‘Dove’ Marsa Squash Open

The Dove Marsa Squash Open was held recently at the Marsa Sports Club in October

24 players took part in a tournament full of exciting and entertaining matches and once again everyone was surprised with a new format.

The ‘A’ players in the 1st round played against (with!) players from the ‘C’ category. In the second round (all the ‘A’ players progressed) they then faced players from the ‘B’ category, with once again all ‘A’ players progressing safely to the next round.
All the ‘B’ & ‘C’ players thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing against some of the top players in Malta and only through playing against better players can the overall standard be improved and experience gained. Everyone taking part played at least 3 matches, all ‘best-of-5′, with more than half playing four matches.

Losers from the 1st & 2nd round then played in their own category with newcomer Paul Borg producing the overall best results of the tournament. Paul only started playing squash earlier this year and has improved at a tremendous rate progressing through the ‘C’ and ‘B’ event beating established players Geoff Brousson, Sarah De Cesare and Sue Aquilina to take overall 9th place.

In the ‘C’ round of matches, squash section Chairman Charles Cuschieri had a good match against Analise Attard. The two had a very close and entertaining match with Charles winning 3-2 and so securing 17th place overall.

Carl Camilleri and Ivan Balzan contested the ‘A’ final.
After battling their way through the ‘C’ and ‘B’ players the 2 top seeds faced up to each other in the 1st final of the new season. Carl has struggled over recent months to find his form from 2010 and this was evident thought-out the first game with Carl uncharacteristically allowing himself to be disturbed by what he thought was a ‘refereeing error’ with the loss in concentration continuing throughout the break. Ivan started playing aggressively from the start and had chances in most games to take a commanding lead only to make several unforced errors and allow Carl to regain his composure. From the beginning of the 3rd game Carl concentrated more on ‘what to do’ rather than ‘how to do it’ and playing with significantly less power and a greater degree of control, was never really worried and took the first title of the 2011/12 season by 3 games to 1.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship, prizes were awarded not only to the best placed male – Carl– and the best placed female – Johanna, but also to every player that was present at the presentation.  All players received a small gift and afterwards were able to enjoy a small finger-food buffet at the club bar and reflect on what was an enjoyable afternoon for all involved.

Sporting Superstars Test

Saturday 10th September

From 15.00-17.00

Squash is one of the fastest games in the world!
Agility – Speed – Coordination – Stamina are all required to play squash.

The Marsa Squash Section will be holding a ‘SUPERSTARS’ test afternoon for junior boys and girls aged 9 – 13.

The afternoon will include a variety of tests that will also include racket sport skills.

Successful participants will receive a certificate.

Participation is free & you can bring a friend.
Closing date Thursday 8th September.
Registration required!

If you think you have what it takes register with Carl on 79032032 or email Paul

The Dove Marsa Ladies Squash Open

The Dove Marsa Ladies Squash Open was held last weekend at the Marsa Sports Club.
With the temperature rising outside, the players were able to enjoy and appreciate the fully air-conditioned courts at Marsa.
The tournament was held in 4 groups, with the winners of each group progressing to the ‘A’ event and the remaining players participating in the ‘B’ event.
This format gave new players the chance to play against more experienced players.

The first ‘B’ event semi-final was between Maria Duffy (Marsa S.C.) and 15 year old Samira Caruana (Luxembourg).
Samira started well but never really troubled Maria with Maria winning comfortably 3-0.
The second semi-final was between Elaine Catania and Maryanne Caruana (both Marsa S.C.). The two friends play together on a regular basis and all the games were very close, but Maryanne eventually took the match 3-1.

In the ‘B’ event final, Maryanne started each game well and was able to maintain her lead throughout with Maria always chasing. Maryanne won the match 3-0 and with it the Dove Marsa ladies ‘B’ event title.
The ‘A’ event semi-finals produced 2 completely different games.
The first semi-final between ex-national team player Roberta Pace Grima and 12 year old Kim Cauchi (both Marsa S.C.) was a demonstration of how to control a game of squash. Roberta showed young Kim how to place the ball and move your opponent around the court and was always in control of the match. Kim put in her usually gutsy performance but was unable to match Roberta’s experience and precision with Roberta winning comfortably 3-0.

The second semi-final produced the match of the tournament – 10 year old Alina Bushma from the Ukraine against Analise Attard (Marsa S.C.). Alina personifies youthful exuberance and it was a joy to watch her enthusiasm on court.
Analise won the first game 11-9 with Alina taking the second 11-8. The two were fighting for every point and some of the retrieving was exemplary. Analise took the third game 11-2 and a 2-1 lead with everyone thinking Alina was showing signs of tiring – she is, after all, only 10 years old! The fourth set was even throughout with both players using all corners and a wide variety of shots. A lucky break at 9-9 gave Alina ‘game ball’ followed by an unforced error from Analise gifting the set 11-9 to Alina. The fifth and final set continued in the same manner as the fourth with neither player unable to break away. In the end Alina managed to find 2 winning shots and took the game 13-11 and the match 3-2.

The ‘A’ final understandably was a rather one-sided match with Roberta once again controlling the game and Alina looking rather jaded. Roberta was occasionally surprised at the amount of effort and will-power Alina was still showing, but managed to take the match 3-0 and so win her first Dove Marsa ladies squash title.

After the final, Maria, representing the Marsa Squash Section, presented all the participants with a Dove gift pack and the two winners with a Dove hamper. A tombola for all participants was also held giving everyone a small gift. The evening was rounded off with the usual after tournament social event where the ladies were able to enjoy a small buffet and a well-deserved drink served at the Marsa pool bar.

(some of the winners & runners-up)

Thanks go to Dove for their generous support and to Gordon Asciak / as well as all the other sponsors that made the event possible.

Thanks also to Analise Attard and Maria Duffy for all the hard work that went into the organisation and preparation.

The next open squash event at Marsa will be the Dove Squash Challenge in September.

 

Polish Junior Squash Open – Warsaw

Polish Junior Squash Open – Warsaw – 2011 -
4th Place for Kimberley Cauchi

Rising squash star Kimberley Cauchi faced Denisa Rohunova from the Czech Republic in the first round of the under-13 Polish Junior Squash Open in Warsaw.
Rohunova, ranked number 14 in Europe, was a tough test for the Maltese youngster. Kim put in a good all-round performance but the experience of Rohunova showed in the end with the Maltese youngster losing in four close games 11-4 / 6-11 / 8-11 / 11-13.

The next two matches for Kim proved to be even tougher. Both Alina Bushma and Nadiya Usenko from the Ukraine were not ranked in Europe before this event, but the two girls marched through the tournament to set up an all Ukrainian girls final, with Usenko claiming her first Polish Junior Open title 11:6, 11:5, 10:12, 9:11, 11:7.
Kim performed well against Bushma and Usenko but lost to both girls 0-3. The Ukrainian Squash Federation has put in a lot of hard work over the last years developing and supporting junior squash and the results are clearly showing.

Following the group format system Kim faced Denisa Rohunova  from the Czech Republic once again for the third and fourth place play-off match. The Maltese youngster got off to a good start taking the first game 11-8 but once again the experience of Rohunova, ranked number 14 in Europe, started to show from the middle of the second game. Rohunova changed the pace of the game and altered her tactics slightly unsettling Cauchi who did not have the experience to respond. Rohunova took the match and so third place 8-11, 11-7, 11- 5, 11-9

Kim only started playing squash last year and has progressed through the Marsa Squash Section Junior Development Programme at an impressive rate, but to be able to compete with the rapidly improving juniors from other countries she will require many such events to gain more experience and valuable match practice against overseas players.
Other European countries are putting a lot of effort, time and resources into junior squash development and its vital for the future of squash in Malta to make sure that here we do the same.

At the end of the tournament Kim had gained valuable experience playing against some top European competition, made some new friends and is happy that after forging new friendships Alina Bushma will be coming to visit Malta later this year for a squash & holiday vacation.

(from left Nadiya Usenko, Alina Bushma and Kim)

Thanks go to the Marsa Sports Club and the Marsa Squash Section, without whose support Kim’s participation in Poland would not have been possible. Kim is a member of the Marsa Squash Section Junior Development Programme and is sponsored by Wilson.

Tough draw for Kimberley Cauchi in the Polish Junior Squash Open

Rising squash star Kimberley Cauchi will face Denisa Rohunova from the Czech Republic in the first round of the under-13 Polish Junior Squash Open in Warsaw on Saturday.
Rohunova is ranked number 14 in Europe and will be a tough test for the Maltese youngster.

Cauchi followed up her recent success in the Malta Junior Open with an impressive victory last week in the Marsa Squash Section Junior Closed taking the title without dropping a game. Following her 7th place finish in the Austrian Junior Open in March, and the recent good performances, coach Paul Lake is hoping Kimberley will be able to continue her present form and put in a good all-round performance in Warsaw.

Thanks go to the Marsa Sports Club and the Marsa Squash Section, without their support Kimberley’s participation in Poland would not be possible. Kimberley is sponsored by Wilson and is a member of the Marsa Squash Section Junior Development  Programme.

Clean sweep for Marsa Squash Section juniors at the BelBin 2011 Malta Junior Squash Open

All 3 National Junior Titles won by juniors from the Marsa Squash Section

In the under-17 category Colette Sultana won her 5th consecutive national title adding to her impressive victories in previous years. Colette dominated her matches in her usual authoritative manner and was able to control her opponents throughout.

Ryan Rizzo, returning to the court for the first time in many months, was equally impressive in the under-15 category. Ryan, like Colette, was part of the MARSA JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT SCHEME when he started playing squash, and was the one to entice cousin Colette to the game. Ryan won all his matches comfortably to take the National under-15 title.

Young Kimberley Cauchi only started playing squash last year and has progressed through the MARSA JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT SCHEME at an impressive rate. Kimberley showed good composure and control throughout and managed to win her matches without dropping a game to take her first national title in the under-13 category.

Following in the footsteps of Colette, Kimberly has already taken part in a European ranking tournament and will be participating later this month in her 2nd event, the Polish Junior Open.