England's Massaro Seeded Top In Most Lucrative PSA Women's World Championship Ever by Nathan Clarke photos squaspics.com
March 28, 2016
- English World No.1 Laura Massaro, the 32-year-old who has topped the
rankings throughout 2016, will go into next month's Naza PSA Women's
World Championship - the most illustrious tournament on the PSA World
Tour calendar - as the top seed after the draw for the $185,000
tournament which takes place in Kuala Lumpur April 23-30 was released
today.
In the most lucrative Women's World Championship ever
- which will also see the winner get a brand new Citroen DS4 car - 2013
winner Massaro will head the 56-strong field, comprising players from
all corners of the world, in what promises to be the most competitive
edition of all time in a draw that contains four players who have
tasted success on the PSA World Series so far during a season that has
been packed full of shock defeats and surprise victories.
Massaro
dominated the early stages of the 2015/16 season to claim the US Open
and Qatar Classic titles but has failed to reach a final since losing
out to local Malaysian favourite Nicol David, the eight-time World
Champion from Penang, in December's Hong Kong Open.
David
has been thwarted in all of the past three World Series events at the
hands of Nour El Sherbini, whom Massaro defeated to take the 2013 crown
in Penang, with the 20-year-old Egyptian lifting the titles at the
Tournament of Champions and British Open - where she defeated World
Junior Champion and genuine contender for the senior crown Nouran Gohar.
2014
runner-up Raneem El Welily, the woman who ended David's 9-year streak
as World No.1, returned to her best form to win the Windy City Open in
March and with the likes of 2015 British Open champion Camille Serme
and former World Championship runners-up Omneya Abdel Kawy and Jenny
Duncalf amongst the others in a packed field, the latest instalment of
the World Championship promises fireworks.
“We are very
pleased to be able to host such an important event in the squash
calendar. It is important for me to be able to give back, and I jumped
on the opportunity to do so”, said tournament promoter and Sportspin
Event & Athlete Management Director Azlan Iskander, a former
professional player.
“Of course this could not have been
achieved without the cooperation and help from the Ministry of Youth
and Sports and the Naza Group of Companies (title sponsor), and of
course all our other sponsors and event partners.”
PSA Chief
Executive Alex Gough said: "Women's squash is in the midst of one of
the most competitive eras there has ever been, with more excitement
than ever before surrounding who will emerge victorious and with every
player inside the top section of the rankings capable of beating the
other.
"We have witnessed some amazing drama so far this
year in all the women's PSA World Series tournaments and with the most
prestigious title in the sport on the line in Kuala Lumpur I expect we
will be treated to an outstanding week of action and we look forward to
continuing to work closely with SportSpin and everyone involved with
the tournament ahead of April 23."
M Nasarudin, Joint Group
Executive Chairman, Naza Group of Companies said: “Being associated
with the PSA Women’s World Championship has provided us the opportunity
to be associated with sports on the international stage."
Malaysian
Minister of Youth and Sports, YBM Khairy Jamaluddin said: “I
congratulate Sportspin Event and Athlete Management for stepping up to
the plate to take on the organising of this very important tournament.
I also commend the corporate sponsors for supporting this initiative.
“The
Government welcomes all the participants with open arms and we hope we
will be able to show them and fans our true Malaysian hospitality. I
wish you all an enjoyable tournament and stay in Malaysia."
PSA Women's World Championship - First Round Draw: [1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Qualifier] Victoria Lust (ENG) v [14] Joshna Chinappa (IND) [15] Delia Arnold (MAS) v [Qualifier] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [Qualifier] [Qualifier] v [9] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [12] Joelle King (NZL) v [WC] Low Wee Wern (MAS) Tesni Evans (WAL) v [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) [4] Camille Serme (FRA) v [Qualifier] [Qualifier] v [13] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [16] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [Qualifier] [Qualifier] v [8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) [5] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Donna Urquhart (AUS) Dipika Pallikal (IND) v [11] Annie Au (HKG) [10] Alison Waters (ENG) v Heba El Torky (EGY) Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [2] Nicol David (MAS)
All
matches will be played at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil and
admittance to the event is free of charge. For more information and
details, please visit www.psawwckualalumpur.com
