Two-Match Barker Takes Malaysian Open Men's Title by Howard Harding 15 September 2013
- Less than seven hours after surviving a marathon rescheduled
semi-final match, England's Peter Barker triumphed over defending
champion Tarek Momen in today's final of the CIMB Malaysian Open to win
the PSA World Tour International 50 squash event at the Curve Shopping
Mall in Petaling Jaya in Selangor for the first time.
An accidental clash
with Spanish opponent Borja Golan's racket in the semis resulted in the
Englishman sustaining a severe nosebleed - and the match being
rescheduled for 9.00am this morning
It took 99 minutes for
the second-seeded Londoner to earn his place in the final - and only
hours later, before a packed crowd surrounding the all-glass court,
Barker was back in action against defending champion Tarek Momen, the
No4 seed from Egypt, in the climax.
"Tarek didn't start as
well as he would have liked, always being a few points behind in the
opening game, Barker winning 11-5," said event spokesman Andrew Cross.
"In the second it was similar with Barker leading all the way but then
when Barker got to nine points he hit three unusual errors and Tarek
took advantage to win the game 11-9 - the first time Tarek had led at
any point in the match.
"The third was close
up until the midpoint of the game when Barker (pictured above,
foreground, in the final) broke clear to win 11-5. In the fourth, with
Tarek now with his back against the wall, Barker ran out an easy winner
11-3 to win his first CIMB Malaysian Open title."
Speaking to Kng Zheng
Guan of the Malaysia Star, Barker said: "I think my nose is broken.
It's usually not like this and it's really sore. I'm going to fly home
tonight and see my doctor tomorrow morning.
"Let him tell me the bad news. But I don't care - it's worth it!
"I'm absolutely
delighted to win the title, as the last time I came here I won the KL
Open in 2009," added the world No7 from London who has now won his 15th
Tour title. "I'm coming into some form at the moment and to beat both
Borja and Tarek on the same day is a treat."
Later, Barker
conceded: "I'm obviously delighted to win this week - it's quite
possibly the highlight of my career, beating Borja and Tarek within a
few hours of each other with a dodgy honker!
"I am genuinely a
little lost for words right now and I have too many people to thank.
You know who you are: thank you for your support, love and continued
encouragement."
RESULTS: PSA International 50 CIMB Malaysian Open, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
