Massaro Heads WSA Awards by Howard Harding 27 March 2014
- Laura Massaro had two reasons to celebrate her visit to Malaysia last
week. The world No2 not only became the first Englishwoman for 15 years
to be crowned World Squash Champion, but earlier in the week, Massaro
was voted the Heather McKay Player of the Year 2013 at the WSA Awards
staged during the Penang CIMB Women's World Championship at the SPICE
Arena in Penang.
"I'm really pleased
and honoured to win the Player of the Year award for 2013," said the
30-year-old from Preston in Lancashire after the presentation by
Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the former world number one and a
five-time world champion (both pictured above). "I won it in 2011,
which was amazing at the time, but 2013 was such a fantastic year for
me that it's up there as one of my best achievements to win this award
for the second time!
"It was fantastic to be presented with the award by Sarah, who is a legend of the game and also a friend. A special moment!"
Australia's Lisa
Camilleri won the Vicki Cardwell Comeback Player of the Year award. "I
am very proud and honoured to win the 2013 comeback player of the year
award," said the 31-year-old former world No28 from Queensland. "It is
so nice to be recognized for such a hard slog back it's been. A huge
thank you to everyone who has helped me come back - my physio, doctors,
coaches, family and friends. I was so surprised but very happy to
receive the WSA award."
The WSA Breakthrough
Player of the Year award was won by England's Sarah-Jane Perry.
"Firstly I'd like to thank everyone at WSA who work so hard to give us
the tour we have," said the 23-year-old from Kenilworth who leapt from
29 to 14 in the world rankings in 2013.
"I knew I had a good
year in 2013 - but so did a lot of other people, so I wasn't expecting
to win the award at all! I am so pleased to receive the award and it
was an honour in itself that it was presented by Sarah, who achieved so
much during her illustrious career. I'm looking forward to the rest of
2014 and hope to keep making strides in my game."
A special WSA Platinum
Service award was given to Nicol David. "I am truly honoured to be
recognised with the 2013 WSA Platinum Service Award by the panel," said
the illustrious Malaysian who has topped the women's world rankings
unopposed since August 2006. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity
to give back to women's squash, I hope to do more in future to
represent our women's tour."
The WSA Sportsmanship
Award was presented to Nicolette Fernandes, the world No20 from Guyana.
The 30-year-old said later: "This award was such a huge surprise for me
and even though it's been a few days I'm still feeling pretty humbled
by it!! I wholeheartedly believe that we are a product of our
environment and I have been extremely blessed to be surrounded by
amazing people so even if I did try and take all the credit those
amazing people would know otherwise."
WSA President Kasey
Brown accepted the award for Tournament of the Year on behalf of the
Delaware Investments US Open, the first major event to offer equal
prize money to both women and men.
Later, a delighted US
Squash CEO Kevin Klipstein said: "We're really pleased to receive the
recognition for this award. The staff works hard to make sure the elite
athletes feel comfortable and welcome. The squash community really
genuinely appreciates the example they set, and everything the
competitors represent and bring to the game.
"It's also a top
priority for us to promote opportunities for girls and women to play
squash. Offering equal prize money is one way we are able to help more
female squash players compete at the highest level and to their full
potential. We hope this move puts the appropriate pressure on other
major events to do the same."
All of the winners
were chosen by an independent expert panel made up of journalists,
ex-players and squash experts - except the 'Tournament of the Year'
which was voted for by the players.
