WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Credit Suisse Privilege Women's World Open Squash Championship, Hong Kong

Qualifying finals:
Carla Khan (PAK) bt Kate Roe (ENG) 9-6, 9-1, 9-6 (31m)
Laura Lengthorn (ENG) bt Amelia Pittock (AUS) 9-4, 9-4, 10-8 (35m)
Vicky Lankester (ENG) bt Runa Reta (CAN) 9-2, 9-3, 4-9, 9-6 (35m)
Alison Waters (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 9-5, 9-2, 9-2 (19m)
Kim Hannes-Teunen (BEL) bt Heidi Mather (AUS) 3-9, 9-4, 9-7, 9-0 (41m)
Tamsyn Leevey (NZL) bt Tegwen Malik (WAL) 9-1, 9-6, 9-5 (33m)
Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt Becky Botwright (ENG) 5-9, 9-3, 9-0, 9-5 (55m)
Wendy Maitland (SCO) bt Eman El Amir (EGY) 9-4, 9-5, 9-2 (22m)

Leevey Lashes Malik To Get Compatriot Kitchen

New Zealand's Tamsyn Leevey pulled off the biggest seedings upset in today's (Monday) Qualifying Finals for the Credit Suisse Privilege Women's World Open Squash Championship in Hong Kong when she defeated world No34 Tegwen Malik of Wales 9-1 9-6 9-5 in 33 minutes.

The Wellington-based 25-year-old's reward is place in the main draw against her compatriot Shelley Kitchen, the New Zealand No2 who is the event's No15 seed.

Egypt's Engy Kheirallah survived a strong 55-minute assault from England's Becky Botwright to win 5-9 9-3 9-0 9-5 - only to be drawn in the first round against the more illustrious member of the Botwright family, elder sister Vicky, the world No9.

It took just 19 minutes for England's Alison Waters to beat Denmark's Line Hansen 9-5 9-2 9-2 to claim a main round encounter with Australia's British Open Champion Rachael Grinham.

Two former champions line up in Hong Kong to reclaim the title from Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the now-retired Australian who won her record fifth trophy in Qatar in 2002.  Carol Owens, the world No1 from New Zealand who won the title in 2000, is the 2003 event favourite - and is expected to face USA rival Natalie Grainger in Saturday's final.

Grainger, the No2 seed and runner-up in 2002, arrives in Hong Kong fresh from a morale-boosting victory over Owens in the final of the Qatar Classic in Doha.  Owens meets Pakistani qualifier Carla Khan in the opening round, while Grainger takes on English qualifier Laura Lengthorn.

England's Cassie Jackman has undergone two career-threatening back operations since becoming world champion in 1999 in the USA.  The 30-year-old from Norfolk is seeded four - but buoyed by her rise to No2 in the December world rankings.  Jackman faces Malaysia's Sharon Wee in the first round and is predicted to come up against Grainger in the semi-finals.

Revised 1st round draw:

[1] Carol Owens (NZL) v [Q] Carla Khan (PAK)
[11] Vicky Botwright (ENG) v [Q] Engy Kheirallah (EGY)
[7] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Vicky Lankester (ENG)
[12] Stephanie Brind (ENG) v Latasha Khan (USA)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Alison Waters (ENG)
[10] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) v Pamela Nimmo (SCO)
[6] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v [Q] Wendy Maitland (SCO)
[9] Rebecca Macree (ENG) v Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
[16] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Madeline Perry (IRL)
[5] Linda Charman (ENG) v Annelize Naude (NED)
[15] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) v [Q] Tamsyn Leevey (NZL)
[4] Cassie Jackman (ENG) v Sharon Wee (MAS)
[13] Fiona Geaves (ENG) v [Q] Kim Hannes-Teunen (BEL)
[8] Tania Bailey (ENG) v Isabelle Stoehr (FRA)
[14] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Nicol David (MAS)
[2] Natalie Grainger (USA) v [Q] Laura Lengthorn (ENG)