Ramy Ashour and Nicol David crowned world champions in Manchester

Ramy Ashour overcame Egyptian rival Karim Darwish to claim his first World Open championship after Nicol David had beaten Vicky Botwright to retain her women's title and maintain her stranglehold on the female game.

For Botwright, it was a magnificent way to bow out of the world tour. She is now concentrating on a coaching career and was back on court at 9a.m. sharp today (Monday) to coach a group of local schoolchildren in Manchester.

Her coaching appointment, and her magnificent performances in her home city this week, have closed the circle on a career that was highlighted by her decision to pose semi-naked in a WISPA promotional stunt several years ago, playing along with a publicity stunt that required her to pretend to want to play squash in a thong.

The response was overwhelming. The pictures, taken on court at Edgbaston Priory Squash Club in Birmingham by squash photographer Steve Line, were given massive exposure (as were hitherto unseen parts of Ms Botwright's anatomy) in most national newspapers.

Overseas publications clamoured for the pictures and for several weeks the name Vicky Botwright was attracting more hits on Google than tennis temptress Anna Kournikova.

The pictures propelled Vicky to international stardom, but there was a dark side to the story that went unreported.

A businessman who offered to manage Vicky's career became hostile when Vicky and her father declined his offer. As a result Vicky lost her existing racket and shoe contracts and was even kicked off her home-town team in the National League, forcing her to travel to the other end of the country to represent Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire the following season...

It was a shameful affair, but those in squash who know her are delighted that she now has the security of a full-time coaching job in Manchester as she prepares for her wedding next year to boyfriend Stewart Boswell, the Australian squash No.2.

Botwright, who had beaten reigning champion Rachael Grinham earlier in the competition, said: "I knew I had to play my best squash of the week. After all, she is the world number one and the best player in the world.

"It has been a fantastic week and the crowds were brilliant to me. They gave me some wonderful encouragement as I went on to the court and I must admit I felt a bit emotional, but there is no turning back. I am definitely not going to play on the world tour any more."

Nicol David's victory extended her unbeaten run to 43 matches since last October, and the support being given to Botwright made her reflect: "Now I know what it's like for other players when they play me in Malaysia."

Overcoming a determined opponent and dealing with a noisy home crowd was a testament to David's tremendous professionalism. She gave her opponent due credit, however, saying: "Vicky kept on fighting all through the match and really played well. Every shot she played was so tight. It was a great achievement for her to reach the final."

As Vicky plans for life after the pro tour, Ramy Ashour wakes up as world champion at the tender age of 21.

Many pundits predicted he would win the title one day. Few expected him to do it so soon.

Taking out reigning champion Amr Shabana in the semi-finals was a massive achievement, and leading coach Malcolm Willstrop claimed it was the best match he had ever seen.

Karim Darwish had also produced a superb performance to overcome former champion David Palmer, and so it was that these two friends found themselves on court before a near-capacity crowd in Manchester to compete for the world crown.

The more experienced Darwish took the first game as Ashour started nervously, but the young pretender played with such maturity and discipline that it was not long before he had settled into his stride. A physical and mental battle ensued with Ashour emerging the dominant player. With control came confidence, and suddenly he began to unleash an array of stunning winners that the crowd had come to see.

After a close second game, there was only one man in it. And that man was Ramy, who followed the legendary Jansher Khan by becoming the second player to win both junior and senior world titles.

Ashour revealed that Jansher has been a massive inspiration, saying: "Putting me in the same category as Jansher is a huge thing for me. I have been watching his videos on YouTube recently and have tried to use some of shots in my game. I didn't think about becoming world champion during the whole match. Karim is a very tough player. I had to keep my focus the whole time."

Olympic Bid Unfolds

The World Squash Federation revealed a timetable for their Olympic bid in Manchester, and even though India's N Ramachandran has succeeded Jahangir Khan as president, the former world number one has pledged to support the lobbying campaign in the coming months.

Jahangir, who won the World open six times and the British Open on ten occasions, said: "We have a year to ensure that we do what needs to be done to get squash into the Olympics. All parties have to work closely, with everybody pushing hard to try to do their best to make this happen."

This was the week when an IOC delegates Sir Craig Reedie and Pierre Ducrey attended the World Open and Khan thanked the players who had pledged their support to the bid and had produced a week of high-quality competition.

Many players have signed a poster pledging their support for the Olympic bid and Khan added: "We are delighted that all the players have signed our pledge - showing that it would be a dream come true for all players for squash to get into the Olympics."

Battle for Pakistan Open

Jahangir has been under pressure from squash fans back home to do what he can to help the forthcoming Pakistan Open go ahead, despite security fears. Jahangir admitted: "The tournament is on the PSA calendar and as such it is nothing to do with the WSF.

India Celebrates Rami's Election

India has been busy celebrating the appointment of N. Ramachandran as  President of the World Squash Federation at the 38th annual general meeting held in Manchester on Saturday.

The Hindu, India's national newspaper, reported as follows:

His only rival Chris Stahl of Malta withdrew his nomination to make it a unanimous decision in favour of the Asian nominee. "We have total faith in him (Ramachandran) to realize the Olympic dream," said Stahl.

Mr. Ramachandran, who is the Executive Director of India Cements, replaces Pakistan's squash legend, Jahangir Khan, to reach the pinnacle of a squash administration career that started with his taking over as Secretary-General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India in 1996.

A meticulous planner, Mr. Ramachandran, who will turn 60 in a week's time, left no stone unturned to establish his pet dream of a squash academy in Chennai in 2000. He believed in structured growth, and the ICL Academy, that came up in association with the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu is acknowledged as the core centre for development in the country.

Ever since, squash has grown and results have begun to show. A bronze in the Doha Asiad is the biggest gain thus far. Two British Open junior champions in Joshna Chinappa and Saurav Ghosal have only intensified the focus on the sport which today is on the Union Government's priority list.

Mr. Ramachandran became the President of the Asian Squash Federation in 2001 and now he has become the World Squash Federation chief when the sport is yearning for an Olympic berth. The 116 countries affiliated to the federation will look to Mr. Ramachandran to ensure that the great dawn for squash materializes.

Mr. Ramachandran's interests go beyond squash. He is the President of the Indian Triathlon Federation and also a Vice-President in the IOA.

PSA Looks to Future

Congratulations to Ziad Al Turki on being elected chairman of the PSA and what a breath of fresh air to see former world champion Peter Nicol elected to the board.

New Chief Executive Richard Graham has certainly waste no time in making changes and a more dynamic-looking board is now in place to carry the men's professional game forward.

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