WA Open International squash: Double joy for Hong Kong's Kirstie Yui Po Wong
The new WA Open International squash champions share a common goal - cracking the top 100 in the pro ranks.
Hong Kong's Kirstie Yui Po Wong took out the women's trophy 11-4 11-7 7-11 11-4 over Malaysian Goh Zhi Xuan, while men's second seed Darren Pragasm also triumphed in four games over Egypt's Shady El Sherbiny at the State Squash Centre, Belmont.
Racking up back-to-back titles (Wong also won last week's Golden Open in Kalgoorlie) will be a big rankings boost for Wong, currently the world No.122.
Wong's mid-court boasts proved a killer weapon in her final and she admitted afterwards it was a pre-planned tactic.
'I'd been studying her the night before the final ... we noticed she didn't go very smoothly to the front court, so I tried to use more boasts and cross-court stuns,' she said.
The men's final was a battle of mind games as much as stroke making, with both players earning the ire of the referee.
'It was more of a mental battle on court,' said Pragasm, the world 120, of what was at times a fiery encounter, with El Sherbiny receiving an official warning for unwarranted physical contact.
'It was very scrappy, not the best watch. I think I played the big points better than he did. Hopefully this win will get me closer to my goal of making the top 100 this year,'' said the 24-year-old Malaysian, who collected his second career title.
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The new WA Open International squash champions share a common goal - cracking the top 100 in the pro ranks. Hong Kong's Kirstie Yui Po Wong took out the women's trophy 11-4 11-7 7-11 11-4 over Malaysian Goh Zhi Xuan, while men's second seed Darren Pragasam also triumphed in four games over Egypt's Shady El Sherbiny at the State Squash Centre, Belmont. Racking up back-to-back titles (Wong also won last week's Golden Open in Kalgoorlie) will be a big rankings boost for Wong, currently the world No.122. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Wong's mid-court boasts proved a killer weapon in her final and she admitted afterwards it was a pre-planned tactic. 'I'd been studying her the night before the final ... we noticed she didn't go very smoothly to the front court, so I tried to use more boasts and cross-court stuns,' she said. The men's final was a battle of mind games as much as stroke making, with both players earning the ire of the referee. 'It was more of a mental battle on court,' said Pragasam, the world 120, of what was at times a fiery encounter, with El Sherbiny receiving an official warning for unwarranted physical contact. 'It was very scrappy, not the best watch. I think I played the big points better than he did. Hopefully this win will get me closer to my goal of making the top 100 this year,'' said the 24-year-old Malaysian, who collected his second career title.
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WA Open International squash: Double joy for Hong Kong's Kirstie Yui Po Wong
The new WA Open International squash champions share a common goal - cracking the top 100 in the pro ranks. Hong Kong's Kirstie Yui Po Wong took out the women's trophy 11-4 11-7 7-11 11-4 over Malaysian Goh Zhi Xuan, while men's second seed Darren Pragasm also triumphed in four games over Egypt's Shady El Sherbiny at the State Squash Centre, Belmont. Racking up back-to-back titles (Wong also won last week's Golden Open in Kalgoorlie) will be a big rankings boost for Wong, currently the world No.122. Wong's mid-court boasts proved a killer weapon in her final and she admitted afterwards it was a pre-planned tactic. 'I'd been studying her the night before the final ... we noticed she didn't go very smoothly to the front court, so I tried to use more boasts and cross-court stuns,' she said. The men's final was a battle of mind games as much as stroke making, with both players earning the ire of the referee. 'It was more of a mental battle on court,' said Pragasm, the world 120, of what was at times a fiery encounter, with El Sherbiny receiving an official warning for unwarranted physical contact. 'It was very scrappy, not the best watch. I think I played the big points better than he did. Hopefully this win will get me closer to my goal of making the top 100 this year,'' said the 24-year-old Malaysian, who collected his second career title.
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United player explains obscene gesture as woes continue
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo says he doesn't regret making what appeared to be an obscene gesture toward some fans in Malaysia because his mother allegedly had been insulted. Footage shared widely on social media appeared to show the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international raising his middle finger while outside a hotel with his teammates in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week. "I have respect for people but not for the one who insults my mom," Amad wrote on X. "I shouldn't have reacted like that but I don't regret what I did. We had a great time in Malaysia with good people." United did not respond to a request for comment. The team's post-season Asia tour had already got off to a bad start when United lost their friendly against a South East Asian All-Star team 1-0 in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Some fans booed in response. 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Manchester United winger Amad Diallo says he doesn't regret making what appeared to be an obscene gesture toward some fans in Malaysia because his mother allegedly had been insulted. Footage shared widely on social media appeared to show the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international raising his middle finger while outside a hotel with his teammates in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week. "I have respect for people but not for the one who insults my mom," Amad wrote on X. "I shouldn't have reacted like that but I don't regret what I did. We had a great time in Malaysia with good people." United did not respond to a request for comment. The team's post-season Asia tour had already got off to a bad start when United lost their friendly against a South East Asian All-Star team 1-0 in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Some fans booed in response. Even Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was disappointed, suggesting United could be relegated after watching the team lose, despite the fact their performance was probably affected by jet lag. "Ouch. Man United failed to win another trophy," Ibrahim, one of 72,500 fans at Bukit Jalil Stadium in the Malaysian capital, wrote on social media in a post translated from Malay. "Looks like you're in for another tough season, hope you don't drop to the Championship," he added, referring to England's second tier. United have travelled on to Hong Kong for another friendly on Friday. "We were not really focused in the last game, and everybody can feel it," United manager Ruben Amorim said on Thursday. "We just want to turn the page and improve in the next season." United finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest-ever ranking in the competition, when the season concluded on Sunday, just four days after a loss in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo says he doesn't regret making what appeared to be an obscene gesture toward some fans in Malaysia because his mother allegedly had been insulted. Footage shared widely on social media appeared to show the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international raising his middle finger while outside a hotel with his teammates in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week. "I have respect for people but not for the one who insults my mom," Amad wrote on X. "I shouldn't have reacted like that but I don't regret what I did. We had a great time in Malaysia with good people." United did not respond to a request for comment. The team's post-season Asia tour had already got off to a bad start when United lost their friendly against a South East Asian All-Star team 1-0 in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Some fans booed in response. Even Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was disappointed, suggesting United could be relegated after watching the team lose, despite the fact their performance was probably affected by jet lag. "Ouch. Man United failed to win another trophy," Ibrahim, one of 72,500 fans at Bukit Jalil Stadium in the Malaysian capital, wrote on social media in a post translated from Malay. "Looks like you're in for another tough season, hope you don't drop to the Championship," he added, referring to England's second tier. United have travelled on to Hong Kong for another friendly on Friday. "We were not really focused in the last game, and everybody can feel it," United manager Ruben Amorim said on Thursday. "We just want to turn the page and improve in the next season." United finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest-ever ranking in the competition, when the season concluded on Sunday, just four days after a loss in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
