World Masters Squash Tournament a huge success
JOBURG – Local squash clubs host successful world squash tournament.
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Johannesburg, more specifically Parkview Squash Club, Wanderers and Country Club Johannesburg, played host to the World Masters Squash Tournament.
The tournament is held every two years and this was the third time South Africa played hosts, having previously hosted the tournament in Johannesburg in 1997 and then in Cape Town in 2006.
The final day of the tournament saw 19 champions crowned with South Africa being well represented.
The final of the men’s over 50 match at Parkview Squash Club saw home favourite Craig van der Wath claim a record sixth World Masters title when he beat England’s Yawar Abbas in the straight games.
In the men’s over 75 final, South Africa’s Des Sacco lost to Adrian Wright of England while in the men’s over 60s, Johnny Orsmond of South Africa went down to Udo Kahl of Germany.
At Wanderers, two all-South African finals were played in the women’s and men’s over 40s events. Samantha Herbert battled through a five-set victory over Anlen Murray and Rodney Durbach claimed his title in three straight games against Adrian Hansen.
The women’s over 35 final saw top seed Natalie Grainger, a Parkview native who currently lives in and plays for the USA, beat Lauren Briggs of the UK in four entertaining games to collect a second World Masters title.
The final match of the tournament, the men’s over 35, saw South African Gary Wheadon put in a terrific challenge against Mohamed Abbas of Egypt, taking the first game and challenging in the next three before the Egyptian finally secured his first title.
All in all, South Africa came away with a haul of three gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals.
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