Classic Qatar
The two biggest events of the year followed each other. Back on the calendar
Qatar was determined to put on a show, and what a show it was - PSA's Robert
Edwards was gushing in its praise.Buzz ... whirr
...
Even the WISPA computer seemed to be impressed, and leapt into action,
finally elevating Sarah to the #1 spot. She'd almost given up on it by this
time, and was phoned at home with the news. Three down, one to go.
Melbourne Festival
Behind the scenes things were beginning to unravel for the Melbourne
Festival though. Fablon offered a reduced prize fund for the Men's
Championship, which the players rejected at a meeting in Qatar. WISPA
managed to scrounge enough money to keep the Women's Worlds afloat, but a
chaotic start, a reduced men's event and poor local media coverage meant
that squash's great festival, four years in the planning, never quite made
it to the heights. On court Aussies were dominant, with Paul Price, Sarah
Fitz-Gerald and the Men's Team sweeping the board.
Another one bites ...
The Pakistan Open finally fell by the wayside, but the PSA was still
insistent that the World Open, due next month in India, was on.
Raju Chainani
The squash world mourned one of its most travelled international
journalists, who died suddenly on 31st August, just three weeks after his
49th birthday.
|
A classic event
Craig's the Master
Welcome home
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie |
Qatar Classic
The richest tournament of the year, and the best, according to the players,
as Peter Nicol and Sarah Fitz-Gerald grab the glory in the Gulf. |
