Norman survives shaky start

Press, 25 September 1987, Page 21

Norman survives shaky start

NZPA-Reuter Hong Kong The World champion, Ross Norman, of New Zealand, survived a shaky start to reach the second round of the Hong Kong Open squash tournament yesterday with a 10-8, 9-6, 9-6 victory against

the Australian, Austin Adarraga. Norman, seeded second behind the Pakistani, Jahangir Khan, was 5-8 down against the Australian in the first game but his superior fitness, strokeplay and experience ultimately tilted the balance. England's Paul Carter celebrated his twenth-fourth birthday in style with a surprise win against his fifth-

seeded compatriot, Phil Kenyon. Carter, a qualifier, ousted Kenyon, the winner at Hong Kong in 1985, in a gruelling five-game match in the first round. Carter triumphed, 9-6, 1-9, 8-10, 9-4, 9-4, after 106

minutes. The Australian fourth seed, Chris Dittmar, who has a close affinity with the event after launching his comeback in Hong Kong last year after injury, achieved the most emphatic first round win by dispatching England’s Robert Owen 9-0, 9-0, 9-1. England’s Damian Walker took advantage of his good fortune to upset the world

rankings when he beat Egypt’s Gamal Awad in a controversial match. Walker lost in the qualifying round but was handed a place in the main draw after Raymond Scheffer, of the Netherlands, withdrew because of injury. Awad, ranked more than 100 places above Walker, complained bitterly about the refereeing after losing 9-3, 810, 5-9, 9-5, 9-4. “He should be ashamed of himself,” said -Awad, who asked for the referee, Patrick Coll, himself a squash professional, to be replaced. Results (prefix number de-

notes seeding).— First round: 8-Glen Brumby (Australia) beat Mark Robberds (Australia), 9-6, 9-4, 90; 4-Chris Dittmar (Australia) beat Robert Owen (England), 9-0, 9-0, 9-1; Damian Walker (England) beat Gamal Awad (Egypt), 9-3, 8-10, 5-9, 9-5, 94; Brett Martin (Australia) beat Philip Whitlock (England), 9-5, 7-9, 5-9, 9-1, 9-5; 2Ross Norman (New Zealand) beat Austin Adarraga (Australia), 10-8, 9-6, 9-6; Bryan Beeson (England) beat Carol Martini (West Germany), 7-9, 3-0, 9-6, 9-5; Paul Carter (England) beat 5-Phil Kenyon (England), 9-6, 1-9, 8-10, 9-4, 9-4.