|
|
|
  Al
Ahram World Open 2006
30-Aug to 06-Sep, Cairo, Egypt |
|
31-Aug-06:
Al Ahram Draw:
Made in Giza
After the completion of qualifying at the Cairo Stadium, it was off
to Giza for the live TV draw for the Al Ahram World Open.
Only two places were known - defending champion Amr Shabana and 2002
champion David Palmer at the top and the bottom of the draw. For the
rest it was wait and see.
Full story, photos and draw ... |
 |
 |
30-Aug-06:
THE ‘CALM’ BEFORE THE STORM…
 The
first image I’ll keep from the arrival in Cairo will be the flight
in the middle of the night over the Magic City.
Imagine a snap shot of fireworks: lights as far as you can see them,
for miles and miles and miles. Both breathtaking and extraordinary.
Then of course the heat the minute you step out of the airport.
Reminded me of all my youth spent in Africa really. I just feel home
wherever the temperature is over 32°C…
I was lucky enough that Reeme Mansi, mother of Junior World Champion
and finalist in Alexandria a few days ago Raneem El Weleily, had
organised for Amr El Daly to pick me up despite the late
arrival of the BA flight (past midnight).
Well, that lovely young man has been my guardian angel since my
arrival. He took me to a lovely restaurant at about 15 minutes drive
from the Sonesta Hotel where we are all staying. Then nearly got me
killed a few times when I insisted we walked back (I wanted to take
a few pictures) and made me cross 4 to 5 lane roads and tram tracks.
“It's not dangerous, just keep next to me”. As if I was going to go
ANYWHERE!!!!!
 Then
he took me to visit the place where the qualifiers will take place
starting from today, the Cairo Stadium, where I met the Egyptian
National Coach, Magdy Saad who used to play on the circuit a
few years back, with one of his protégés, Karim Ali, Egyptian
U13 number 1, and was happy to see again Ashraf Hanafi, looking
after a string of very gifted and cheeky little players.
HELIOPOLIS
 Then
yesterday (Thursday), a nice lunch in an immense several storey mall
where I didn’t see any other tourist for the two hours I was
wandering around looking for a warm large scarf for the desert that
I didn’t find yet…
Where are they all??? No, not the scarves, the tourists!!!
And the breathtaking visit to the very exclusive club of Heliopolis,
a visit that had to be arranged in advance, as the security is very
high at a club that will cost you £10,000 in a “forever fee”, but
that you can split over several years. It’s not as large as Shams,
but what I saw was stunningly astonishing.
Seven squash courts including a centre court, three swimming pool,
eight tennis courts, numerous activities comprising basket-ball,
croquet or bridge, bars, restaurants, gift shops, sunglasses, even a
supermarket and a bank.
But the most surprising of all I feel was a “new” Anthony Hill
as the club pro!
Yes, Bad Boy Anthony, an Australian player who used to give “some
referees a hard time” is now coaching young kids, some of them who
are, like he was, “hot headed” on court.
 “Well,
I actually know what those kids are going through, and the same way
that my coach Roger Flynn was trying to calm me down, I am now
trying to help the young players that could get themselves in
trouble. I know what pushes their buttons… So, yes, I’ve changed, I
changed a lot, but you’ve got to in life, haven’t you??”
Anthony, soon to be a father, absolutely adores his time in
Heliopolis.
“I’ve been here for the past six years, now, I live in one of the
buildings that you can see right behind the squash courts, for me,
it’s a minutes' walk from here. Perfect”.
“The parents know that they can leave their children in perfect
security here. The heavy security at the doors mean that they can’t
get out. So you’ve got to imagine this club as your own frontyard
backyard, all at the same time.”
So there you have it. Anthony is happy, relaxed, radiant really. He
will be refereeing this week during the tournament, so I’m sure to
see a lot more of him and also of Mohamed Salah, a
coach/referee who I had actually met in TOC two years ago, who works
along Anthony in this beautiful club.
So guys, I just had a glimpse of the grass roots here in Cairo. I’ve
seen kids of 9 years old that would beat me with their left hand.
And there are dozens, and dozens, and hundred of them. All full of
that determination and Egyptian flair that makes the world of squash
tremble….
This is only the beginning…. |
Al Ahram EN BREF
 Amr
not only used to play squash with juniors like Karim Darwish
and Mo Abbas, “which makes it hard to play even in local
tournaments,” but has done a lot of refereeing despite his
young age, his most recent match being the final in Alexandria
between his compatriot and mine, Isabelle Stoehr.
"It’s very exciting to referee, I do enjoy it immensely, you
are here to serve squash, and the player, and be as fair as
possible. The pressure that we get, the stress also are quite
enormous, but still it’s a wonderful feeling when the match
has ended and that the better player has won.”
He is now also coaching in his club, El Shams Club, an immense
complex that I just glanced at, as I feel you would need hours
to really discover, but had to step down from squash a bit
when he embraced a career as a dentist.
"I love being a dentist! I always wanted to be in the medical
field, but I didn’t want to become a doctor, as the studies
are long and stressful. I had enough stress with my squash,
thank you very much! It was hard work to get my diploma, but
it now allows me to find a good balance between my career and
my sport." |
|
 |
28-Aug-06:
ARRIVAL IN CAIRO
Malcolm Willstrop in Cairo
In view of all the recent problems, getting through departures in
Manchester was not the simplest process, and it was something of a
relief when we arrived at the Sonesta hotel.
 It
was 75 degrees or so on landing at 2 a.m. and well over 100 on
Sunday afternoon on the walk to the Stadium. The last time I was
here was in 1996 for the world junior championships. Playing then
were Amr Shabana, Anthony Ricketts, Lee Beachill and Stewart
Boswell. None of them won.
The main court at the stadium is impressive, with a capacity of
about 1000, though some first and second round matches and the
quarter finals onwards will be played underneath the pyramids.
We had a small football confiscated at Manchester Airport by an over
zealous lady official. When I asked her would it be given to a
charitable cause she assured me it would, but I suspect her grandson
may be the beneficiary.
Traffic is something of a problem and parking is unbelievable. I
would suggest that over officious English traffic policeman and
traffic wardens be sent to Cairo for remedial purposes. They
wouldn't last five minutes.
Since the draw is of major significance, and late, players, who
usually have plenty of advance information, will be even more on
tenterhooks when it is made on Thursday.
The World Championships is certainly played in glamorous locations;
last year Hong Kong harbour, now the Pyramids, next year Bermuda and
in 2008 Manchester Sportcity. Add Grand Central Station, Canary
Wharf, Boston, and Toronto and the advantages of a moveable court
are evident.
Most surprising thing was that players had to pay to practice at the
Stadium until 29th August. Clearly some players were going to arrive
earlier and it seems a pity that no arrangements had been made.
 |
Also: Malcolm's Preview |
27-Aug-06:
ON THE WAY TO CAIRO…
I
have to admit I was a bit wary of this travel. Not because of the
terrorist threat, I’m sorry to say that I really don’t give a toss.
Last year, I went to so many “dangerous countries” without even the
shadow of a problem and I was never closer to the bombing than while
waiting in a London hospital to have my nth knee surgery, the day
that London exploded…
Mektoub, as the Tunisians say, “It was written”….
 No,
it’s the whole “you can’t take this with you, and forget about that
one, pal, what, make up, you must be kidding, girl,” kind of feel is
not exactly putting you in the joy of travelling spirit, now, is it?
But everything went hunky dory. The only queue that we had was when
getting to the X-ray machine. Thank God, I seem to have a face
that has terrorist written all over it, and zoom, I found myself
whisked off to the side, where a lovely elderly lady explained to me
that I had been randomly chosen to have my whole body X-rayed!
What can I say, one is photoxraygenic, or one isn’t…
“Put your left foot on the number one on the floor, same with right
foot.” Ah, didn’t start well, as I’m like most of lefthanders, it
takes me a while to figure which foot is which, especially when
asked in English.
And there were three of those weird positions, hands up, hand to the
side, and up again….
 But
the good news was, after learning to dance to the BA tune (honestly,
it really looked like those learn to dance carpets, you know the
ones I mean), I just jumped the queue, and smoothly got in front of
the non “Xray-able” people.
Now, sitting quietly in the lounge, typing away with planes in the
background, I’m thinking that in a few hours, I’ll be in Cairo, for
the first time in my life. And I just can’t wait…
Egypt, beware, Frog coming up, legs, laptop, camera, passion about
squash and all…
|
|
ENTRY
LIST
(the draw will be made after
qualifying) |
|
SCHEDULE:
30/31 Aug:
Qualifying at
Cairo Stadium, 12.00
01/02 Sep:
12.00 Rounds One and Two, Cairo Stadium, 3 matches each day at
the Pyramids from 19.00
03/04 Sep:
Split quarter-finals
05 Sep:
Semi-finals
06 Sep:
Final |
Malcolm Willstop's Cairo preview
|
The top 24
(draw to be made after qualifying):
Amr Shabana (Egy), David Palmer (Aus), Thierry Lincou (Fra), James
Willstrop (Eng), Anthony Ricketts (Aus), Peter Nicol (Eng), Nick
Matthew (Eng), Gregory Gaultier (Fra), Karim Darwish (Egy), Lee
Beachill (Eng), John White (Sco), Azlan Iskandar (Mas), Ong Beng Hee
(Mas), Olli Tuominen (Fin), Stewart Boswell (Aus), Adrian Grant
(Eng), Mohammed Abbas (Egy), Alex Gough (Wal), Graham Ryding (Can),
Wael El Hindi (Egy), Ramy Ashour (Egy), Shahier Razik (Can), Cameron
Pilley (Aus), Omar Mosaad (Egy)
Qualifiers:
Peter Barker (Eng), Jonathan Kemp (Eng), Borja Golan (Esp), LJ
Anjema (Ned), Mansoor Zaman (Pak), Joey Barrington (Eng), Davide Bianchetti (Ita), Renan
Lavigne (Fra), Hisham Ashour (Egy), Mark Chaloner (Eng), Simon Parke
(Eng),
Rafael Alarcon (Bra), Ritwik Bhattacharya (Ing),
Alister Walker (Eng), Amr Mansi (Egy), Stacey Ross (Eng), Dylan
Bennett (Ned), Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Col), Suarav Ghosal (Ind),
Aamir Atlas Khan (Pak), Bradley Hindle (Aus), Omar Abdel Aziz (Egy),
Sherif Moustafa Kamel (Egy), Yasser El Halabe (Egy), Badr Abdel Aziz
(Swe), Chris Gordon (Usa), Tarek Momen (Egy), Ali Anwar Reda (Egy),
Ahmed Mohsen (Egy), Amr Swelim (Egy), Andre Holderegger (Sui), Steve
Coppinger (Rsa) Reserve: Mohamed Elkeiy (Egy)
|
 |
08-Aug-06:
Full House for Cairo
Entries are in for the Al Ahram World Open, and it's a full
house with the 23 guaranteed places taken up by the top 23 in the
current world rankings.
The wild-card spot goes to Omar Mosaad, who joins fellow
Egyptians Amr Shabana, the defending champion, Karim
Darwish, Mohammed Abbas, Wael El Hindi and
Ramy Ashour in the main draw.
The next biggest contingent is from England, with their world
teams quartet of James Willstrop, Peter Nicol,
Lee Beachill and Nick Matthew joined by Adrian Grant.
Nicol is set to make his final competitive appearance under the
Pyramids where he won his one world title back in 1999, and former
champions David Palmer and Thierry Lincou are there
of course, seeded two and three behind Shabana.
No word of the draw yet - apparently the file note at PSA
headquarters says the organisers want to do the draw "just before
or just after the qualifiers".
One thing is sure though, SquashSite will be there to bring you
all the action and stories from what promises to be one of the
most exciting World Opens in years ...
|
Shabana to defend on home soil
|
|
 |
19-Apr-06:
Men's World Open
Returns To Egypt
Following a competitive bidding process, the
Professional Squash Association has awarded the rights to host
and promote the PSA Men's World Open Squash Championship to
Egypt.
 Sponsored
by the Al-Ahram Foundation and staged from 28 August to 6
September, the 2006 Al-Ahram Men's World Open will boast a
world ranking prize fund of $152,500 and bring elite squash back
to the sport's most spectacular setting – on the all-glass court
at the Giza Plateaux Cairo.
Not since September 2001 has the world enjoyed
squash played alongside Egypt's famous pyramids. The 2001 Al-Ahram
International brought to an end a memorable six-year run of PSA
Super Series events staged at Giza, including a World Open in
1999 when Britain's Peter Nicol
beat local hero Ahmed Barada
in a final watched by an audience of more than 5,000 and shown
live on national TV!
The 2006 World Open will now give Egypt's
latest star Amr Shabana - who became the country's first
ever world champion in 2003, then reclaimed his title late last
year – a unique chance to defend his crown before local fans.
The 2006 World Open in Cairo will be followed
by the World Open in Bermuda in 2007, and the 2008 World Open in
Manchester, England.
|
"On behalf of the Al-Ahram Foundation and
Egyptian Squash, I am pleased that we have secured the
rights to host and promote the PSA Men's World Open 2006.
"Having successfully promoted this event
and the Al Ahram International tournaments previously, it is
particularly satisfying to us that the biggest event in
world squash is returning once again to the Giza Plateaux
Cairo.
"No other event has the international
prestige and prize fund of the World Open, so Egypt - which
has now such a strong and still increasing reputation in
squash - is proud to host the event. We look forward to
welcoming back to our country in August all our friends in
squash for what will be the most memorable tournament for
many years."
Tournament Director
|
|
|
 "This
is a remarkable return of the World Open to Cairo. Every time
I talk to fans of professional squash around the world, they
always remind me of the incredible images of the Giza Plateaux
and the pyramids – and now I’m delighted to confirm that the
PSA Men's World Open is returning again to that iconic venue.
Many of our new stars have never enjoyed the experience, and
this will be a World Open they will savour for its most
special history and atmosphere.
"PSA congratulates the Al-Ahram Foundation
on their successful bid to host the World Open 2006. The Al-Ahram
Foundation is one of the lasting and most generous sponsors of
big time events on the world circuit, and they have once again
demonstrated their support and commitment to our game. PSA
looks forward to returning to Cairo to enjoy the famous
hospitality and support of our long-standing friends in Egypt.
"From a structural perspective, I am particularly delighted
that the World Open is now confirmed and secured for the next
three years which reflects the growing optimism and enthusiasm
in support of the professional divisions."
"The World Open is the biggest and most prestigious event in
the professional calendar – this is the tournament all the
players want to win. In particular, the world number one and
current title holder, Amr Shabana, will be as motivated as
possible to re-lift his title in front of the home crowd."
PSA Chief Executive |
|
 "WSF
is delighted that the Men's World Open is returning to Africa.
Egypt has been leading the way for the continent and this
event will create development opportunities for the sport in
other African nations.
"With this event now confirmed, all World
Championships up to 2008 have now been awarded.
"This is a testament to the health of the sport, the
leadership of our Member Nations and the collaboration between
the governing bodies at all levels."
WSF Chief Executive |
|
|
