Latest news with #WAOpenInternational
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Double joy for Hong Kong's Wong at squash's WA Open
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.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
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.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
World's best lob in Perth as part of pro squash circuit
The cream of WA's young squash players will take on some of the world's best when Perth hosts the WA Open International next month. The tournament, part of the WA 'swing' on the Professional Squash Association Challenger circuit, will be held at the State Squash Centre in Belmont from June 4 to 8. Squash, after enduring a few lean years, is back on the up as one of the world's fastest growing sports, particularly in Asia — and that's reflected by the strong representation from the region, including competitors from Sri Lanka, Japan, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Pakistan, South Korea and more. Your local paper, whenever you want it. In the men's draw, Sri Lankan Ravindu Laksiri, ranked 109 in the world, is top seed. He'll be looking to add a 19th title to his resume. If the draw goes according to plan, he'll face Malaysia's Darren Pragasam (No. 120) in the final. But the other 22 men in the field — including WA 19-year-old Daniel Marsh — will be hungry to upset the apple cart. Japan's Akari Midorikawa, ranked 114 in the world, leads the women's field, with WA's Erin Classen (fifth seed) and 19-year-old Hannah Slyth among the challengers. A 'smoky' in the women's event — and the oldest entrant in either draw — is former world No.1, 48-year-old Rachael Grinham. The Queenslander's squash statistics are gobsmacking. In a pro career spanning decades, she's won 38 titles — including, at the age of 44, the Australian Open in 2021, an achievement which broke a 25-year-old record as the oldest winner of a women's PSA Tour event. She reached world No.1 in 2004 and held the spot for 16 months. She has battled her way back to the pro circuit after being out for 18 months with an ACL injury. Grinham is still playing great squash (she reached the semi-finals of the NT Open last month) and will take on Macau's Yeung Wai Leng in the first round. For live scores during the tournament, go to
