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25/08/2008 - Martin Knight has fallen just short of a major upset in the final of the National Squash Championships at the Remuera Rackets Club in Auckland. |
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The third seeded Wellingtonian has been beaten in five by top seed Kashif Shuja, who had to fight back from two games down to retain his title.
Knight set the match alight by winning the opening two games 9/3 9/5, but Shuja gradually battled his way back into the match, finally sealing victory 9/3 in the fifth.
Meanwhile, top seed Shelley Kitchen didn't have things her own way in the women's final either, taking four games to account for second seed Jaclyn Hawkes.
The world number seven won the first game 9/2, but dropped the second 7/9 as Hawkes looked to make amends for her straight games defeat in the International Festival of Squash earlier this month.
However, Kitchen re-established her dominance to take the next two games, closing out the match 9/2 in the fourth.
Shelley Kitchen and Kashif Shuja join an elite group of players to win the National title four times or more.
Dame Susan Devoy and Paul Steel remain the most successful players in the history of the event with 10 titles apiece.
Attention now turns to the teams event over the next two days.
Martin Knight will back up from the individual event to spearhead the title challenge for top seeds Wellington, who are expected to face a stiff test in second seeds Auckland.
In the women's event, top seeds Auckland are also likely to have their work cut out against second seeds Wellington, who are led by the rejuvenated Tamsyn Leevey, the former world number 24.
Men's final
1. Kashif Shuja (Auckland) def 3. Martin Knight (Wellington) 3/9 5/9 9/6 9/4 9/3
Women's final
1. Shelley Kitchen (Northland) def 2. Jaclyn Hawkes (Auckland) 9/2 7/9 9/4 9/2
Full results/draw...www.squashsite.co.uk/nznats08.htm
Team seedings
Men
1. Wellington
2. Auckland
3. Canterbury
4. Bay of Plenty
5. Central
6. Waikato
7. Southland
Women
1. Auckland
2. Wellington
3. Waikato
4. Bay of Plenty
5. Canterbury
6. Central
7. Otago
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