GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-1197233282945943", "Star_Sports_Skyscraper");

Sports

Monday March 12, 2007

Third seed Aussie aims to avoid early exit in KL Open

By S. SIVABALAN

PETALING JAYA: Australian Stewart Boswell is making his first trip to Malaysia and he does not want it to be a short stay.

The world number 11 is the third seed and one of the favourites to lift the men's title of the CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open.

The competition begins today with the qualifying tournament at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil and the main draw starts on Wednesday.

Boswell, who will play against a qualifier in the first round, arrived for the tournament early on Friday to get acclimatized to local conditions.

All fired up: Australian Stewart Boswell working out at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday. – AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star
The KL Open will be the third professional tournament for Boswell this year. In January, he reached the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open in Toronto and the second round of the Windy City Open in Chicago.

The Australian will be out to give improved performances this season and he hopes to live up to his billing as the third seed here.

“I was supposed to play in two tournaments this month. Unfortunately, the Indian Open, which was supposed to be held last week, was cancelled,” said the Manchester-based Boswell.

“It's my debut appearance in Malaysia and I don't want it to be a short one. It's a lot warmer here and it's good that I am able to come here early. The court conditions are good and the air-conditioning is a great help.

“It's a strong field of players taking part in this tournament. Several players in the qualifying tournament are also ranked among the top 40. If I end up playing against one of them in the first round, it's not going to be easy.

“Both halves of the main draw are tough. I have Malaysia's Mohd Azlan (Iskandar), the sixth seed, and Karim Darwish, the second seed, in my half. I have to first think about a possible meeting with either fellow English players Jonathan Kemp, the seventh seed or Alister Walker in the quarter-finals.

“England's Nick Mathew, the top seed, and Karim will be the players to beat. I can't rule out Azlan and Ong Beng Hee. They could raise their game playing at home.”

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll