Squash: Sharon cries foul over draw
KUALA LUMPUR: National No. 2 woman squash player Sharon Wee is crying foul over the draw for the CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open, which begins on Wednesday. The 30-year-old world No. 21 has been drawn to meet team-mate and World No. I Nicol David in the first round. “It is ridiculous to have two players from the same country playing in the first round. It’s not a fair draw as one of the two players from the same country will have to make an exit in the opening round,” said Sharon yesterday. “It’s demoralising for me to face top seed Nicol, who is simply too good and too strong, in the first round itself.”
Malaysia's Sharon Wee lost to Tenille Swartz in the final of the NSC Super Satellite tournament Friday.
Sharon added that the draw for the Asian Championships, which ended last month, was fairer as it did not pit players from the same country in the first round. (Sharon lost to India’s Joshna Chinappa in the Asian Championships quarter-finals.)
“The same should have been done for the KL Open. I can accept facing Nicol in the quarter-finals ... but meeting her in the first round is just not fair,” said an annoyed Sharon.
“I hope organisers will not pit two players from the same country in the first round next time.”
Sharon, however, has pledged to give her best against Nicol, who will be gunning for her fourth KL Open title.
Nicol, who has been ranked world No. 1 for 20 consecutive months and who won eight Wispa titles last year, got off to a great start this season by winning the Apawamis Open in New York in January and bagging her sixth consecutive Asian individual title.
Sharon’s preparation for next week’s KL Open suffered a jolt when she failed to live up her top billing in the final of the NSC Super Satellite No. 1 tournament at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Second seed Tenille Swartz of South Africa upset Sharon 9-0, 5-9, 9-2, 9-1 in 32 minutes to pocket the US$1,600 (RM5,440) first prize money.
Sharon, who received US$1,120 (RM3,800) for her efforts, admitted that she did not play well in the final.
“I got off to a slow start and this allowed Swartz to surprise me by winning the first set 9-0,” said Sharon.
“I gave my best in the second set but she was superb in the third and fourth sets and I could do nothing to stop her.”
National women’s coach Ahmed Malik attributed Sharon’s defeat to her lack of stamina.
“She also struggled to win in the quarter-finals and semi-finals because of her lack of fitness,” said the Pakistani coach.
Meanwhile, in the men’s section, top seed Mike Corren of Australia slogged for 65 minutes before prevailing 11-7, 11-7, 13-15, 11-7 over fifth seed Campbell Grayson of New Zealand in the final.
KUALA LUMPUR: National No. 2 woman squash player Sharon Wee is crying foul over the draw for the CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open, which begins on Wednesday. The 30-year-old world No. 21 has been drawn to meet team-mate and World No. I Nicol David in the first round. “It is ridiculous to have two players from the same country playing in the first round. It’s not a fair draw as one of the two players from the same country will have to make an exit in the opening round,” said Sharon yesterday. “It’s demoralising for me to face top seed Nicol, who is simply too good and too strong, in the first round itself.”
Malaysia's Sharon Wee lost to Tenille Swartz in the final of the NSC Super Satellite tournament Friday.
Sharon added that the draw for the Asian Championships, which ended last month, was fairer as it did not pit players from the same country in the first round. (Sharon lost to India’s Joshna Chinappa in the Asian Championships quarter-finals.)
“The same should have been done for the KL Open. I can accept facing Nicol in the quarter-finals ... but meeting her in the first round is just not fair,” said an annoyed Sharon.
“I hope organisers will not pit two players from the same country in the first round next time.”
Sharon, however, has pledged to give her best against Nicol, who will be gunning for her fourth KL Open title.
Nicol, who has been ranked world No. 1 for 20 consecutive months and who won eight Wispa titles last year, got off to a great start this season by winning the Apawamis Open in New York in January and bagging her sixth consecutive Asian individual title.
Sharon’s preparation for next week’s KL Open suffered a jolt when she failed to live up her top billing in the final of the NSC Super Satellite No. 1 tournament at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Second seed Tenille Swartz of South Africa upset Sharon 9-0, 5-9, 9-2, 9-1 in 32 minutes to pocket the US$1,600 (RM5,440) first prize money.
Sharon, who received US$1,120 (RM3,800) for her efforts, admitted that she did not play well in the final.
“I got off to a slow start and this allowed Swartz to surprise me by winning the first set 9-0,” said Sharon.
“I gave my best in the second set but she was superb in the third and fourth sets and I could do nothing to stop her.”
National women’s coach Ahmed Malik attributed Sharon’s defeat to her lack of stamina.
“She also struggled to win in the quarter-finals and semi-finals because of her lack of fitness,” said the Pakistani coach.
Meanwhile, in the men’s section, top seed Mike Corren of Australia slogged for 65 minutes before prevailing 11-7, 11-7, 13-15, 11-7 over fifth seed Campbell Grayson of New Zealand in the final.