News

Amr Shabana Aiming For High Five In Hong Kong

18 December 2014

Shabana, the third seed from Egypt, will be hoping to equal the record five titles in a row won by legendary Pakistani Jansher Khan from 1987 to 1991 in the $147,500 PSA World Tour championship, the fifth PSA Super Series event of the year.

The early round matches will take place at Hong Kong Squash Centre in Admiralty before the tournament moves across the harbour to Diamond Hill in Kowloon for the semi-finals and finals, which will be held in a specially erected, state-of-the-art, all-glass court at Plaza Hollywood. Players will be given a brand new experience of playing in front of the big crowds that visit the shopping mall – one of the busiest in Hong Kong.

England’s new world number one Nick Matthew, who was forced to withdraw from the 2009 event with an ankle injury,is top seed in the men’s event.Runner-up in 2004, the 29-year-old from Sheffield faces a qualifier in the opening round before a predicted semi-final confrontation with title-holder Shabana (pictured after winning the 2009 championship).

Speaking after the draws were made, Hong Kong Squash Chairman David Mui said: “Special thanks to our joint-title sponsors Cathay Pacific Airways and Sun Hung Kai Financial, whose support has contributed greatly to our success. I would also like to thank our co-sponsors: Crocodile, Prince, Perrier, Fujifilm, Buler Swiss Watch, Lotus Tours and Plaza Hollywood.

“We are delighted that we attracted all the world best players including our local players, Annie Au, Rebecca Chiu, Joey Chan, Dick Lau and Max Lee, who will, I am sure, have the full support of the home crowd.”

Men’s 1st round draw:

[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Qualifier

[9] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS)

[8] Peter Barker (ENG) v Qualifier

[15] Alister Walker (ENG) v Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY)

[3] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)

[12] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)

[5] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier

[13] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Qualifier

[10] David Palmer (AUS) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)

[7] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Dick Lau (HKG)

[16] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)