Latest news with #PSAChallenger
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Addeen Idrakie wins Morrinsville Open after injury comeback
NATIONAL squash player Addeen Idrakie's long wait for a Professional Squash Association (PSA) title ended after he clinched the Morrinsville Open in New Zealand today. The Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) in a statement today said the 31-year-old battled past compatriot Joachim Chuah in a five-set thriller at the Morrinsville Squash Club to win the PSA Challenger level event 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4. However, it was a bittersweet victory for Addeen as Joachim suffered an injury in the deciding set with the score tied at 4-4, forcing him to limp through the remaining points. 'It was a hard and good match from Joachim just now. I think the last time I won a title was in 2023 in Australia. Happy to win a title again after five months out from squash,' he said in a statement by SRAM today. The win marked Addeen's seventh PSA Tour title and his first since triumphing at the North Coast Open in Australia last year. Addeen had been sidelined for six months due to a shoulder injury before making his competitive return at the President's Trophy in Seremban last month, where he finished as runner-up to Canada's Karim Aguib. - Bernama
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Addeen ends long title wait with bittersweet win in NZ
Sweet 1-2 finish: Addeen Idrakie (right) and Joachim Chuah. PETALING JAYA: National squash player Addeen Idrakie's long wait for another PSA title finally came to an end after he won the Morrinsville Open in New Zealand yesterday. The 31-year-old outlasted compatriot Joachim Chuah in the PSA Challenger level event, winning the match 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 at the Morrinsville Squash Club. However, the final in New Zealand was a bittersweet win for Addeen as countryman Joachim suffered an injury in the final set with the score tied at 4-4, leaving him limping through the remaining points. But Addeen was relieved to get his seventh PSA Tour title after his last win at the North Coast Open in 2023, and is hoping he can carry that momentum to his next tournament. "I feel very happy to finally win a title again after two years. It was disappointing to see Joachim get a cramp in the final set," he said. Addeen's next outing will see him hop over to Australia to compete at the Victorian Open in Melbourne from July 16-20 as the top seed. He hopes the slight discomfort in his shoulder would alleviate itself before the tournament as he looks to make it a back-to-back win. "I'll be leaving for Australia to compete at the Victorian Open, and I really hope my shoulder gets better soon so I'm fully prepared and ready for the tournament," he said. Addeen's shoulder injury had forced him off the court for six months, but he made his return at the President's Trophy in Seremban last month, where he finished runners-up to Canada's Karim Aguib.
Scoop
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Lash Takes First PSA Challenger Title, Thomas Down To Damming Again
Press Release – Dave Worsley A first for New Zealand squash player Ella Lash as she scored her maiden PSA Challenger title to assist her young professional career. The title came in almost the most unlikely of locations on the international glass court in Temuka at the Trust Aoraki Midlands PSA as the top seeded Lash ranked 117 in the world and aged 19 accounted for third seed Jena Gregory from the Hawkes Bay who is ranked 211 and aged just 21. Lash cruised through the first two games, dropping just three points in the process as Gregory struggled to find her shots. But Lash started the third with a number of unforced errors and Gregory took the initiative taking the score through to a game point, however the fight of Lash showed through as then starved off numerous game balls to win 13-11 and take the match and the title. In the men's final it was a repeat of three other occasions in New Zealand with top seed and world No 89 as well as former world junior champion Rowan Damming of the Netherlands defeating kiwi No 2 and tournament second seed Elijah Thomas. Thomas ranked 100 tried everything he could on the glass court in Temuka in front of the large supportive crowd as the first game went the way of the top seed 13-11. The second game was more straight forward in favour of Damming who had an answer to just about every shot from Thomas. However, the New Zealander showed he wasn't finished yet as he took the third game 12-10 by regaining his length on shots and remaining patient. In the fourth Damming applied the pressure and forced errors out of a now frustrated Thomas in his seven PSA Challenger final, for two previous titles. Thomas who has already played in seven nations this year will be looking for his first National Championships title with the tournament in Auckland this week and Paul Coll under an injury cloud. In the women's draw Lash will be second seed with Kaitlyn Watts moving into top spot after Joelle King's injury withdrawal. (1) Ella Lash bt (3)Jena Gregory 11-2, 11-1, 13-11 (27 minutes)
Scoop
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Lash Takes First PSA Challenger Title, Thomas Down To Damming Again
A first for New Zealand squash player Ella Lash as she scored her maiden PSA Challenger title to assist her young professional career. The title came in almost the most unlikely of locations on the international glass court in Temuka at the Trust Aoraki Midlands PSA as the top seeded Lash ranked 117 in the world and aged 19 accounted for third seed Jena Gregory from the Hawkes Bay who is ranked 211 and aged just 21. Lash cruised through the first two games, dropping just three points in the process as Gregory struggled to find her shots. But Lash started the third with a number of unforced errors and Gregory took the initiative taking the score through to a game point, however the fight of Lash showed through as then starved off numerous game balls to win 13-11 and take the match and the title. In the men's final it was a repeat of three other occasions in New Zealand with top seed and world No 89 as well as former world junior champion Rowan Damming of the Netherlands defeating kiwi No 2 and tournament second seed Elijah Thomas. Thomas ranked 100 tried everything he could on the glass court in Temuka in front of the large supportive crowd as the first game went the way of the top seed 13-11. The second game was more straight forward in favour of Damming who had an answer to just about every shot from Thomas. However, the New Zealander showed he wasn't finished yet as he took the third game 12-10 by regaining his length on shots and remaining patient. In the fourth Damming applied the pressure and forced errors out of a now frustrated Thomas in his seven PSA Challenger final, for two previous titles. Thomas who has already played in seven nations this year will be looking for his first National Championships title with the tournament in Auckland this week and Paul Coll under an injury cloud. In the women's draw Lash will be second seed with Kaitlyn Watts moving into top spot after Joelle King's injury withdrawal. Results: Trust Aoraki Midlands PSA (1) Ella Lash bt (3)Jena Gregory 11-2, 11-1, 13-11 (27 minutes) (1) Rowan Damming (Netherlands bt (2) Elijah Thomas 13-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5 (58 minutes)
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Saurav Ghosal calls off comeback, returns to retirement
Bengaluru: Months after Saurav Ghosal came out of retirement and won a PSA Challenger title in Sydney, the squash pro is coming to terms with a difficult decision. The first Indian male player to break into the top 10, Saurav had announced his retirement in April last year after spending over two decades on the PSA Tour. Early this year, he returned with the goal of making it to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its debut. That dream has now been extinguished. 'Basically, I can't play anymore,' Saurav revealed to HT, fighting back emotions. 'My right hip is gone. There's too much degeneration. It's essentially early-stage arthritis of the bone. The specialists have said they can manage it for maybe 12-18 months – but three and a half years is something they can't guarantee. Apparently, the damage can't be reversed. So, if I don't have a guarantee that I can properly try for the Olympics, then it just seems futile in the grand scheme of things.' Had the Olympics been next year, Saurav says he would have put his body on the line. 'I would have tried to manage it with PRP injections and artificial cartilage injections if it were the Olympics instead of the Asian Games next year.' Next year's Asian Games, which he originally planned to play when he announced his comeback, 'doesn't make sense' for him anymore without the end goal of the Olympics. 'An individual Asian Games gold would be nice, but it doesn't pull me hard enough.' For the 38-year-old, the diagnosis hit like a cold shower from hell. 'Now when I look back, since early last year, I've been having issues with my glute and abductor. Only now do we know that it's because the hip is degenerating. When I was in Sydney, I wasn't able to stretch properly after matches because it was hurting. I played through the tournament and afterwards I was limping. I got an MRI done and that's when I learnt I have a condition called Avascular Necrosis (AVN), which is basically lack of blood flow to the bone tissue. Doctors think that the AVN has been triggered by early arthritis. I've been told that I might need a hip replacement at some point. It could be in five years or ten years.' He consulted top doctors, including a hip specialist who works with the British Olympic team. 'He said if I really want to play he'd help me as much as he possibly can. But six months down the line, it could just break down.' Eager to pull all stops for LA 2028, Saurav even considered going for a hip replacement surgery right away. 'It takes nine to twelve months for the prosthesis to set fully. The time frame to qualify for the Olympics then becomes harder because the Asian Games is obviously out. To make it via ranking in a draw of 16, I'll have to be top 15 in the world. To make it into the top 15 in two years, is difficult. Everything put together, it's pretty much like running up a hill the entire time.' He has broken the news to his innermost circle and key stakeholders – family, coaches and sponsors – and was recently announced director of high performance sports at Agilitas, a sportswear manufacturer. He's doing things he's never done before – coordinating with product designers on footwear and apparel for various sports, brainstorming marketing strategies, helping decide athlete endorsements and institutional partnerships and closing the loop with athlete feedback. 'The good thing is it's keeping me really busy so it helps manage the mental pain.' Still, the decision to call off his comeback remains what he calls an 'open wound.' 'I was at the International Olympic Committee athlete forum in Lausanne a few days ago, and in my head, I went, 'Damn, man, I can't play the Olympics.' It really hits you in some moments. It's going to take some getting used to.'
