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 Vietnam Open 2008
Hanoi Club, Hanoi, 18-20 Mar, $8k |
Crome Conquers in Hanoi
WISPA reports from Hanoi
The Buildup
For the rest of the world it may be a surprise that Vietnam is the
thirteenth most populous country in the world. For anybody who has
been to Hanoi the assault on the senses from people everywhere means
it wouldn't be. Over 85 million people here at the last count.
Chinese influence abounds, the French have been here, America has
cast a shadow; but the first squash invasion to this heavily peopled
country was now nearing an end.
The inaugural WISPA Vietnam Open had reached the final day. Local
enthusiasts had enjoyed seeing a whole new level of play. A few
thought that they could match the WISPA women but were seen off in
friendlies. For WISPA it had been an opportunity to take the Tour
somewhere new and to introduce the sport to another media group.
Aims achieved.
‘Squash is so embryonic in the country that it is without a national
squash federation. It hasn't been able to co-ordinate with the rest
of the international squash family. But this week has been a
catalyst of change’ commented WISPA Chief Executive Andrew Shelley.
‘A volunteer has been found and hopefully soon there will be a link
to the proactive Asian Squash Federation. With their help WSF will
have another country on its’ books too’, he added.
The Match
But today would be all about one match. New Zealand versus India for
the WISPA Vietnam Open title,…… the latest of the WISPA Premiere
Series of ‘initiative’ events.
Word had spread. The gallery behind the court was awash with people
as the warm up ended. The finalists had to thread their way back to
the court door. Taller Indian Joshna Chinappa, the yang to the more
introspective yin of Louise Crome.
No guesses needed as to who was wearing black, for Kiwis like to
avoid the agonies of matching colours. Chinappa happily did so,
electing a white top and lime skirt.
Battle lines were drawn early on, Crome opting for driving mixed
with attacking boasts. Her opponent was trying hard to find angles;
to stretch Crome at the front and then punch to the back.
As the business end of the first game was reached it looked likely
that only a final winner or error would separate the two. Crome
reached game ball first, was pegged back with a crunching straight
drive, but a tight drop secured a tight game for the top seed.
Would the second maintain the high standard of the first game? Not a
bit of it. Chinappa hadn't cleared her head and was not in it at
all. Languid nearly to the point of torpor she succumbed quickly via
a raft of errors. Yet it was back to business from the initial
thrusts of the third game and the fifth seed from Chennai was
keeping pace again.
However a few extravagant errors were included with the quality
stroke making so 29 year old Crome was just staying ahead. And while
Chinappa rallied in both senses of the word to go I front at 6/5,
soon Crome had moved up to match ball at 8/6. It was saved with a
traffic stroke but another followed. This in turn was saved; and by
such a sensational hustle that it precipitated an eruption of
fervent appreciation for the Indian.
But having climbed to 7/8 in the next rally, her attempt to level
was halted with a tinned drive at the front – a call that she was
convinced was wrong. It became third match ball lucky for the
Amsterdam based New Zealander when a deft drop died in the next
exchange.
The Victory
She was now hailed as the first ever Vietnamese Open winner; it
being added to the Finnish Open she had taken exactly a year ago.
Several local players insisted that they would work to get the
players back next year, The winner praised the club and the
friendliness shown to the group. And when she was interviewed about
the match itself she summed it up thus: ‘The first game was crucial.
Joshna was hitting great length and putting me in trouble at the
back. And although I squeezed it I knew I had to find my own length
better’.
‘I'm going to KL in a good frame of mind and will be ready to get
going in the tournament there after two days off’, she added.
The runner up also goes to Malaysia, but without an explanation for
the abbreviated second game. ‘I started well which was important for
me but the second game was kind of mad. I honestly cannot explain
what happened in it’ she commented.
‘The third was really close but there was a crucial call at the end
which changed things. But I am more confident and fitter now so lets
see how the next one goes’.
Because of the buildings laws here which limit ground space, narrow
dwellings get up to several storeys. Hanoi is on the rise; and
perhaps squash will be too after the first ever international event
staged here. All the squash players of Hanoi sincerely hope so.
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19-Mar-08, Semis:
[1] Louise Crome (Nzl) bt [4] Donna Urquhart (Aus)
9/4, 9/6, 9/3 (41m)
[5] Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt [6] Dipika Pallikal (Ind)
9/6, 9/7, 9/4 (36m) |
Crome & Chinappa
vanquish in Vietnam ...
WISPA reports from Hanoi
Outside the Hanoi Club the calm of activities within contrasted with
the pedal power and whizzing bikes; the scrum outside the stalls
selling wares and bun cha, the staple of rice vermicelli with
barbecued pork and vegetables; and fruit laden bicycles plying their
trade.
Inside, the bikes were being powered but not moving around in
the gym; the players practising on the courts.
But there was also the opportunity to hit golf balls out from the
driving range into the adjacent lake. Cunningly, the balls would
float so crash helmeted rowers could easily net them.
Joshna Chinappa & Donna Urquhart tried their hand, and
while some shots connected with the centre of a club, both had much
more success with finding the sweet spot of their squash racket!
A ding dong final in prospect ...
The first semi-final featured the two top remaining seeds, Louise
Crome (1) and Urquhart (4). Both had been comfortable
winners in the last eight and came out of the traps fast. Urquhart,
a rangy left handed Australian who likes to use her reach and take
the ball early. Kiwi Crome is a little more considered, but both
durable and doughty. Moving from Auckland to give full time play a
shot has found her in Amsterdam under the expert eye of Liz Irving.
Urquhart is still to be found in Queensland, but her rate of
improvement as she gains experience may demand a rethink soon.
Playing hard, but with excellent spirit, the standing room only
crowd of local players and interested onlookers were gasping at the
pace. The players were not. Depth and guile were mixed but Crome was
just ahead in winners taken and slightly on top with fewer errors
made. This gave her the first game, and eventually the second after
clawing back Urquhart’s early lead. With the third going much the
same way due to Crome’s steadiness the match was lost for the 21
year old Queenslander.
But although the semi finals had not been her desired end point
Urquhart was not unhappy generally. "I played quite well in patches,
but that was the problem, it was patchy," she smiled. "I started
each game well but I wasn't consistent enough. But Louise played
really well tonight and had me under a lot of pressure."
When asked by the media about her overall progress she responded,
‘In the last two or three years I have had so many injuries but this
year being free of them has made all the difference. I now want to
stay like this and keep learning and moving forward’, she added.
As
for Crome, whose only WISPA Tour title so far has been the Finnish
Open 2007, she was upbeat about her play.
 "That was one of the
better matches I have played in a little while. Not only is it the
first time I have played her, but the first Australian for a while.
They hit it hard with intensity; and with Donna I had to keep
reminding myself all the way through that she was a left hander. But
I knew I really needed to be up for it today as Donna has had some
good results recently."
Joshna stamps her Indian authority
Her final opponent turned out to be the senior Indian. Joshna
Chinappa has not won on the WISPA Tour but would have a chance
now after beating Dipika Pallikal. Both have a similar
physique, both have a languid manner, but only one, Chinappa, really
fired in the match. Pallikal was slow from the blocks and seemed to
realise that success was beyond her despite putting in a good effort
and getting fairly close. Afterwards she admitted that her extended
win over Elise Ng had affected her.
"I was really sore from
yesterday so I couldn't push hard enough. But it was a good week and
I hope that it carries on in Malaysia at the next event."
As
for the victor, ever the perfectionist she was not entirely content.
 "I was happy that I won but I wished I had closed it down earlier
while I was leading’. Asked about her preparation Chinappa
commented, I started training better so am playing better too. Me
and Dipika have amazing sponsors as the Mittal Champions Trust give
us support that lets us prepare and travel without worries. I have
been training with the Indian Squash Federation myself and they have
also helped me out a lot too."
Commercial plugs over, she could look forward to finals day. Not bad
from fifth seeding spot.
For the winner new found wealth will beckon as she becomes a
millionairess overnight – in Vietnamese Dong! It takes 16,000 of
them to match a single US dollar and revaluation doesn't appear to
have taken off as a notion. Until it does zeros will be rain down on
people from every direction, much as cycles and scooters do in the
streets and indeed on the pavements too.
But that is a digression. In the local financial patois, a ding-dong
final is quite possible for the inaugural WISPA Vietnam Open.
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WISPA launches Patrons Club
Club
manager Eugene Chng had not been in position when the club
had been built in 1997, but when he took it over as part of a new
group of owners in 2004 he inherited the two courts.
"I have never played, but I have friends from Singapore where it is
a well known sport so I knew about squash," he said.
Bearing in mind that there are only two other courts in the city,
and apparently a little dilapidated, he was not surprisingly asked
how having the courts of a tiny sport worked for the Hanoi Club. "It
is great to have these facilities as they add to the range for our
members."
As for the event, he was very upbeat. "It will definitely raise the
profile for squash and bring a wider group of members in. It is good
to see us and the sport featured in the newspapers too."
He hesitated, grinned and considered for a moment then turned his
attention to the start of the semi-finals saying, "I will probably
try squash one of these days!"
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Vietnam Open 2008
Hanoi Club, Hanoi, 18-20 Mar, $8k |
Round One
18 Mar |
Quarters
18 Mar |
Semis
19 Mar |
Final
20 Mar |
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[1] Louise Crome (Nzl)
9/3, 9/0, 9/1 (23m)
[7] Josefa Bertilsson (Swe) |
[1] Louise Crome
9/4, 9/6, 9/3 (41m)
[4] Donna Urquhart |
[1] Louise Crome
18.00
[5] Joshna Chinappa |
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[4] Donna Urquhart (Aus)
9/0, 9/0, 9/2 (19m)
Misaki Kobayashi (Jpn) |
[8] Mami Nishio (Jpn)
w/o
Misaki Kobayashi (Jpn) |
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[6] Dipika Pallikal (Ind)
7/9, 9/1, 9/1, 7/9, 10/8 (65m)
[3] Elise Ng (Hkg) |
[6] Dipika Pallikal
9/6, 9/7, 9/4 (36m)
[5] Joshna Chinappa |
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[5] Joshna Chinappa (Ind)
10/9, 9/7, 7/9, 9/7 (62m)
[2] Line Hansen (Den) |
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Quarters complete in Hanoi
WISPA reports ...
The national motto of Vietnam is Independence – Freedom – Happiness;
and while all eight quarter finalists in the WISPA Vietnam Open
could boast the first two, only the four winners could claim a full
house.
As evening approached the mua phun, a local drizzle translated as
rain dust, had passed by, and a number of local enthusiasts thronged
the two courts of the Hanoi Club to experience their first
international squash event in their country. They were disappointed
– but only with the outcome of the first match. The enthusiastic
applause punctuating play indicated how they revelled in watching
players from far afield competing in their country.
Crome copes with 'local'
Of course they had hoped that Josefa Bertilsson would get
through, but the Swede who recently came to Hanoi with her family,
taken by her father’s work, had a tough task to counter the top seed
Louise Crome. The Dutch based New Zealander went through to
the last four in straight games as she picked up on any loose shots
and errors made under pressure by Bertilsson. But the Swede did pick
up points; each loudly and enthusiastically received by the gallery.
She buzzed around the court with pace and purpose but too often was
enjoying a close acquaintance with the rear corners of the court.
Urquhart advances
Left handed Australian 21 year old fourth seed Donna Urquhart
was able to brush off improving 18 year old Japanese Misaki
Kobayashi, who bases herself in Malaysia as part of her learning
process. Kobayashi had progressed past countrywoman Mami Nishio with
a walkover due to Nishio’s damaged knee but it is Urquhart who now
has an Oceania challenge against Crome for a final berth.
The buzz around the courts was about the retrieving ability of the
visitors, their timing and ability to hit winners. Some denizens
also had the mist cleared about the difference between lets and
strokes and will agree a result rather than spin a racket to decide
the outcome of uncertain decisions during their matches!
Indian delight in bottom half
In the other half of the draw third seed Elise Ng found the
first game tough going against Indian number two Dipika Pallikal;
though after a 19 minute battle had edged home against the British
Junior Open Under 17 champion. But then it got even more difficult
as Pallikal found an even more compelling length along with twisting
boasts and cross courts. The next two games went to the sixth seed
in less time than the first had taken and an upset was on the cards.
Ng didn’t seem to be quite at the races; and when she went 7/4 down
in the fourth it seemed that the match was over. However, Pallikal
does create little streams of errors upon occasion, and did so now.
In one hand she was overtaken and the match tied.
It looked like an expensive lapse when the Indian went 5/0 down in
the decider, but then she profited from a combination of her
strength overhead and Ng laxity. Five all was reached, and then
hands and points were exchanged until Ng got to match ball at 8/7
with a drive into a gaping court. But a fortuitous roller saved it
and a Pallikal drop brought them level at eight all. By now the
audience couldn’t tear their eyes away from the action.
Hands changed eight times at eight all before an attacking boast
took Pallikal to match ball and a despairing Ng lunge sent the ball
careering into the ceiling. The match was after, the players lauded
by the crowd.
After the match Ng revealed that she had felt unwell during stages
of the encounter - which went some way to explaining the flow.
"During the second and third everything was moving 30%. My head was
strange. In the fourth I tried to rally but I thought I would lose
but I got it back again. Before the fifth I took some sugar but this
was the first time this has happened to me so I don’t know what it
was."
She will see how she feels tomorrow, but the winner had no such
worries. When asked what happened when she had stood at 2/1 and 7/4
up she said, "I had lost 3/2 before and maybe that was on my mind.
But I had kept the ball in play in the second and third, and as the
strategy worked I wanted to do it in the fifth again. I started it
badly but she made some mistakes and let me back in."
As for the semis, before she headed towards the showers she
expressed a wish, "I hope that Joshna will win there there will
definitely be an Indian finalist!"
Joshna Duly Delivers
And lo, it came to Pass. In a match of great intensity, Joshna
Chinappa survived a Line Hansen comeback when the second
seed both took and squandered opportunities. Having fought back from
7/4 down in the first only to lose, the Dane did the same again in
the second. Chinappa was clenching her fist, Hansen bellowing, and
the match went into the third. In this game Hansen was in control
before nearly allowing the Indian back in. But her first game ball
was taken and it seemed likely that she would benefit for her
greater experience in the latter stages. But no. Getting riled by
refereeing decisions she disagreed with she slumped to 5/0
down……before being let back in by courtesy of winning some extended
rallies. More lengthy exchanges, some being replayed after lets, and
from six all Chinappa took them all and a notable Indian double
against higher seeds.
The team-mates play each other tomorrow, but first would eat
together tonight. Chinappa has an unblemished record against her
fellow daughter of the city of Chennai, but it will undoubtedly be a
spicy Madras mix ...
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WISPA launches Patrons Club
Crome crowds the
local paparazzi
Josefa with parents
Per & Arlene
Kobayashi reflects
Dipika phones home
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HELLO FROM HANOI …
WISPA ARRIVES IN VIETNAM
WISPA reports from Vietnam
Just over two centuries ago, 1804 to be exact, King Gia Long
requested that his kingdom be called Nam Viet, but was turned down
by the Chinese dynasty of the time. So, with a little sleight of
hand, Viet Nam it became.
Viet, the largest ethnic group, Nam, meaning South, Vietnam, as the
name became joined, affirmed independence from China. Since they,
the French and most recently the communists (Cong) have loosened
their grip, WISPA has arrived in the capital Hanoi as it begins to
take off as a major Asian city.
Hanoi was once named Thang Llong, after a mystical soaring dragon,
and soaring is very apt now as the infrastructure is developed
apace.
After the bicycle era, the motorcycle has now really taken over, and
with more and more cars in evidence too. But it is the ubiquitous
motor scooter, along with the hooting, that are the most striking
feature of both the centre of Hanoi and the countryside now. They
are everywhere, seemingly everybody has one if they have upgraded
from their bicycle. Everything from farm produce, industrial
materials to the complete contents of homes are precariously loaded
upwards and outwards of the chassis as they splutter by!
And with crash helmets becoming compulsory a few months back if
anybody ever invites you to buy into a share of a helmet shop bite
their arm off. Vietnam is the thirteenth most populous country in
the world at a smidgen over 85 million so there are a heck of a lot
of scooter drivers! (And if that business opportunity doesn't arrive
take a slice of a ‘Limp-in Clinic’ for as the pedestrians weave in
the traffic a lot of feet get ridden over!)
The WISPA Vietnam Open is the second WISPA Premiere Series event of
the year, following on from January's
Hangzhou Open in China. WISPA has brought the prize money that
it secured to the superbly appointed Hanoi Club, an oasis of
calm amongst Hanoi's bustle. This ‘city’ country club features
tennis, swimming pool, gym, golf driving range and two glass
backwalled courts.
It is here that top seed Louise Crome from New Zealand, will
try to hold off the Danish challenge of Line Hansen, and the
rest of the players from the seven countries represented.
Meanwhile, local interest will be on view too as Swede Josefa
Bertilsson has been based in Hanoi recently while her father
works in the city.
But squash is so embryonic that the country has these two courts and
little more than a sprinkling of courts at hotels in Ho Chi Minh
(formerly Saigon). There is no squash association yet, but hopefully
the initiation of one will be a legacy of the WISPA promotional
event in Hanoi.
But first on the eve of proceedings, an opportunity for the players
to put on event T-shirts featuring the national flag star, together
with nons, the local conical women's headwear.
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WISPA launches Patrons Club
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