Jahangir — master of his trade

Press, 4 October 1982, Page 48

Jahangir — master of his trade

PA Wellington The world squash champion. Jahangir Khan, of Pakistan. proved the master of his trade at Mitchell Park. Lower Hutt at the week-end.

Khan, aged 18. beat the second seed. Gamal Awad, of Egypt. 9-1, 9-3. 10-8 to win the men's title at the Hutt Valley Coruba Open. The talented Pakistani also took home $lOOO for his troubles'. ‘New Zealand's Robyn Blackwood dipped out in a tense hard-fought women's final. She was beaten by the British Open champion. Vicky Cardwell, of Australia. 10-8 in the fourth. Khan showed himself to be a supreme player. From the front of the court he played precision drop shots and some wonderful backhand boasts. His volleying was accurate and sure and his driving seemed to always stretch Awad to the limit.

Awad, for his part tried, with some success, to slow down the game, and won plenty of points himself with his touch. But though some rallies were extended. Jahan-

gir seemed always in control until he led 8-4 in the third.

Then a slight let-up by him and added grit by Awad saw the match stretch another 20 minutes before Jahangir sealed it will) a perfect backhand drop shot.

Cardwell was seeded No. 1 in the womens section, but after Blackwood's comprehensive beating of the world champion. Rhonda Thorne, in Saturday's semi-final, the final looked open.

As it was. the left-handed Cardwell piled on -the pressure with her game retrieving and hard drives. Blackwood fought back well to take the third. 9-4. and had three game points in the fourth before letting it slip. In spite of the loss, her first in New Zealand this season. Blackwood's form was an eye-opener. She played the two top women in the world and looked far better than one and as good as the. other. New Zealand No. 2. Susan Devoy showed she is not too far behind. In a classic plate match, she lost narrowly to Thorne in four games. Aged

only 18. Devoy is obviously destined for great things if she can maintain her enthusiasm. Results

Men. Secund round: .Jahangir Khan (Pakistani beat Craig Blackwood (Panmure) 9-6. 9-7. 93; Ross Norman (Panmure) beat Phil Kenyon (England.) 2 9. 9-1. 95. 9-4, Dean Willianis iAustralia) beat Stuart Davenport iKhandallali) 9-3. 9-1. 9-0; Gamal Awad (Egypt) beat Rod Hayes (Christchurch) 9-6. 9-1. 9-5.

Semi-finals: Jahangir b Norman 9-4. 9-1. 9-5.- Awad b Willianis 8-11). 9-4. 9-6. 9-3 Final: Khan beat Awad 9-1. 9-3. 10-8.

Classic plate: Norman b Haves 9- 9-1. 9-0. Women. - Second round: Vicky Cardwell (Australia) beat Robyn Belford (Australia) 9-4. 9-4. 9-7; Susan Devoy (Hamilton) beat Rae Anderson (Australia) 9-5. 0-9. 10- 9-4; Robyn Blackwood (North Shore) beat Joanne Milne (Christchurch) 9-2. 9-2. 9-0: Rhonda Thorne (Australia) beat Donna Gurran (Remuera) 9-1. 93. 9-6.

Semi-finals: Cardwell b Devoy 9-4. 9-3. 9-3; Blackwood b Thorne. Final: Cardwell beat Blackwood 9-6. 9-5. 4-9. 10-8.

Classic plate: Thorne beat De vov 10-8. 9-3. 6-9. 9-3.