Squash: Seychelles Open-Mauritians sweep titles |12 December 2005

Jointly sponsored by Victoria Computer Services (VCS) and Sam’s Pizzeria, the week-long tournament concluded last Friday at the squash courts, Mont Fleuri, with the decisive matches.

In the women’s match, Mauritian Maxine Windelberg, 17, extended her domination over Eva Alphonse, winning a third consecutive match against the Seychellois.

Alphonse, on whom the Seychelles Squash Association had pinned its hope to keep at least one of the cups here, had predicted a win when speaking to Sports Nation prior to the final. But she could not dethrone Windelberg as champion as she once again came up short, losing 1-3 (8-11 11-6 2-11 9-11).

Having participated in the World Junior Squash Championship in Belgium earlier this year, Windelberg, who boasts eight years experience in the sport, told members of the media that “I’m happy to get another Seychelles Open win.”

Before last Friday’s win, Windelberg had twice defeated Alphonse 3-1 in the 2004 edition final of the Seychelles Open and 3-0 (9-3 9-2 9-1) in the decider of this year’s Mauritius Open.

Seychellois Selma Lewis, the only other female competitor in action in the tournament, lost 0-3 to both Alphonse and Windelberg in the round-robin format competition.

Although the men’s title was also won by a Mauritian, last year’s winner Jean-Paul Antoine could not retain his crown.

His compatriot Nadeem Hosenbux, 28, won the all-Mauritian final 3-0 (11-5 11-9 11-9) for an impressive debut in the Seychelles Open.

Results of the other matches played to decide the final positions are as follows:
Third and fourth places – Klaus Pragassen beat Samad Suleman 3-2 (9-11 11-7 9-11 11-5 11-6)
Fifth and sixth places – Emmanuel Labiche beat Rod Thorrinton 3-2
Seventh and eighth places – Nigel Pillay and Keven Furneau (both players could not play due to knee injuries
Ninth and 10th places – Stephane Lopez beat Charlie Morel 3-1
11th and 12th places – Debroy walked over Arnold Antao
13th and 14th places – Naveen Kundra walked over Steve Jardine
15th and 16th places – Daniel Pezzenec walked over Ridvan Prosper

G. G.