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Semi Finals: Manager error?
Commentary by Martin Bronstein, Oct 25 2003

[last update was 25-oct-03 ] By Martin Bronstein All content © 2003 Squashtalk

SEEDINGS RIGHT BUT DID SOME OF THE MANAGERS GET IT WRONG?
With the exception of Malaysia and Hong Kong, the seeding committee of the
WSF did a pretty accurate job. The top four seeds reached the semi-finals,
Canada, seeded 5, beat Scotland, seeded six, in the 5-8 grouping and will
now meet seventh seeded Wales in their last match for that 5th place with
Canada very hot favourites to win. Canada did everything right as far as
team selections went and the only stumble was Power's inability, yet again,
to finish off a very tired Peter Nicol. Had he done so, I think England with
James Willstrop and Lee Beachill would have still pulled through to the
semis.

There has to be some question about leaving out Willstrop, saving him for
the final against Australia. Willstrop had played in every match and won.
Having lost to France (Thierry Lincou beating a depleted Nicol) England will
no long face Australia and so the talents of Willstrop were saved for
nothing.

In my preview I had written that Gregory Gaultier was a tough SOB and that
playing under le tricoleur he was a doubly tough SOB. And so he proved to
be, although Colin McQuillan writing on Squashnow.com said that the Gaultier
was less than 'chivalrous' and that the German referee had allowed him to
get away with too much blocking. All this apart, I think Gaultier won not
because he is a better squash player, but that he is mentally tougher.

GROWING QUESTIONS ABOUT MALAYSIAN DIRECTION
The big upset must be the relegation of Malaysia, seeded 8 to the 13-16th
group. They beat Germany 2-1 but Ong Beng Hee, who must bear some of the
blame for his country's plight. After the defeat by Hong Kong when Mo
Iskander sensationally lost to Wong Wai Hang in the round of 16, Malaysia
then lost to the Netherlands, Beng Hee losing to Tommy Berden, a dreadful
defeat for the world number seven by a palyer ranked 35 places below him. In
the last match Beng Hee only just managed to beat Germany's Simon Frenz in
five.

Now what is going in Malaysia. Ong Beng Hee is in a slump and is fortunate still to be in the top ten. He has criticized the the Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia because the junior programme has produced no new talent and went into the championships without a reasonable number three.

Furthermore since the SRAM got rid of Nicol David's long time coach, she has also gone into a slump and is ranked well below Omneya Abdel Kawy, the Egyptian player she stomped all over in the world junior championships in Penang two years ago. Considering the amount of money pumped into squash in Malaysia, something is definitely not working.

SOME COURAGE NEEDED BY THE USSRA
As much as I like Damian Walker, I don't think he should have been selected to play at one for the USA. He is too old - know this sounds ageist - and was selected by reason of his top ranking. And Jamie Crombie, the former Canadian, is also over the 30 mark.

If you study the game scores of the USA's last two matches you will see the older player wilting in the fourth and fifth games.

Why didn't the selectors have the courage to choose some younger talent, like Julian Illingworth and toughen him up for the next world champs? England had that sort of courage, selecting Willstrop over higher ranked players and he came through with flying colours. USA will now end up in 19th place. The only bright aspect is that they will almost certainly finish higher in two years time.

ITALY STILL IN TWO PARTS
The Italian bosses (FIGS) sent their third team, because the top players
are still in revolt. The FIGS administration that made such a mess of the
Men's World Junior Championships in Milan three years ago, are still
clinging to office. The top players are running their own circuit and so the
FIGS mafia are punishing them by not selecting them. With Davide Bianchetti
leading the top three players, the team they would have certainly have
finished in the top ten rather than 18th, their probable finish. Power
corrupts etc etc etc. Sad, very sad.

AUSTRALIA THE CHAMPS
Much has been written about the very easy route that Australia has had to
the final. That may be so, but with Palmer, Ricketts and Kneipp, it would
need a major upset by an opposing player, or a catastrophic implosion by
an Aussie player, for them to lose. I said that Egypt could upset them, but
Darwish and Shabana simply could not raise their game to beat Palmer and
Ricketts. Could they lose the final? Yes. Lincou can beat Palmer, and
Renan Lavigne could beat Kneipp or Paul Price at number three. But I
wouldn't bet on it.