV, but the bigger
picture is that we have added an important international event to our
shop-window."

Endorsing this, WSF Chief Executive Andrew Shelley added: "We see it as
essential to work with the mens and womens Tours to maximise our
media impact and to provide a full range of world titles for our sport.

"The World Cup is the only event in the squash calendar in which we
have a single competition for both men and women. Having one which is
staged every other year, starting next March, is a major step forward."

For more information, please contact: www.worldsquash.org"

Punj Lloyd Inter School North Zone gets underway from 6 Sept 2010

Watch this space for details, draws etc. Venue is Noida Squash Center, Noida Stadium Sector 21A, Noida. Also check out here for the latest updates.

DRAWS