#malcolm willstrop

The world of Squash lost one of its best today.

Check out all the tributes and stories

The Squash World came out in force at Edgbaston Priory and Birmingham University for a charity day in memory of Sumner, reports Malcolm Willstrop All Sumner's family were there to witness a parade of squash stars, led by Nick Matthew, supported by James Willstrop, Daryl Selby, Tesni Evans, Joel Makin, Declan James, Josh Masters, Millie Tomlinson, Jamie Haycocks and Peter Creed.

Also in attendance was Sarah-Jane Perry, who had had her elbow operated on,  so unable to participate, but still there to support.  

At Edgbaston the professionals rotated to play with a variety of players,young and old ,male and female.including star junior Amelie Haworth from the Isle of Wight.

Then to the University,about to host the British Junior Open when the players were in two teams, playing matches of twelve minutes duration for a splendid , appreciative crowd.

 Vanessa Atkinson introduced the teams on court professionally, as she does and the players were, as squash players happily are, accessible for photos and autographs.

Russell Munns deserves great credit for organising the event and it was the wish of Sumner's parents that any proceeds go to the PSA Foundation, whose prime motive is to develop systems to bring the game to children and others who otherwise would not have the opportunity.

It was a day illustrating all that is good about our sport and one of which all concerned can be proud.

Malcolm Willstrop

Quarters: [5] Nour El Sherbini (Egy) 3-0 [3] Nicol David (Mas)   11-9, 12-10, 11-9 (36m)

 Malcolm reports

Here was a match to anticipate: the greatest woman player in recent times or maybe ever, against one of the most promising, Nour el Sherbini.

It is more than likely that the lowering of the tin has hardly helped Nicol David’s cause and as El Sherbini blazes into the 5/0 lead with an array of attacking shots. However, four surprising unforced errors gave David a lifeline. She hit her first winner at 6/4 down, levelled at 8/8 and 9/9, before Sherbini hit two more winners to take the first 11/9. Once more, Sherbini, attacking with flair went 6/3, but David retaliated with three winners of her own to level 6/6. She then asked for a Malaysian stroke on a ball she could have almost certainly have put away, rightly given a let. It may have made a difference if she had played it, since the game was won on a tie-break 12/10, allowing Sherbini to lead 2/0. The third game was similarly close, Sherbini’s attacking skills always looked like prove decisive. She was deprived of the match on a doubtful call at 10/9, but won it deservedly on the next rally. Sherbini has a classical look about her: her attack is exceptional, her fast achievements tell you how good is it: her future is assured.

Liz Irving

This is just an adjustment period. She is just trying to develop her game to adapt to the change of tin. It’s a massive change. Shots that used to be down are now good, and the boast, for the girls, if you are standing behind the service line, if it’s just that much above the tin, you just cannot get it. Nicol is working on changing her game, but most of all, on trusting her attacking game more. It’s all about allowing her to take more calculating risks. It’s not there yet, but Nicol adapts very well to new elements. And if in the past, she had some motivation issues, that’s gone. She now knows what she wants, she is clear about it, and she wants back in. And that’s the most positive of all.

Nour 

Playing Nicol is very hard - I have to prepare very hard to play her, every time. Today I wasn’t think to much - I was just going for it. All three games could have gone either way but thankfully in the end they all went for me. I haven’t worked specifically on a more powerful game, but I have grown up, I am stronger, and I have matured. I now believe I can win hard matches.

Once I had an opportunity to attack I just went for it - my attacking shots were going well and I’m happy that they worked.

Read the full story

The official bodies in Squash have long gone out of their way not to offend the IOC; that there was no challenge to the illegal vote that saw Squash excluded in London 2012 being an outstanding example. 

But surely after the latest rejection in favour of Baseball/Softball, Karate, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing - which in my ignorance I have never heard of - and Surfing, the time for that has long gone.  

What an insult that a sport played in over 180 countries, girls and boys, men and women from Under 11 to Over 80 competitively is overlooked. Not only that,Squash is drug free, unlike some sports that are deemed acceptable, acknowledged as one of if not the toughest sports in the world, has immense social advantages and helps people to stay fit and healthy. Sadly the rejection affects funding,which would help to take the game to less privileged children and the profile of the sport's leading players. Three Olympics, however, cover a player's career at world level, if he or she is lucky.

There is still the World Championship, British Open, TOC, Hong Kong, Qatar and a host of wonderful tournaments played in spectacular venues  every year.   If Squash cannot gain entry in face of such modest opposition, it will probably never be admitted. So let's wave it goodbye and press on with the wonderful game we are all fortunate to be part of.

It was disappointing to say the least that Ramy Ashour  came off injured in the Grasshopper Cup after his gargantuan efforts in El Gouna. 

To win the World Championship after so long out of action and to repeat the dose in El Gouna was without doubt amongst the most remarkable achievements in any sport, any time.    

To return to immediate and world class action and to succeed in a sport where the depth of player is greater than it has ever been is beyond belief.   Any sportsman or woman returning after a long period of inactivity would testify to the need for a gradual build up after much strength and conditioning work. Then is the need for match play, whatever the sport is.   Yet here is a sportsman who returns at the highest level without any of that and beats world class fields. Nor have I mentioned the mental problems caused by injury. 

The legend that is Tony McCoy recently said that the recovery  from injury-and steeplechase jockeys know all about injury- was as much mental as physical, that coming from a man whose mental stability would rate a lot higher than Ramy's - even Ramy would admit to that! Because squash does not get the coverage it deserves, Ramy's achievements have gone unnoticed. Let no one doubt how magnificent they were.  I have said many times that he is the most original player ever and his performances in Qatar and El Gouna stand comparison with those of any sportsman or woman..   

Ramy needs the game, but the game certainly needs Ramy ...

Malcolm Willstrop

Malcolm’s best is when James became world number one ...