KOREA FINDS FORMULA TO HOST HIGH PROFILE SQUASH     [WISPA DRAW/RESULTS]

Elise Ng of Hong Kong upset Mauela Manetta in the qualifiers . (photo:© 2007 WISPA)

The final qualification round of the Seoul Open saw a repeat of the first round; only this time it was thee Japanese players who went out as opposed to the trio of Koreans the previous night.

But the play only started after a superb ceremony and show at the glass court venue on Seoul Plaza. The Mayor of Seoul, Mr Oh, Se-Hun delivered the opening televised address and went on court to hit a ball; a female traditional drumming ensemble played; as did Shani, a female rock band; a laser show drew gasps; as did the pyrotechnics. Real wow factor, for sure.

The Mayor offered hearty congratulations to organizers Seoul Squash Federation, who, in conjunction with Korean Squash Federation were putting on a great show for squash. Encouragingly, the city government supported event should be come an annual staging, he hoped.

Earlier in the day a press conference was held featuring around forty journalists who were only too happy to spread word of the event nationally.

The matches themselves with a place in the $50,000 main draw on offer as were straightforward, but included an upset.

Italian number one Manuela Manetta having only this month broken into the world top thirty might have been expected to get the better of Elise Ng from Hong Kong, ranked 21 places below her. But Ng had been training in Europe, won the Hellendoorn event in Netherlands earlier in April and so was in form.

Ng edged both the first two games with the Italian seemingly at odds with the cool conditions. Not being able to dominate the third ebbed away from her too.

As she walked away frustrated with herself she could only give expression to her feelings about the match saying “I didn’t feel comfortable at all”. Meanwhile, Ng was using the same term in a more positive vein. “I feel comfortable in Asia and I had got used to the court. I knew it was a cold evening and I warmed up well and was able to take the first two games, which was very important” she explained.

She now faces seventh seed Laura Lengthorn in the first round.

The other three matches saw straight game defeats for the three Japanese players, though left handed Chinatsu Matsui competed well against Australian Kasey Brown, who was kept on court for thirty eight minutes despite only losing a handful of points. She now also faces an Englishwoman – fourth seed Tania Bailey.

After easing past Sachiko Shinta, Latasha Khan predicted she would be drawn to face top seed Nicol David and she was proved correct.

Last match of the evening saw Malaysian Sharon Wee effectively snuff out the challenge of Mami Nishio, whose willingness to run was countered by precise play from Wee who now will open proceedings on the all glass court against Natalie Grinham.

The Seoul Plaza court, imaginatively placed by Seoul Squash, featuring big screen and a general set up comparable with any major event in the world will now embrace the top ranked players when they enter the fray at the last 16 stage.            

Sharon Wee on court with Japan's Sachiko Shina. (photo:© 2007 WISPA)

QUALIFICATION

FINAL ROUND   TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2007
Kasey Brown (AUS) (1) bt Chinatsu Matsui (JPN) (8) 9/1 9/2 9/2 (38m)
Latasha Khan (USA) (3) bt Sachiko Shinta (JPN) 9/1 9/1 9/0 (19m)
Elise Ng (HKG) (6) bt Manuela Manetta (ITA) (4) 9/7 9/7 9/2 (38m)
Sharon Wee (MAS) bt Mami Nishio (JPN) (7) 9/5 9/1 9/2 (24m)

1st round matchups [COMPLETE DRAW]:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Latasha Khan (USA)
[8] Alison Waters (ENG) v Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
[5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) v Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[7] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) v [Q] Elise Ng (HK)
[4] Tania Bailey (ENG) v [Q] Kasey Brown (AUS)
[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Eun Ok Park (KOR)
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Sharon Wee (MAS)