Dubai: Former squash world number one James Willstrop is hoping Dubai will join the Professional Squash Association (PSA) bandwagon and stage a few international competitions here.
The Englishman, who turns 31 next month, was at the squash exhibition match against Ramy Asfour of Egypt on Wednesday as part of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament being held at the NAS Sports Complex.
Willstrop has been a professional squash player for little over a decade now. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No 1 in January 2012.
“We’ve got some top tournaments happening in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, so I am a bit surprised how a world sporting leader like Dubai has missed out being part of the PSA circuit,” Willstrop said.
“Hopefully this sort of exhibition match can act as a spark and Dubai will be in a position to host some of the best professionals on the circuit in the near future.”
Trained by his legendary father Malcolm, Willstrop had a sensational junior career as he went on to claim his third consecutive British Junior U-19 National Championship title in 2002, exactly ten years before he could emerge as the world number one.
He went on to become one of the youngest players to play for the senior England team, representing his country for the first time at both the European and World Team Squash Championship in 2003. “I am convinced every player on the PSA wants to be in Dubai. I can safely say we are desperate to be here in Dubai,” Willstrop said.
“All we need now is to have someone representing the PSA here and it will be just a matter of time when we will be regular visitors to this beautiful place,” he added.
Watched by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the Englishman was at his professional best. Fully aware that his opponent from Egypt was suffering from a hamstring strain, Willstrop kept on forcing Ashour on his backhand. That helped him take the first game 11-7 after surrendering an early 0-3 lead to Ashour.
The second was a closer affair, but Willstrop broke away at 8-7 and went on to win 11-8. In the third, he powered to a 10-4 cushion and then wrapped things up 11-5 to loud acclaim from the large crowd.
Meanwhile, in the volleyball competition Zabeel defeated Expo 2020 25-14, 25-16, 23-25, 25-15, while Fursan beat Bin Subaith 10, 25-12, 25-18, 25-18 to set up a meeting with each other in Sunday’s final.
The NAS 2014 Sports Tournament is sponsored by Emirates, Dubai Duty Free, Meydan, Al Tayer Motors, Al Naboodah and Arabian Automobiles Al Rostamani.
