Pride of 14 nations clash at PSA BDO Namibian Open

Squash
Andrew Poolman
  • 1 Day Ago
Namibia’s number one Arno Diekmann did not survive a tough challenge in the opening round of 32 at the prestigious PSA BDO Namibian Open squash tournament at the Wanderers courts on Tuesday night.

Diekmann won the first game 11-4 (winning the last nine points in a row) against John Anderson of South Africa. However, Anderson immediately struck back on his way to winning the next three games 11-5, 11-9 and 11-7, to book an eagerly anticipated clash late Wednesday night against his countryman Dewald van Niekerk – the second seed in this tournament and 2024 runner-up who had a bye on the first day.

Fourteen nations are represented in the most exciting PSA BDO Namibian Open squash tournament in history.

• Netherlands’ upcoming star Sam Gerrits eliminated Ahmed Elbeshouty 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 as the Egyptian felt the effects of a sore ankle. Gerrits’ path was due to cross with fourth seeded Rhys Evans of Wales on Wednesday afternoon.

• Namibia’s 14-year-old Francois Hanekom junior put up a decent fight at times against Egypt’s prospect Hazem Hossan, going down 5-11, 6-11, 5-11.

• Another promising young Namibian, Janre Olivier, could not make his mark against Blessing Muhwati (11-4, 11-2, 11-1) as it took the Zimbabwean just 11 minutes to advance to the round of 16.

• Aly Tolba of Egypt is considered a possible dark horse in the tournament, as he overcame the Netherlands’ Sebastiaan Hofman 11-3, 11-3, 6-11, 11-6. Tolba would be pitted against the tournament’s top seed Toufik Mekhalfi of France last night. The world number 63 had a bye earlier.

• In one of the opening night’s longest matches, 19-year-old Finn Koch fought past his higher rated German countryman Jan Wipperfürth (11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8).

• Belgium’s Joeri Hapers, 35, eliminated Western Province champion Mighael Lombard 11-4, 11-7, 11-1 to stake his claim.

• Don’t miss the NTV team’s live broadcast of the tournament, daily from 17:00 until the end of the last match, on https://oneuptwo.com/, or find the link on Sport Wrap’s Facebook page.