Top stars for Hong Kong Open

By Raju Chainani

MUMBAI, AUG. 19. The 2001 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Squash Open will bring together the world's top men and women players in a first for the island colony. The men compete in the PSA Tour's first `Super Series Platinum' event boasting a $100,000 prize fund, and the women in one of the first new `Grand Prix' events, featuring a $63,000 fund. The event kicks off on Tuesday and the finals are slated for Sunday.

In the men's event, Canada's World No.1 Jonathon Power faces a qualifier in the opening round and is seeded to reach his fifth successive final. Seeded one, the 1998 champion is expected to face Australia's British Open champion David Palmer, the No.3 seed, in the semifinals before an appointment with arch rival Peter Nicol, the defending champion from England, in the final, which would be the pair's fourth consecutive meeting in the event climax.

Cathay Pacific, which is involved in a large number of sporting events worldwide, has been the title sponsor of the Hong Kong Squash Open since 1985. In 1998, Jansher Khan made a painful exit from this event, which he had won nine times since his astonishing debut in 1987.

Yet again, there is no Pakistani who has qualified for the main draw, such has been the slide since Jansher left the scene. But, the top three ranked players - Power, Nicol and Palmer - have given the 2001 event an open look. Added to this is the notorious reputation it enjoys as being a graveyard for the seeds.

Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee is the number seven seed and is expected to meet Palmer in the last eight. The Asian champion remains as the continent's lone ranger. He has been training in London with Neil Harvey and is a regular sparring partner of Peter Nicol.

Women's event returns

The return of a women's open to Hong Kong - which was last staged in 1995, separately from the men's open has been met with an enthusiastic response from players. All but two of the world's top 16 will be in action, led by top seed Leilani Joyce, the world No.1 from New Zealand.

Heather Deayton, Executive Director of Hong Kong Squash, responded: ``We're really excited about the addition of a women's event to this year's Open. WISPA has been very positive about the participation of their players. It will be a double treat for the fans.''

The draw for the event has produced some mouth- watering clashes, with Nicol David, the 18-year-old Malaysian who last month became the first player to successfully defend the women's World junior crown lined up in the women's event against senior world champion Carol Owens, the No. 2 seed from Australia, and Omneya Abdel Kawy, runner-up to David, pitched against the No.1 seed Leilani Joyce of New Zealand.

Australia's British Open champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the world No.3 from Australia, will meet a qualifier in the opening round and is expected to meet Joyce in the semifinals.

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