British number two Cameron Norrie has narrowly missed out on a place in the final of the Atlanta Open for the second year in a row.

The world number 54 lost 1-6 6-3 3-6 to American Taylor Fritz in the last four, the same stage he reached last year.

Fritz broke twice to take the first set in 25 minutes, but Norrie, 23, managed to win the second to level the match.

The Eastbourne champion broke again in the sixth game of the third and secured victory with his second match point.

Fritz, the world number 32, will play Australian Alex de Minaur in Sunday's final.

"To get to two finals in a month really shows that my level has gone up and that the first time wasn't a fluke," said Fritz, "I know I'm improving, so it feels really good."

Norrie lost to American Ryan Harrison in the semi-finals at Atlanta in 2018.

Diego dazzles in home triumph
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent

USA’s Amanda Sobhy and Peruvian Diego Elias, both ranked eight in the world, celebrated historic squash success in the XVIII Pan American Games in the Peru capital Lima.

Harvard graduate Sobhy became the first woman to win individual gold in successive Pan Am Games when she beat her US team-mate Olivia Blatchford Clyne in a repeat of the 2015 final in Toronto.

Sobhy suffered a career-threatening Achilles injury two years ago which resulted in a 10-month layoff.

But the 26-year-old from New York, the highest-ranked US-born player of all-time, has bounced back to her best – dismissing world No.19 Blatchford Clyne 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 in 33 minutes in the gold medal playoff at the Villa Deportiva Nacional Videna in Lima.

“Stoked to defend my 2015 PanAm Games gold medal today in the Individual Event,” Sobhy later told her Twitter followers.

Winning their country’s first medals in the Games, Canadians Hollie Naughton and Samantha Cornett claimed the bronze medals.

It was a historic first squash gold medal in the Games for hosts Peru when top seed Diego Elias defeated Colombia’s defending champion Miguel Rodriguez 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8 in 65 minutes in the men’s final.

The triumph, before a jubilant and packed partisan crowd at the Videna venue (pictured in the Gallery), was revenge for Elias’s defeat in the 2015 final, when former British Open champion Rodriguez won his second successive singles gold medal.

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The victory also marked the 22-year-old Peruvian’s first ever win over his 33-year-old regional rival from Bogota – the highest-ranked South American of all-time – in seven meetings since 2014.

Bronze medals went to Mexican Cesar Salazar and Argentina’s 5/8 seed Robertino Pezzota, a 36-year-old from Rosario who was the only player to be making his fifth successive Games appearance since making his debut in 2003 in the Dominican Republic. 

XVIII Pan American Games Squash Championships, Lima, Peru.

Men’s Individual Quarter-Finals:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [5/8] Todd Harrity (USA) 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (30m)
[3/4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Max Camiruaga (CHI) 11-2, 11-5, 11-4 (19m)
[5/8] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt [3/4] Arturo Salazar (MEX) 14-12, 11-5, 5-11, 6-11, 13-11 (65m)
[2] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5/8] Chris Hanson (USA) 11-5, 11-7, 13-11 (41m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [3/4] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-1, 11-9, 11-8 (33m)
[2] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5/8] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) 9-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-7 (70m)
Final:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [2] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8 (65m)

Women’s Individual Quarter-Finals:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [5/8] Giselle Delgado (CHI) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (29m)
[3/4] Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt [5/8] Antonella Falcione (ARG) 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 (24m)
[3/4] Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Anita Pinto (CHI) 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (27m)
[2] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) bt [5/8] Diana Garcia (MEX) 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 (21m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [3/4] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 11-6, 12-10, 11-8 (27m)
[2] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) bt [3/4] Samantha Cornett (CAN) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (25m)
Final:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [2] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (33m)

Pictures courtesy of WSF 

‘We can’t afford to send a team to America just for a joyride’
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor

Squash in Pakistan slumped to a new low this week as the nation that once ruled the men’s game blamed their players as they defended their decision not to send a squad to compete in the Men’s World Team Championship in America in December.

The nation that dominated squash for almost four decades, starting with the legendary exploits of Hashim Khan in the early 1950s, has come under fire for the decision not to take part in the tournament, which is being hosted by the Squash On Fire Club in Washington DC from December 14-22.

Pakistan, with Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan dominating through much of the 1980s and 90s, won the men’s World Team event six times, the last triumph coming in 1993 in Paderborn, Germany.

A report in The Nation claimed that the deadline for paying a $5,000 entry fee for this year’s tournament elapsed on July 16.

The article named the officials responsible for the decision not to take part: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) executive committee, comprising PSF President Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, SVP Air Marshal Shahid Akhtar Alvi, Director PNSA Air Commodore (Ret) Aftab Sadiq Qureshi, Secretary Group Captain Tahir Sultan and squash legends Qamar Zaman and Jahangir Khan.

Quoting an anonymous Federation source, the report blamed senior professional players for refusing to attend training sessions and claimed that it would be a waste of money just to send players to America for “a joyride”.

The source claimed: “Senior players including Farhan Zaman, Tayyab Aslam, Asim Khan, Israr Ahmed, Ammad Fareed and Farhan Mehboob, never wanted to train as per modern day requirements and whenever they were called for the training camp at Mushaf Squash Complex, Islamabad, they simply refused, so the PSF and PAF had to take such a harsh decision.

“Sending a team for a joyride and wasting a huge amount of the national kitty is also not a sensible move. I personally feel that we must invest heavily on juniors, as they are giving satisfactory results.”

Pakistan did, indeed, win the Men’s World Junior Team Championship in 2016, but several nations complained that the entire squad was over the age limit, as reported exclusively by Squash Mad at the time.

Clearly, Pakistan squash is in a state of total chaos. Blaming the players, rather than an incompetent federation, is a typical response. After one poor showing in the World Teams, Pakistan chose to ban the whole squad, but this ridiculous decision was overturned by the World Squash Federation.

Sadly, we keep hearing reports of squash in Pakistan being damaged by personal family feuds and favouritism in terms of funding and selection, and the federation wheeling out former champions every few months to criticise current players.

This latest scandal comes at a time when new President Imran Khan, the former Pakistan cricket captain, has encouraged Jahangir, the 10-times British Open champion, to tour the world supporting the Shahid Afridi Foundation (led by another former Test cricket captain) aimed at providing sporting opportunities for deprived children. It also campaigns for clean drinking water and better education in remote areas.

A government report published in 2016 highlighted the fact that 40 per cent of the Pakistan population of more than 200 million people lived in poverty, rising to more than 70 per cent in some areas of the country.

Despite the international success enjoyed by their squash players in previous decades, courts and facilities are scarce. Clearly, squash is very low on the list of priorities set against such a stark background, and rightly so.

However, a federation totally controlled by the Pakistan Air Force needs to find funding from somewhere if they are serious about rescuing the sport.

A national development project is needed, but seemingly impossible to implement. Creating basic facilities and encouraging thousands of boys and girls to take up the sport is the first priority. Returning to a position of global dominance may take a little longer.

Related articles:

Pakistan accused of cheating

Parent sues Pakistan federation

Pictures from Squash Mad archive

THOROLD, Ontario – Matt Farnham scored his second Action Sprint Tour feature victory in a row as Ideal Supply and Schneider Electric presented the racing action at Merrittville Speedway on Saturday night.

The Action Sprint Tour made its third appearance of the season at Merrittville and it was Bailey Heard and Jacob Dykstra who brought the field to the green flag. Liam Martin, Darren Dryden, and Steven Beckett came together, in turn, one with Martin being the only one not able to continue.

The second attempt at the original start would see Heard jump into the lead. Ryan Hunsinger started 12th on the grid and was already up to fourth by lap four, before spinning in turn one to bring out the caution. The restart would see Heard and Matt Farnham leading the field.

Heard and Farnham would pull away from the field as Ryan Hunsinger spun for the third time in turn four to bring out the race’s third caution. The lap seven restart would continue to see Heard out front with Dykstra taking second away from Farnham. Dykstra would then take the lead away from Heard on lap 10.

Farnham would use the outside to get around both Heard and Dykstra to take the lead away on lap 12. Dykstra’s night would come to an end as he slowed off turn two. Farnham would pull away from the field to score his second tour win in a row.

“Its been a good week with the win at Ohsweken and to back it up here at Merrittville is pretty awesome,” said Farnham in victory lane.

In other action, Mike Bowman won his first S&W Service Centre 358 Modified feature of the season. Tyler Lafantaisie won his third Central Fabricating 4 Cylinder feature of the season and clinched the TMR Triple Crown Challenge.  Josh Sliter scored his fifth Doidge Builders Mod Lite feature of the season. Colton Lane picked up his first victory of the season in the Dave’s Auto and Speed Centre V6.

WHEATLAND, Mo. – With one eye toward October’s Big Buck 50 Presented by Whitetail Trophy Hunt and the other on a repeat regular-season trip to victory lane, Kyle Slader made it two-for-two this year at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Slader started up front and led all 25 laps to earn the O’Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks 25-lap, $750-to-win main event on Saturday night.

Slader also won in his only other appearance at Lucas Oil Speedway, on July 14 during the CMH Diamond Nationals. That win was worth $1,000. The stakes will much higher Oct. 3-5 at the Big Buck 50, when the Street Stocks will chase a $10,000 first prize.

“We came here a couple of weeks ago to do some testing. We came up here tonight to do some testing,” Slader said. “We picked up two wins. You can’t get much better than that.”

Slader was working his way through lapped traffic and had opened a 1.8-second lead over James Flood when the race’s first caution came out on lap 12. It was a tight four-way battle for second at that point with Flood, Toby Ott, Johnny Coats and Cody Frazon battling it out.

Slader and Flood broke away after the restart when a yellow again bunched the field, on lap 14. The top five continued to run in the same order, with Slader sporting a 1.4-second lead when Frazon spun on lap 19 to set up a restart with six to go.

Surviving that restart plus one more with no issues, Slader held off runner-up Flood by 1.59 seconds. Season points leader Ott edged Coats for third and Frazon rallied for fifth.

“I knew I wasn’t running away with it,” Slader said. “I kind of fought an ill-handling car there. We just made it work and figured out what it needed and drove it.”

Darron Fuqua emerged from a caution-plagued Pitts Homes USRA Modified feature to claim his first victory of the season at Lucas Oil Speedway.

The 2018 Lucas Oil Speedway track champ and USRA Modified National Champion  broke through in his fifth try at the speedway this season. He had two runner-up finishes, a ninth and a 12th at a track where he won eight times a year ago.

“It worked out. I’m sorry it took so long,” Fuqua said of a race with eight cautions. “The track has a lot of traction and everybody’s fast.”

Fuqua quickly moved into second from his fourth starting position and had ample chances to size up leader Justin Johnson on the multiple restarts due to early cautions. Fuqua worked the high groove to stalk Johnson as the two pulled away during three green-flag laps before caution No. 7 came out on lap seven.

Fuqua was able to complete the winning pass, coming to the start-finish line to cap lap eight. He held off Johnson from there, finishing two car lengths in front of his fellow Kansas.

“It’s always good racing with him. He always drives me clean,” Fuqua said of Johnson, who’s from Olathe, Kansas. “I tried to let up a little bit and I started seeing him again. I said, ‘I gotta go, I can’t take a breath.’ ”

Pole-starting Brian Green finished third and Ryan Middaugh was fourth. Points leader Robert Reed, who started 15th, spun in turn two to bring out an early caution and had to restart 20th. Reed rallied to finish eighth.

J.C. Morton snapped Kris Jackson’s six-race winning streak, expertly hitting his marks on numerous restarts in the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mod feature.

Morton, who led all the way, started on the front row and consistently built a decent-sized lead over second-place Ryan Gillmore. Then he saw it wiped away through six caution flags in the first half of the 20-lap feature.

Winning his third feature of the season and first since April, Morton wound up 2.3 seconds in front of Gillmore with Robbe Ewing third and points leader Kris Jackson fourth.

“Our car was really good,” Morton said. “I got on the bottom and … I kind of conserved a little bit so I didn’t hit the tires (guarding the infield) or spin out or something stupid.”

Jackson brought a six-race winning streak into the action. But the Lebanon driver’s car lost power while leading his heat race and had to race through the B Feature to get into the main event – which he did by going from 10th to first in the B.

While he failed to win another feature, Jackson dodged a potential damaging night in points with a feature run from 17th to fourth. He began the night 56 points ahead of Morton.

“Kris had some trouble in the heat race and he got behind the 8-ball there,” Morton said. “It’s hard to start back where he did and make it back to even the top five.”

Aaron Marrant picked up his second Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Model feature victory of the season, taking command with five laps remaining.

“I can’t thank the crew enough. They’ve been working their tails off on this car,” Marrant said. “We just keep working at it and keep getting it better and better. They’re getting it really good.”

Chad Richwine started on the pole and he led the first 14 laps, though Marrant pulled beside him several times before finally using the inside line to get past on the straightaway to complete lap 15.

The race’s first caution flew a few seconds later, as Bob Cummings went for a spin in turn two. That set up a five-lap shootout with Marrant in front of Richwine, Larry Ferris, Kaeden Cornell and Johnny Fennewald.

Before a lap was completed, a six-car pileup behind the leaders again brought things to a halt. Marrant was flawless on the restart and the race remained green from there with Marrant earning the win by 1.6 seconds over Ferris.

Richwine was a season-best third with points leader Fennewald fourth and Cornell fifth.

FREMONT, Ohio – D.J. Foos drove his Burmeister Racing 410 sprint into the lead with 12 laps to go and pulled away for the win with the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products Attica Fremont Championship Series Presented by the Baumann Auto Group Saturday at Fremont Speedway.

Foos, a former 305 Fremont track champion, scored his second win of the year at Fremont on Baumann Auto Group Night, taking home $4,200. He won by more than 2.5 seconds for his 13th career victory at the track.

Foos’ win in the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint division also will tighten up the AFCS points significantly with just two point races left for the $10,000 championship. Foos came into the night third in the AFCS standings. Leader Buddy Kofoid came back from an opening lap tangle to score a seventh-place finish while Cap Henry, who started the night second in the standings, finished fourth.

“Hats off to these guys (speedway committee) for trying to do stuff…we all didn’t become good race car drivers and crew chiefs over night. We have to bare with them and give them some time. This race track is really not my deal. I could do turns one and two all day but three and four…whew…that thing was a hand full. Mikey (Sommers) had the car pretty good and I can’t thank everyone enough who stands behind me,” said Foos.

Brian Lay and Lee Jacobs brought the field to green for the 30-lap 410 sprint feature. The second row of Buddy Kofoid and Travis Philo made contact and Kofoid spun in front of the pack, collecting Craig Mintz, Stuart Brubaker and Nate Dussel with Mintz and Brubaker flipping. Everyone was okay but Mintz and Brubaker were done for the night. Kofoid and Dussel made repairs and rejoined at the tail.

When the green flew again Jacobs bolted into the lead over Lay, Foos, Philo, Cale Conley, Ricky Peterson, Caleb Griffith, Cap Henry and Jack Haudenschild. Haudenschild spun with two laps scored and two laps later jumped the big cushion in turn four to end his night.

Jacobs pulled away from Lay on the restart with 26 laps to go with Foos, Peterson, Philo, Conley and Henry in tow. Foos took second on lap 10 just before Conley stopped two circuits later after battling with Philo and Henry for fifth. This time on the restart Foos stayed glued to Jacobs’ rear bumper while Lay, Henry and Peterson battled for third.

Foos was able to drive around Jacobs into the lead with a daring move on the tricky turn four cushion on lap 18. With 10 laps to go Foos had opened a second and half lead over Jacobs while Lay and Henry were entertaining the crowed in their quest for third.

Foos hit his marks and drove away to the win as Lay got around Jacobs on the last lap for second with Henry and Caleb Griffith rounding out the top five.

A tremendous three car battle involving John Ivy, Paul Weaver and Tyler Street dominated the first half of the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints. Weaver, a former track champion, took the lead on lap nine and held off Street at the checkers for his second win of the season at Fremont worth $1,200.

Weaver’s 49th career win at the track, also tightens up the standings in the KS Sales and Service AFCS Presented Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales with two point races remaining. Weaver came into the night third in the standings with leader Jamie Miller finishing seventh and runner-up John Ivy finishing fourth.

“I got old reliable back out. Last couple of weeks I had some bad luck going on,” said Weaver, referring to a chassis change. “I didn’t have any good set-up for this type of track but my engine builder had some pixie dust he sprinkled on it and it worked. I want to thank my wife, Daryl Schiets, Pam and Steve Brown, M&L Excavating, Dave Rice and Bob Hampshire, Miller Rigging and Adkins Motorsports.”

The 20 lap feature for the Burmeister Trophy Dirt Trucks featured three wide racing around the speedway for the lead for the first half involving Keith Sorg, Kent Brewer and Shawn Valenti. Valenti took the lead by a bumper on lap seven but Brewer and Sorg battled him hard over the next hand full of laps.

Valenti and Brewer then raced side by side for several laps until Valenti was able to pull away slightly until the last lap when Brewer mounted a last ditch challenge that fell just short. Valenti scored his third win of the season and 49th of his career to tie Weaver for seventh on the track’s all-time win list.

“That was a hell of a race. Kent and Keith raced clean and hard and that’s what it’s all about. It was $1,100 to win to night to I had to get up on the wheel. Thanks to the Baumann Auto Group and all they do for us racers and my sponsor A Plus Auto Center for putting extra money in the purse for all the divisions tonight,” Valenti said.

MACON, Ill. – Terry Babb was not going to be denied Saturday night at Macon Speedway.

The driver of the No. 47 Samonds Racing machine raced to victory Built Ford Tough MOWA Sprint Car Series competition on the fifth-mile dirt oval Saturday evening.

Babb took advantage of his second starting spot and jumped to the early lead over polesitter Andy Bishop. He constantly was able to fight back against challenges from other competitors, as well as multiple red and yellow flag conditions which slowed the field.

In the end Babb took the victory, his first of the season with the series.

“We just ran really well tonight. I was able to be in the right position when it counted most,” said Babb.

Bishop was second, followed by Zach Daum, Chad Boespflug and Paul Nienhiser.

The finish:

Terry Babb, Andy Bishop, Zach Daum, Chad Boespflug, Paul Nienhiser, Cory Bruns, Brayton Lynch, Robby McQuinn, Dustin Barks, Steve Short, Jeremy Standridge, Colton Fisher, Jacob Patton, Robbie Standridge, Kyle Schuett, Justin Standridge, Logan Faucon, Dylan Tuxhorn, Chris Urish.

EDMONTON, Alberta – Andrew Ranger left for the NASCAR Pinty’s Series western swing with goal in mine: dominate.

Following two standout races in Saskatoon, Ranger came into Edmonton looking to finish the job.

Ranger took care of that Saturday in dominating fashion by winning the LUXXUR 300 at Edmonton Int’l Raceway. With rain a factor once again, Ranger’s No.27 Mopar Dodge wasted no time taking the lead from L.P. Dumoulin on lap 228.

As cautions came out and restarts were ran, Ranger continued to fend off all who opposed him. In the end, the rain came down and NASCAR was forced to call the race on lap 275. The Roxton Pond, Quebec, driver lead 253 laps en-route his 27th NASCAR Pinty’s Series victory.

Ranger ended his western swing with two wins, a third place finish and the points lead.

Since returning to the Pinty’s Series full-time Jason Hathaway has been stringing together good runs. With the rain closing in, Hathaway made a march to front. Mounting pressure until the rains came, the No.3 Kubota Canada Chevrolet would finish second. This marked the Stouffville, Ontario, driver’s first podium of the season and highest finish since winning at Kawartha in 2016.

Saskatoon race one winner L.P. Dumoulin was another driver with a successful western swing. The Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, driver came home third after a strong run at the track he won at last year. Dumoulin will leave Edmonton with momentum carrying into this his home tack at GP3R in August.

Alex Labbe and Donald Theetge brought their battered cars home fourth and fifth, completing the top five.

The finish:

Andrew Ranger, Jason Hathaway, L.P. Dumoulin, Alex Labbe, Donald Theetge, Marc-Antoine Camirand, Kevin Lacroix, Alex Tagliani, Anthony Simone, D.J. Kennington, Jamie Krzysik, Brandon White, Mark Dilley, Shantel Kalika, T.J. Rinomato, Brett Taylor, Larry Jackson.