Kobayashi Conquers Craig For NZ Crown by Howard Harding June 22, 2015
- Providing the perfect omen for Squash just hours before the sport was
shortlisted for inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Japan's
top-ranked player Misaki Kobayashi won the Women's Invercargill
Licensing Trust NZ Southern Open in New Zealand against expectations.
It was after upsetting top-seeded South African Siyoli Waters in the
semi-finals of the WSA Challenger 10 event at Squash City Invercargill
in Invercargill that second seed Kobayashi, the record six-time
Japanese national champion from Yokohama, lined up against Kiwi hope
Megan Craig, the No.4 seed from Blenheim, in the final.
It was the first meeting between world No.36 Kobayashi and the reigning
New Zealand champion, ranked 13 places lower (both pictured above).
Craig, winner of her first Tour event on home soil only a week earlier,
took the opening game. But the Japanese star bounced back to take the
next three to record her 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 title triumph in 38
minutes.
"I'm really happy to end the season with a win - and happy with the
coolest trophy I've ever got too," exclaimed 25-year-old Kobayashi
after securing the eighth WSA World Tour title of her career.
"This win means a lot to me as squash still has a huge chance to get
into the Olympics and I hope my result will encourage the Olympic
committee members to know that there is bright future for squash and a
real chance for a Japanese athlete to win a medal if it gets into 2020!"
