CIMB Malaysian Squash Championships
By Gary Denvir, Media Manager
Squash New Zealand
File Photo by Stockton Photography

New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen has safely negotiated a tough first round match at the Malaysian Open Squash Championships in Kuala Lumpur.

The world number seven has battled to a 3/1 win over 13th ranked Australian Kasey Brown, edging home 11/7 14/12 8/11 11/6 in 45 minutes. The Malaysian Open is the first WISPA Tour event to adopt Pro-Scoring, with the players earning points for every rally and games increased to 11 points (or two clear).

However, the change doesn't appear to have worried sixth seeded Kitchen who says she has been practicing pro-scoring for six weeks and is comfortable with it. "I might think a little differently playing somebody lower-ranked, but it is always a close tough match with Kasey so I just concentrated on playing my game.

Kitchen will face English fourth seed Tania Bailey in the quarterfinals.

Fellow kiwi Louise Crome also appears to have taken a liking to the pro-scoring, taking a game off world number three Rachel Grinham. However, the Australian eventually proved too strong, winning 11/3 9/11 11/4 11/4.  Crome had earned her place in the main draw with a five game upset of Malaysian world number 20 Sharon Wee in the final round of qualifying.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's Kashif Shuja has bowed out in the opening round of the PSA men's draw, but not without a fight.  The kiwi number one has pushed fifth seeded Egyptian Omar Mosaad to five games, leading 2/1 at one stage, before going down 11/4 8/11 12/14 11/3 11/5 in 65 minutes.

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