Hinds Celebrates Historic Warsaw Win from PSA Media
5 December 2011-
England's Joel Hinds became the first person to win a PSA World Tour
title in the Poland capital Warsaw when he beat New Zealander Kashif
Shuja in the final of the Grupa o2 Cup, a PSA Challenger 5 squash event
at the city's Kahuna Squash & Badminton club.
The 24-year-old top seed from Birmingham survived two four-game matches
en-route to the final - his second Tour final of the year but the
seventh of his career.
The experienced Kiwi Shuja, the second seed from Auckland, also
overcame his semi-final opponent in four games - a win which resulted
in the 32-year-old making the 19th Tour final of his career.
And Shuja, a former world No36, took the opening game as an upset looked on the cards.
But Hinds, a former World University champion ranked six places higher
than his older opponent, regained the upper hand to close out the match
6-11, 11-5, 11-1, 11-8 in 58 minutes.
"I am very pleased to win this title and have enjoyed my time here very
much," said Hinds after securing the second PSA Tour title of his
career - but his first for more than two years. "It was another tough
game.
"I'd like to say a couple of thank yous: To Rob Owen and other coaches
who have helped me and to my sponsors Black Knight & Ashaway.
"And I'd like to dedicate this win to my number one armchair sports fan, Chris Tasker-Grindley."
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Grupa o2 Cup, Warsaw, Poland
1st round:
[1] Joel Hinds (ENG) bt [Q] Jakob Dirnberger (AUT) 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 (26m)
Sebastiaan Weenink (NED) bt Reiko Peter (SUI) 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (83m)
Amr Ramsy Swelim (ITA) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 11-7 (75m)
[3] Rasmus Nielsen (DEN) bt Bart Ravelli (NED) 11-3, 11-8, 12-14, 11-3 (67m)
[4] Chris Truswell (ENG) bt Wojciech Nowisz (POL) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (31m)
Matias Tuomi (FIN) bt [Q] Karamatullah Khan (PAK) 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 7-11, 11-3 (56m)
Steven London (ENG) bt [Q] Jonas Daehler (SUI) 7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 7-11, 12-10 (95m)
[2] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt [Q] Daniel West (ENG) 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 (59m)