Invitee Koukal Scores In World Open Qualifiers

by Howard Harding
All content © 2002 Squashtalk

Dec 5, 2002

Jan Koukal scored a notable upset in the first qualifying round of the Men's
World Open Squash Championship in Belgium when he beat local star Peter
Pastijn, ranked 65 in the world, 10-15 15-13 17-15 15-12.

The 19-year-old from Prague is one of eight players invited to compete in the
World Open through an agreement between the event owners the Professional
Squash Association (PSA) and the World Squash Federation (WSF) - which allows
countries to be represented which may not have players who would normally
qualify through their PSA rankings. The Czech Republic teenager was joined
by players from Russia, Chile, Yugoslavia, Austria, Germany, Zimbabwe and the
USA through this innovative arrangement - and was the only one to survive
through to the qualifying finals.

Australia's World Open hopes were dashed on the eve of the event by the
withdrawals of both Paul Price, the world No18 from Melbourne, and Dan
Jenson, the world No34 from Adelaide, through injury. Their places in the
main draw have been taken by Australian Glenn Keenan and Irishman Derek Ryan.

RESULTS: Men's World Open Squash Championship, Antwerp, Belgium

1st qualifying round:
Gavin Jones (WAL) bt Alexei Severinov (RUS) 15-5, 15-4, 15-3
Hisham Moh'd Ashour (EGY) bt Stefan Leifels (GER) 15-8, 15-12, 17-14
Raj Nanda (AUS) bt Fabian Kalaitzis (GRE) 17-15, 15-4, 15-8
Mika Monto (FIN) bt Ian Power (CAN) 15-9, 9-15, 15-9, 15-12
Mark Heather (ENG) bt Mark Andrew Burke (AUS) 15-10, 15-3, 13-15, 15-9
Alex Stait (ENG) bt Ivan Djordjevic (YUG) 15-9, 15-5, 15-7
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Marcello Kaplun (CHI) 15-7, 15-7, 15-9
John Rooney (IRL) bt Stacey Ross (ENG) 15-13, 15-8, 15-8
Scot Fitzgerald (WAL) bt Olivier Van Heghe (BEL) 15-14, 12-15, 15-12, 15-9
Andrew Whipp (ENG) bt Mark Price (AUS) 15-12, 15-8, 15-7
Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Ritwik Bhattacharya (IND) 15-9, 15-5, 15-7
Laurens Anjema (NED) bt Jesse Engelbrecht (ZIM) 15-8, 15-5, 15-9
Ben Howell (ENG) bt Beau River (USA) 15-10, 15-8, 15-6
Marcus Smith (AUS) bt Steve Dries (BEL) 15-8, 17-16, 12-15, 15-9
Christian Drakenberg (SWE) bt Leopold Czaska (AUT) 8-15, 15-12, 15-6, 15-8
Jan Koukal (CZE) bt Peter Pastijn (BEL) 10-15, 15-13, 17-15, 15-12