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2008 - A Year of Magic and Adventure
Robert Edwards, The Voice of Squash, reflects
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2008 was twelve months of fun and joy tears
and laughter old friends and new. Even with the economic climate
proving stormy you could not cast a shadow over the year.
As the Tournament of Champions in New York starts off another year,
let's reflect on 2008, another special year on the PSA tour ... |
Some Magic Events
Egypt has staged some truly fabulous tournaments over the years so
it was exciting to welcome a new event onto our calendar. The Petrosport Open which was staged in a stunning venue overlooking
Cairo. For a first event that started as a Super Series Platinum you
have to commend Hady Fahmy, Chairman of the Higher Championship
Committee for his vision and courage it was a superb inaugural
event in a stunning venue Sky Club.
The final between Wael El
Hindi and Karim Darwish was not a classic but what a week it was for
Wael who won the most fashionable player award and the title!! Karim
walked away looking very stern but we had all seen enough from him
not to be shocked at his heroic exploits later in the year. We look
forward to 2009 and the second Petrosport Open.
The Kuwait Open continues to be at the top of the PSA tournament
tree because of the support of Sheikha Fadyah Al Sabah who has led
the event as Chairman of the Organising Committee. Once again she
led the team in 2008 as they unveiled a new purpose built squash
arena housing a permanent ASB Glass court what a setting!! Amr
Shabana Greg Gaultier, together with Thierry Lincou and Ramy
Ashour made up the semi finals.
The quarter finals were especially
memorable for the match between James Willstrop and Thierry. One of
those specials that went the distance. The Frenchman edged out Jimbo
but lost out to the mercurial Ramy Ashour in the semi final.
Amr
beat his close friend Greg Gaultier in the other semi to set up an
all too common sight an all Egyptian final. Ramy had beaten Amr
the previous week in Hurghada and you felt that he was not going to
let this happen again. Amr played almost perfect squash to win 3/0
and show the world the talents that has made him the number one
player for such a long time as well as holding off the ever hungry
Ramy Ashour.
Sheikha Fadyah ended the tournament by announcing that
she will be putting her team together soon to present a spectacular
World Open in 2009. Watch this space!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The British Open was to feature one of those never to be forgotten
finals between the pride of England James Willstrop and three
times Champion, David Palmer The Marine. It was a fabulous clash
between two lovely guys. A match full of desire and passion that you
knew had to go the full distance.
What a way to end after saving
match balls Dave finally miss hit the ball for a ridiculous winner
and his 4th British Open title. James showed the world that he is
the best player on tour not to have won a major surely this will
change in 2009. Although hurting beyond belief he still found the
words to commend David and show what a gentleman Jimbo is on and
off the court.
David must now be able to claim without any doubt
that with Geoff Hunt, he is the best Australian player of all time.
A subtle hint for you Aussies to award him appropriately he
deserves a gong or two in recognition of his immense achievements.
The amazing Super Series Finals are now promoted by Ziad Al-Turki
& managed by Paul Walters and his team from iSport. An exciting
formula which is open to the top 8 PSA performers over the previous
year. It was a fantastic show that has produced the news that the
event will now be showcased at the historical Queens Club from 2009.
Greg Gaultier was the 2008 champion beating the World's top player,
Amr Shabana, in the final with some flawless squash. Playing like
this Greg is a massive force and he is surely destined to be a
future world number one.
The World Open with Jim Quigley and Paul Walters at the helm
did Manchester proud. Bermuda 2007 was a hard act to follow and they
did a sterling job. What a time for the Boy wonder to add to his two
World Junior titles by becoming the World Champion. Ramy Ashour is a
fine young man who has the gifts of a sporting God.
For 2009 I can
only hope that he stays injury free and possibly looks at his
preparations for major events. He loves the comfort zone of being
with his family especially his mum who is so proud of him and his
big brother Hisham. Maybe to achieve his ultimate goals he will need
a harder regime. But who am I to say this, after all he is the World
Champion at only just 21 years of age!!
Well done Ramy I hope you
bought Mum something special with the prize money. Both you and
Hisham light up the tour with your personalities.
After a period of nearly three years I returned to Qatar for the
Qatar
Classic. Hisham Algosaibi who has been such a stoic supporter of
squash in Qatar, was returning as the Tournament Director and my old
friend Alaa Alouba was again the Technical Director.
The President
of the Qatar Squash Federation, Nabeel Ali Bin Ali and his Board,
very kindly asked me to return as the Presenter for 2008. It was so
good to be back amongst so many friends and to see the enormous
changes that they have made to the venue.
It felt like home as I
walked out to say hello to an audience packed with dear friends of
old. My best moments were the time I spent at Hisham & Debbie's
lovely home watching their three beautiful children swimming like
otters in the pool & playing Doha Golf Course again with Anthony
Ricketts, Dave Palmer and old friend and long time resident of Doha,
Gordon East.
What a venue Qatar has been for squash I think they
started in 1992 and next to Hong Kong must be the tournament with
the most longevity. Hisham and his team again showed us hospitality
from the top drawer.
In an all Egyptian final Karim Darwish finally
broke through when he beat the incredible Amr Shabana 3/0 to claim
his first major event. From the day he won the World Junior title
Karim has been slowly progressing but here in Qatar he was the
finished article. As he lifted the trophy it was clear that here was
another Egyptian star a winner.
I did not attend the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong but I have to mention the two greats of
this era. Amr Shabana and Nicol David won the title for the 4th year
running. For Amr he has now been the World No 1 for nearly three
years three time world champion - he deserves all of the accolades
that he is receiving.
For Nicol it was yet another triumph for the
young woman from Malaysia who now dominates the ladies game. She was
to go the whole of 2008 unbeaten ending the year as the British
Open Champion World Champion and World number 1 with 10 tour
titles. Shades of the might Heather Mackay. Her country chose 2008
to award her with the title "Datuk", the equivalent of a British
Knighthood.
Well done to two champions who are re writing the record
books on a daily basis, two champions our game are very proud of.
Can you believe that we are not in the Olympics when we have such a
great game and boast champions like Amr & Nicol?
The Saudi International saw the year end on a high note. The
Worlds Largest ever prize money was up for grabs - $250,000!!
Nothing was spared in making this a never to be forgotten event. The
players were housed in Cabanas on the Beach on the incredible Sunset
Beach Resort. The venue was stunning and the packed crowds took up
every seat and more for the final between Karim Darwish and Greg
Gaultier. They had proven themselves to be the in form players
during the week and the place buzzed with expectation. Obviously the
local support was for Karim but Greg had looked special in reaching
the final.
In an amazing twist of fate the Saudi International has
decided in three out of 4 years who would be the World No. 1 in the
New Year ranking list. Karim already knew that by beating Amr
Shabana in the semi finals his points tally would give him the
Number One spot in January 2009.
With that safely in the bag he went
into the final determined to put the icing on the cake. Playing
simply flawless squash he was to beat the French ace M. Gaultier 3/1
and do the double Saudi International Champion 2008 and new World
Number 1.
What a year from Karim his loss in the final of the Petrosport Open was forgotten as he raised the spectacular trophy to
the sky. Like Amr, marriage seems to have brought the best out of
Karim and he certainly was not short of a few dollars to take his
new bride Engy out for dinner when he returned to Cairo as the new
World number one. |
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Special Mentions
To Nick Matthew I want to say how good it is having you back
after such a long time out with a shoulder injury. Nick was off the
tour from January to September. Typical of his spirit he never
stopped working in readiness for his return to the game.
He won his
first tournament back, The Dutch Open and sent a clear message that
all he needed was match practise to bring him back to the form that
had won him a British Open title. I felt his presence most in Saudi
when he played a pig fight of a match against Peter Barker (a player
I have long admired) that he won 15/13 in the fifth. Two English
players who are wonderful adverts for the game. He went on to beat
Ramy in the quarters before losing in the semi final.
Nick is
definitely back and together with Peter Barker, James Willstrop,
Adrian Grant & Alistair Walker & Joey Barrington etc will help
spearhead an English challenge in 2009 against the Egyptian
domination. What a fantastic prospect in store for us all.
I want to pay respect to two old war horses. Thierry Lincou and
David Palmer. Two stars who are coming to the end of their careers.
They have both won everything in the game and still their sheer
professionalism drives them forward and keeps them at the top of the
rankings.
They are a fine advert for the game and an example to all
young professionals of how to present themselves. Two special
friends, who I have asked to promise to stay on the tour, until the
World Open in Saudi in 2010. I have enjoyed their company so much
over the years and I have always admired their professional approach
to the game. Two star men in every sense of the word.
At a time when Egyptian players are starting to dominate the tour,
may I say that they have given our game so much quality and colour?
To a man they are good guys, Amr, Karim, Ramy, Wael, Hisham &
Mohammed Abbas etc. There breakfast table at tournaments is the
loudest!!! Now new kids are now coming through their system, like
Tarek Momen, Omar Mosaad and the World Junior Champion, Mohammed El
Shorbagy. At 17 won the British
Junior Open in Sheffield for a second time watch him go this year.
Every year we lose players to retirement. This year has seen John
White announce that he is calling it a day on the PSA Tour - then I
heard he was doing ToC this month in New York!! I am sure that this
will be his swansong and I trust John Nimick will do something
special to say goodbye to one of the biggest personalities PSA have
ever had within their membership.
I first met Johnny in Calcutta during the early 90's. He had the
thickest glasses I have ever seen (thank God for lenses Whitey
otherwise Susie would never have been attracted to you!!) but from
the beginning he had that X factor.
I gave him a hard time on the
microphone for four days - on finals day he grabbed the microphone
and challenged me to a game of doubles. The crowd seemed to want him
to get his revenge ... I can only say that he does hit the ball
bloody hard ... and the laugh was on me!!
One of the greatest
games I ever saw was the World Open Final in Antwerp when he lost in
an amazing match against David Palmer. Both families and friends
were in the audience - Dave saved a load of match balls to finally
take the crown.
Both players and their families showed the world how
to win and to lose with dignity. The Great White was to become a
world number one and to enthrall audiences everywhere he played.
A
great mate - stay in touch John. The tour will miss Whitey for his
fun - his humour and his talent.
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A wedding and a half
I cannot let 2008 go without mentioning the wedding of the
year. My dear friend Jack Herrick, the ex Chairman of PSA and his
wife Mary had announced that their daughter Catherine was to marry
her fiancι Robby Levy in Cleveland, Ohio during June. Sandy and I
flew out with Gawain Briars, the ex PSA CEO as guests. I can only
describe the wedding as "Spectacular"!!!!
Mary had planned it, with
Catherine, down to the last detail it was reminiscent of the film,
Father of the Bride but with much more style. Five days of
festivities, that were planned like a military operation. Mary was
like the conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra she
controlled it like a General Patton with perfume. Jack was a man in
a daze as the two women in his life ran him ragged. He told me that
he had given up on the budget within a week of the announcement and
was now resolved to a financial overload. Mary produced a wedding
that brides can only dream about and Catherine and Robby enjoyed the
best day of their lives.
Catherine was beautiful and Robby was the
perfect groom. My two special memories are of Catherine on the stage
at the end of the wedding with three friends from her school days
with the band, that had been flown in from New York, raising the
volume they belted out "America" by Neil Diamond. They really rocked
it was girl power at its beautiful best. Finally, I spent some
quiet time with Jack, who adores his Siamese cat, Cosworth.
A
lasting memory is of Jack taking him for a walk on a lead around the
running track of the school that fronts their beautiful family home. Cosworth was bouncing but Jack was a man in shock
.. He was
probably thinking of all of those zeros!!!!!!!
. but it was one
heck of a wedding totally unforgettable. And they are still
together!!! |
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And Finally ...
Finally, as I continue my recovery from bad health I want to thank
my background team who are my reason to succeed. My wife Sandy my
daughter Danielle and my son Leigh. My absolute pride in them makes
it impossible for me ever to fail in their eyes and that will always
be my driving force.
All the best for 2009 to everyone players promoters referees,
officials, media and supporters. To those of you who have helped so
much at my events in 2008. Like the Twins in Kuwait, Emad & Hadi in
Saudi, Alaa in Qatar, Mahmoud Khalifa, Adel Nasr & Tamer Tahoun in
Cairo. Finally, Rachel Pullen and Craig Chappell in London. They
represent so many countries and cultures but everyone of them are
international stars on the squash tour. Thank you for helping me to
create the magic that showcased our game and our players.
The Voice of Squash |
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