CIMB Malaysian KL Open Squash Racquets

PERFECT FINISH FOR MALAYSIAN FANS

With the boys having guaranteed a local winner with their semi final wins yesterday evening, Nicol David overcame Natalie Grinham in a one sided affair to finish a dream ending for Malaysia.

Bengy Limps to his First KL Open

Ong Beng Hee and Nicol David win CIMB KL Squash racquets event

The local boys came into the match both with highs from winning their semi final matches. Whoever won, it was a victory for Malaysia and also for the boys, proving a point that they are still capable to be amongst the best out there.

Both were also definitely nervous and started off very cautiously. Rallies were very slow, as they traded plenty of backhand drives and lobs, to the point it was rather boring to watch. When the opportunity came to attack, the drops and slams came off the walls so high. The first game saw a lot more mistakes from Iskandar and it handed Bengy the first game.

The second had a lot more action, as both players stepped up the tempo with a lot more attacking. It was point for point all the way through the game and at 8-10, a great rally ensued with Bengy winning. A mishap happened next as Bengy accidentally caught Azlan’s finger on his swing. The game went into tiebreak, Azlan held 3 game points but unable to clinch it. Bengy reached his first at 14-13 each, finishing it in style as he sent Azlan sprawling having sent him the wrong way.

If the second was fast paced and exciting, the third was explosive! Having played each other for the last two decades, these boys know each other’s game inside out. Plenty of fast paced attacks, retrieves and kill shots! Bengy was 7-8 down, two strokes his way brought him to 9-8, but the lead was cancelled out that went Iskandar’s way this time. Bengy next slams Iskandar’s serve into the tin to hand him his fourth game ball of the match. Again, Iskandar was unable to finish off and allowed Bengy to reach match ball this time. The next rally was long and as Iskandar ran to the back to retrieve, he runs into Bengy’s calf, who then fell to the ground screaming in pain. A three minutes injury break was given. It would’ve been a big blow to be 2-0 and match ball up, then forced to retire! Bengy came back limping still and was handed the title as Iskandar tinned a simple forehand.

Ong Beng Hee / Azlan Iskandar Squash Racquets

Bengy : Azlan and I are very close, we’ve known each other for many years. Today it was a mind game more than anything, the squash didn’t matter as much. It was a matter of who wanted it more. Obviously Azlan is under more pressure tody, after he had won the Asian Championships in Kuwait. The second and third were really close and had I lost either of those, it might have been a different result.

Azlan said," I was a bit nervous in the start. Bengy held his nerves a lot better today, especially in the end of the second and third games. I was 10-9 up in both those games and I let it slip. That’s the reality, I just gotta learn from these."

Grinham Still Hampered by Ankle

What was expected in the women’s final was a fiery and close one, but this was not the case at all. The last time the pair played in Malaysia, the match lasted well over an hour. The pair has been close rivals for a number of years now, and have occupied the top of the rankings for some time.

The first game was competitive, with long rallies and plenty of running from both the girls. David was superior in every aspect, and it’s really her great movement on court that gave her the game. In the next, Grinham was clearly playing well below herself and many could tell there was something wrong with her. Grinham was skipping a lot in the court and didn’t seem to look particularly comfortable. Grinham was not in the game at all in the third. She was merely guessing most of David’s attack and she herself went for the kill at nearly every shot.

It wasn’t the match the crowd had hoped for, but credit to Grinham for staying on court and finishing up the match. She could’ve simply retred injured, but I believe she did not, in order not to disappoint the floods of locals who had turned up despite it being elections day.

Nicol David Defeats Natalie Grinham Squash

Natalie said," My angle didn’t really heal after Apawamis. It was alright in the beginning but I was made to twist and turn a lot. Obviously playing Nicol, there was a lot more running as well."

RESULTS: CIMB KL Open Squash Championships, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Men's Finals:
[4] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [3] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) 11-8 11-10(5-3) 11-10(2-0)

Women's finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [2] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 9-4 9-2 9-2

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