International squash comes to Parkview
PARKVIEW - PARKVIEW Squash Centre recently hosted one of the South African legs of the International World Squash competition which enables young local squash players gain important points for their world ranking.
This year saw both the men’s and ladies’ section attracting players from all over the world.
There was a 32 draw in the men’s section with another 32 players competing for only eight spots in the main draw.
The ladies consisted of a 16 main draw with 16 qualifiers.
The ladies event was dominated by the top South African women and saw Siyoli Waters from Western Province face fellow teammate and training partner Alex Fuller in the final.
Waters took control early in the match and played an attacking game putting Fuller under extreme pressure.
The men’s event was a far more closely contested.
The early rounds saw some of the top seeds being ousted very early and this left the event open.
Mazen Gamal from Egypt, who came out tops in the men’s main draw, had to work hard to get to the final.
In the first round he had to beat the number four seed Manuel Perreira from Brazil. Then he knocked out Lawrence Kuhn, the South African U19 champion. Thereafter Gamul beat another South African player, Christo Potgieter in the semi-final. Gamul then played against Angus Gilliams from England in the final which was closely contested with neither giving away easy points, Gamul ultimately won the game.
Gamal said, “The match was extremely hard and closely contested. I have not been… on the circuit for the last three years as I completed my military training and a mechanical engineering degree. I am trying really hard to get back into the top 100 and knew that I needed this win tonight. The tournament has been of the highest quality and I will definitely be back again.”
