International Flavour for North Island Champs

There will be a strong international flavour at this weekend's New Zealand International Classic in Palmerston North, which doubles as the North Island Champs.

This week InspireNet SquashGym in Palmerston North hosts the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers New Zealand International Squash Classic. This is the third year the event has included a PSA section and the 2014 edition has attracted a high quality and international field.

The tournament which has $15,000.00 prize money also doubles as the North Island Champs. An incredible international flavour will be seen at SquashGym with players in the main draw from Australia, England, Czech Republic, South Africa, Finland, Brazil as well as New Zealand taking to the courts.

Top seed for the event is New Zealand’s Martin Knight. Knight is a regular visitor to Palmerston North and was last year’s runner up to Scotland’s Alan Clyne. He will be looking to go one better this year and play himself into form before heading off to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month. The Commonwealth Games silver medalist (mixed doubles) has been carrying an injury over the past two months and will be looking for some all-important match play. Knight has a current World ranking of 49 and will be the favourite this week.

Knight’s main competition should come from two players. Second seed is 28 year old Australian Matt Karwalski. The world number 72 arrives in Palmerston North for his first New Zealand International Squash Classic and will be looking to make the final and beat Knight for the first time in his career. The pair has met each other four times on the World circuit with Knight winning on each occasion. Their last meeting was in November 2013 in Toronto. Knight won that match in four sets.

The third seed is world number 60 Jan Koukal from the Czech Republic. Koukal has come half way around the world to play in New Zealand and will be a major contender for the title. Koukal’s world ranking has improved since the draw was done; while Karwalski’s has dropped meaning the third seed holds a higher ranking. Unlike Karwalski, Koukal has beaten Knight once but that was in 2010. Knight has won their two most recent clashes. New Zealand’s other main hope in the draw is Cantabrian Paul Coll. The fast improving Coll is also on his way to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and is hot off leading his Squashways Canterbury Club to the New Zealand National title. The 22 year old has moved inside the top 100 in the world and currently sits at 86.

Local hopes will rest upon Palmerston North resident professional Kashif Shuja. Shuja’s world ranking has dropped over the past two years which means he will have to qualify. He should have no trouble in doing so and will be looking to go deep into the tournament and upset the seeded players in front of home fans. Qualifying for the final four spots in the Men’s PSA draw begins Wednesday lunchtime with the main draw underway Thursday evening. Players looking to qualify for the main draw have come from Malaysia, USA, Pakistan, Finland and all over New Zealand for their chance to compete against the likes of Knight, Koukal and Karwalski. The final is at 2.00pm on Sunday.

Top seed in the Women's Open draw is reigning Under 19 National Champion Ellie Epke from Auckland.  Stiff competition will no doubt be provided by Palmerston North locals Danielle Fourie and Rebecca Barnett, seeded two and three respectively.  Epke's Eden Epsom clubmate Georgina Shelton-Agar rounds out the top four.

The wider tournament has attracted more than 160 players throughout the grades which will make for a busy weekend at the SquashGym Club. Entry to the tournament for spectators is free.