Malik in Big Finnish Win
March 9, 2004 © 2004 by Howard Harding

Tegwen Malik scored a popular win, when the likeable pro from Wales punctuated a long road back from chronic illness with a win last night in Mikkeli, Finland. The finals pitted two talented WISPA pros, Malik and South African pro Annelize Naude, both of whom have more talent than their rankings or prior results would suggest.

Tegwen Malik collects the '04 Savcor Finnish Open Title

Malik, a likeable pro from Wales, was stricken with a mystery virus that kept her off of serious training for almost two years beginning in November 1999. Her first event back on tour was as recently as last November in Seattle. At the time of her Nov 2003 comeback she told BBC news, " I've trained well, my body's OK and I've had some great people working with me

"I was unable to walk at one point due to the virus."

Her steady efforts to move back up the WISPA ladder paid off finally with this win last night.

Malik clinched the fourth WISPA World Title of her career when she upset top seed Annelize Naude in straight games in the final of the Savcor Women's Finnish Open Squash Championship in Mikkeli.

The third seed from Swansea was in a confident mood as she swept to a 9-2 9-5 9-6 win over Naude, the South African-born world No25 who is based in Amsterdam.

Final:
[3] Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt [1] Annelize Naude (NED) 9-2, 9-5, 9-6

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