SquashTalk >News > 2002 Pakistan Open Final
Pakistan Open 2002
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Power Gets Win, Nicol in third-straight finals loss
President
Musharraf on-hand, along with former stars
by Howard Harding © 2002
March 28, 2002 Photos by Chris Walker © 2002 may not be reproduced
without express permission.
Power
Has His Magic Going...
Jonathon
Power was at top form tonight and maintained his focus and fitness through
an 87 minute classic, that had him take the winning point at "no-set"
in the third game. The streaking world #3 thus upset
England's world No1 Peter Nicol 15-10 13-15 15-10 15-14 to win the $105,000
Bank Alfalah Pakistan Open Squash Championship at the Fortress Stadium
in Lahore.
For Pakistan, this event transcended squash, as it was the first international sporting event to be held in Pakistan since September 11th. For Power, It was the mercurial Canadian's second successive victory over his great rival - and brought the career head-to-head tally between the two to 15-13 in Nicol's favour.
When Power and Nicol meet, the results are unpredictable. There have been classic battles, like last night, and like at the TOC events in 2001 and the YMG in 2001. But there have also been blowouts, such as Power's easy wins at the TOC in 2002 and YMG in 2000 and Nicol's easy win at the US Open in January.
This event, a lightning-rod for the resurgance of focus on squash in Pakistan, needed a classic confrontation and got it. Instinctively, Power's style is more akin to the creative shotmaking so characteristic of the Pakistani first family of squash, the Khan clan. And, fittingly, Power earned this win with creativity and electricity.
"It was a tough final for me," said Power, who also beat Nicol in the Tournament of Champions final in February. "I think Peter underestimated me. The win will boost my confidence."
Power became only the second foreigner in the 22 years of the championship to win the title - and did so in front of a packed audience which included Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and a host of former champions including Jansher Khan, Qamar Zaman, Mohibullah Khan and the ten-times British Open and Pakistan Open champion Jahangir Khan.
Musharraf, an avid squash player, was quoted as saying: "it was the most acrobatic match Ive ever seen. It was one of the best finals I have ever witnessed."
Power, the 27-year-old world No3 from Montreal, also upstaged the Australian world No2 and British Open champion David Palmer to reach the final - and is now unbeaten since early January when he lost to Nicol in the US Open final in Boston.
Nicol and Power are positioned to renew their celebrated rivalry in the British Open in England in April - when the pair could meet in the final. Defending champion Palmer, however, is in the Canadian's half of the draw - and all three will be seeking their second titles.
 |
| Fortress Stadium Venue,
Lahore, Pakistan (photo by Chris Walker © 2002 SquashTalk) |
RESULTS: Bank Alfalah Pakistan Open
Squash Championship, Lahore, Pakistan Final:
[3] Jonathon Power (CAN) bt [1] Peter Nicol (ENG) 15-10, 13-15, 15-10,
15-14 (87m)
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