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06/08/2008 - The stars come out at the BayFair Shopping Centre in Mount Maunganui this weekend. |
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The draw has just been released for the eagerly anticipated International Festival of Squash which kicks off on Friday, with New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen head-lining an impressive line-up of players on an all- glass court, set up right in the heart of the shopping centre.
The world number seven will face a qualifier in the first round on Friday, with fellow kiwis Jackie Laurenson, Lana Harrison, Amanda Cranston and Lisa Cowlard fighting for the two spots available in the field.
Joining Kitchen in the main draw are another three players in the world's top 20 - Australian Kasey Brown (#13), Ireland's Madeline Perry (#15) and fellow kiwi Jaclyn Hawkes (#19). The draw is rounded off with two other Kiwi players, up-and-coming junior Joelle King (#55) and Waikato's Kylie Lindsay (#73) who has been playing the WISPA circuit thie year.
The men's draw also features an impressive line-up, with Malaysians Ong Beng Hee (WR#9)- who plays Kiwis Josh Greenfield (#121)in the first round and Mohd Azlan Iskander (#13) making the trip to New Zealand to showcase their skills in front of BayFair shoppers, which will pose a major challenge for New Zealand number one Kashif Shuja (WR41), who comes into the event fresh from a runner-up finish at the Australian Open in Clare.
Kiwis Campbell Grayson (#90) and Martin Knight (#94) also feature in the mina draw.
The innovative international event, sponsored by BayFair Shopping Centre, Delta and Squash New Zealand, has captured the imagination of the New Zealand squash public, with the Mt Maunganui Open, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, attracting a whopping 180 entries. The huge number of entries has forced officials to schedule some games at the Tauranga and Te Puke squash clubs, to accommodate as many players as possible.
International Festival of Squash draws
Women's Draw
First Round
Friday 7-30pm - Shelley Kitchen (NZ) v Qualifier 2
Friday 4-30pm - Madeline Perry (IRL) v Qualifier 1
Friday 3-00pm - Jackie Hawkes (NZ) v Kylie Lindsay (NZ)
Friday 6-00pm - Kasey Brown (AUS) v Joelle King (NZ)
Semi finals
Semi 1 - Saturday 4pm (top half of draw)
Semi 2 - Saturday 2pm (bottom half of draw)
Finals Day
¾ playoff - Sunday 1-00pm
Final - Sunday 3-30pm
Men's Draw
First Round
Friday 8-00pm - Ong Beng Hee (MSA) v Josh Greenfield (NZ)
Friday 5-00pm - Martin Knight (NZ) v Campbell Grayson (NZ)
Friday 3-30pm - Kashif Shuja (NZ) v Qualifier 1
Friday 6-30pm - Mohd Azlan Iskandar(MSA) v Qualifier 2
Semi finals
Semi 1 - Saturday 4-45pm (top half of draw)
Semi 2 - Saturday 2-45pm (bottom half of draw)
Finals Day
¾ playoff - Sunday 12-00pm
Final - Sunday 2-00pm
Qualifying (Thursday at Mount Maunganui Squash Club)
Women
Jackie Laurenson (Central) vs Lana Harrison (Auckland)
Amanda Cranston (Central) vs Lisa Cowlard (Auckland)
Men
Daryl Russell (BOP) vs Chris Lloyd (Central)
Willie Bicknell (Wellington) vs Matiu Te Kani-McQueen (BOP)
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