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More NZ titles for
Shuja and Brown
Gary Denvir reports

New Zealand's Kashif Shuja claimed his second PSA squash title in a matter of weeks, taking out a thrilling final at the Central Open in New Plymouth.

The second seed edged out unseeded compatriot Campbell Grayson in five games, winning the decider 15-13, in a match described by New Zealand coach Dave Clarke as the best match he has seen between two kiwi players, since arriving in the country five years ago.

It is Shuja's second title this month, after also winning the Bay of Plenty Open two weeks ago. He says it caps off what has been a relatively successful first 12 months as a full-time squash player, and has also reinforced Shuja's commitment to play full-time.

"Campbell played brilliantly, although it was no more than I expected. We train together a lot which means there are not too many surprises on court and it was a matter of grinding out the long hard rallies.  "I had a couple of setbacks when I first decided to go full time, but things are definitely back on track now. My aim was to win two of the three PSA Tour events in New Zealand this month, and that's exactly what I have done. "It's a tough life at times, but it also has its rewards. I want to give it at least another three or four years to see just how far I can go."

Meanwhile, Australian Kasey Brown, who like Shuja won the Bay of Plenty Open two weeks ago, has taken the women's WISPA event.

The top seed beat second seeded New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes in a fiercely contested final, battling home in four games.

Hawkes looked set to push the decider to five games at one stage, fighting back from 2-6 down to lead 7-6 in the fourth, however, Brown regained the momentum to close out the match 9-7 and claim the sixth WISPA title of her career.

Men's Draw
Women's Draw


Kashif Shuja

Kasey Brown

Jaclyn Hawkes

9-1, 9-0, 9-0

Jaclyn Hawkes

Women's Qualifying Finals:
   Eun Ok Park (KOR) bt Sachiko Shinta (JPN)        8-10, 9-4, 9-4, 9-1
   Joelle King (NZL) bt Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS)     9-4, 2-9, 9-4, 10-8
   Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt Kylie Lindsay (NZL)       9-0, 7-9, 9-6, 9-3
   Peta Hughes (AUS) bt Kerry Wickett (NZL)         7-9, 4-9, 9-0, 9-1, 9-1

Round One
   Eun Ok Park (KOR) bt Amanda Cranston (NZL)   9-0, 9-2, 9-4
   Joelle King (NZL) bt Paula Darlington (NZL)         8-10, 9-5, 9-0, 9-5
   Kylie Lindsay (NZL) bt Jackie Laurenson (NZL)    2-9, 9-4, 9-2, 9-3
   Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt Mickayla Kerr (NZL)       9-3, 9-1, 9-3
   Kerry Wickett (NZL) bt Lana Harrison (NZL)        9-4, 9-4, 8-10, 9-7

Kashif Shuja

Kashif Shuja

   Men's Qualifying Finals:
     Graeme Wilson (NZL) bt Josh Thom (NZL)             10-11(0-2), 11-5, 11-7, 11-7
     Josh Greenfield (NZL) bt Jacob Lohrisch (AUS)       11-7, 11-1, 11-2
     Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Paul Tuffin (NZL)              11-4, 11-6, 11-3
     Roger Ngan (HKG) bt Yasunori Ishiwata (JPN)        11-4, 1-5, 11-5

  Round One
     Josh Thom (NZL) bt Joseph Desira (AUS)               11-8, 11-10, 5-11, 11-9
     Josh Greenfield (NZL) bt Rik Smet (BEL)                11-7, 11-5, 11-7
     Jacob Lohrisch (AUS) bt Chris McEldowney (NZL)   11-9, 11-8, 11-10(2-0)
     Paul Tuffin (NZL) bt Joe Millman (ENG)                  11-4, 11-6, 11-3
     Roger Ngan (HKG) bt Kent Darlington (NZL)           11-4, 11-5, 11-5
 

26-Aug, Quarters & Semis:
Corren crashes out
Gary Denvir reports
 
Mike Corren, the 32-year-old Australian top seed, suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during his semi-final, and faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

Corren was one game up against New Zealand's Campbell Grayson, but trailed 7-4 in the second when he launched himself forward to hunt down a backhand drop shot. Unfortunately he never made it, collapsing to the floor, with the problem quickly diagnosed by a physiotherapist on site. Corren is yet to decide what course of action he will take with the injury, but is understandably distraught at the setback in the twilight of his career.

Grayson will now face Kashif Shuja in an all kiwi final tomorrow. Second seeded Shuja is through after victory over Australian seventh seed Scott Arnold to reach his second consecutive final.

Meanwhile, the women's WISPA draw went to plan with top seed Kasey Brown from Australia set to face second seeded New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes in the title decider tomorrow.

Brown is through after a hard fought victory over Dutch fourth seed Orla Noom, while Hawkes dropped just one point in a straight games demolition of third seeded Australian Dianne Desira.

25-Aug, Round One:
Seeds tumble in New Plymouth
Gary Denvir reports
 
New Zealanders Campbell Grayson and Martin Knight caused the biggest upsets in the opening round of the Central Open in New Plymouth.

Grayson produced possibly the best performance of his career, beating fourth seeded Australian Steve Finitsis in four games, while Knight surprised sixth seeded Malaysian Timothy Arnold in five. The two kiwis will now square off for a spot in the semifinals of the PSA draw.

Fifth seeded American Julian Illingworth is also a first round casualty, losing in four to Australian qualifier Ryan Cuskelly, while second seeded New Zealander Kashif Shuja narrowly avoided a similar fate, beating Hong Kong's Dick Lau in five.

In the women's draw, Australian qualifier Rachel Smith is the only bolter, knocking eighth seeded Eise Ng from Hong Kong out in four. The other seven seeds are all safely through to the quarterfinals, including top seeded Aussie Kasey Brown, who romped to victory over kiwi teenager Joelle King.

24-Aug, Qualifying:
More Kiwis make Central Draw
Gary Denvir reports
 
Three more New Zealanders are safely through to the main draws after two rounds of qualifying at the Central Open in New Plymouth.

Graeme Wilson and Josh Greenfield will now contest the opening round of the men's PSA draw tomorrow, with Wilson up against third seeded Australian Simon Carruthers while Greenfield will take on 7th seeded Aussie Scott Arnold.

Meanwhile, Joelle King joined fellow kiwis Jaclyn Hawkes and Louise Crome in the first round of the women's WISPA draw, with the Waikato teen set to face top seeded Australian Kasey Brown.

New Zealand's Kashif Shuja, who won the Bay of Plenty title two weeks ago, is seeded second this week.