Wael El Hindi Beats David Palmer In Four To Win PST Tour Championship
from DailySquashReport.com
May 7, 2012 - Wael El Hindi of Egypt steadied his way past four-time British Open winner David Palmer of Australia to capture the 2011-12 PST Tour Championship yesterday, three games to one, before an enthralled crowd in Detroit, Michigan.
El Hindi defended the court more effectively yesterday than he had in last week's American Open finals' loss to Palmer in New York, and a few key errors crept into Palmer's game down the stretch.
In the third place warm-up match, John White beat Bradley Ball in four to avenge a contentious loss to Ball in the final of last month's Albany Open.
Yesterday's matches were streamed live worldwide from the gallery court at the Detroit Athletic Club, and were nicely produced and presented by Greg Burton of UB Sports.
The PST filed this report:
May 6, 2012 - Wael El Hindi beat David Palmer 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11 to win the 2012 PST World Championship hosted by Detroit Athletic Club on Sunday.
Players from 29 countries competed over the past season, which began last August. Hindi and Palmer were both mid-season recruits to the growing tour.
Hindi began the match with precision and intensity as he jumped to an immediate 5-0 lead in game one. Palmer fought back but Hindi was able to close out the opening frame 11-9.
Game two saw a sharper Palmer return to court. He was able to impose his will more decisively on the pace and nature of play. Game two to Palmer 11-8.
Game three went to Hindi 11-6. The Egyptian looked strong now, and it appeared he may be able to win the day. But game four was going to showcase a tidal wave of emotion.
Palmer raced to a 5-1 lead in game four. He was moving well and finding winning shot opportunities as Hindi struggled. However, the next nine consecutive rallies were won by Hindi and the championship was in sight.
Palmer has won two world titles coming from behind each time to do. So, he is never one to be counted out prematurely. And he was able to fight his way back to 10-10 here again by winning the next five rallies. The room became quiet as fans could feel the intensity on court and the importance of the moment.
The next rally went to Hindi. At championship point, Hindi believed he had won the title on a errant tin shot from Palmer. Mr. Palmer said his ball was good. The referees announced that the positioning of the players on court created a situation where the officials were unsighted. They announced the rally to be replayed. Hindi seemed furstrated as he saw his championship taken away for the time being.
It took a couple more rallies. But this was to be Hindi's day, and he closed out the match and the tournament with a 13-11 game four.
In the third place match John White beat Bradley Ball 11-6, 12-14, 11-8, 11-5.
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