Jan 6 , 2001 Canadian Sport News/Nouvelles-sport canadien

CLACKSON CAPS GREAT WEEK FOR CANADIAN JUNIOR SQUASH PLAYERS

SHEFFIELD, England—Ashley Clackson of Victoria capped an impressive week for Canadian junior squash players Saturday reaching the semifinals at the junior British Open, the most prestigious teenage squash tournament outside the world junior championships.

The unseeded Clackson lost her semifinal match in the under-15 category to top-seed Sara Basdr of Egypt who went on to win the gold medal in Saturday’s championship final. On her way to the final four, Clackson eliminated third-seed Challie De Rycke of Belgium in the maximum five games in the quarterfinal, number seven Jenna Gates of England in the third round and number-nine Olga Ertlova of the Czech Republic, in the second round.

In the same category, Genevieve Lessard of Montreal and Jennifer Blumberg of Victoria were eliminated in the third round.

Three other Canadians reached quarterfinals. Shawn De Lierre of Brossard, Que., in men’s under-19, Robin Clarke of Ottawa in boys under-15, and Neha Kumar of Oakville, Ont., in girls under-13.

The week prior to the British Open the Canadians did extremely well at the Scottish Junior Open in Edinburgh Blumberg and Kumar each won gold medals in their respective categories, while Ruchika Kumar of Oakville was second in the women-under 17 and Clackson third.

There was also great news off the court. The Women’s International Squash Federation announced its top prospects and two Canadians are in the top-20. Ruchika Kumar is ranked sixth and Kyla Grigg of Calgary 11th.

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• Golestan Radwan: Egypt
• Tomas Barva, Czech Republic
• David Blick, Alaska USA
• Kim Tunney: Midwest USA
• Andre Maur: Atlanta USA
• Paul Ansdell: Massachusetts USA
  

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