Can Boswell make it four Australian Open squash titles?

Former AIS scholarship holder Stewart Boswell looking to win fourth Australian Open Squash Championships

13 Jul 2009

Some of the world’s best squash players will descend on Clare Valley, South Australia this week for the 2009 Australian Open Squash Championships, the country’s most prestigious squash tournament.

The Australian championships, which has been held on the all-glass court in the historic wine-growing town of Clare for the past two years, attracts players from across Australia and around the world.

Leading the men’s field is Ong Beng Hee, the world number 14 and Malaysia’s most successful male squash player ever. The women’s top seed is former Australian champion and current Australian Institute of Sport athlete Kasey Brown

Ong will be challenged by Australians Stewart Boswell and Cameron Pilley, while Egyptian Tarek Momen, New Zealand 2008 runner-up Kashif Shuja and Frenchman Stephane Galifi will also feature strongly.

Former Australian Institute of Sport athlete and three-time champion Stewart Boswell said the quality of the field was the best in years.

‘The depth is really strong this year and the winner could come from anywhere,’ he said.

‘Obviously Bengie is the one to beat, but Cam Pilley will be tough as well. Tarek Momen and Galifi are quality players, but the younger Australians could also give it a shake.’

Boswell won the Australian Open men’s doubles title last week alongside Pilley and said that the win had given him a lot of confidence.

‘I haven’t played a singles tournament for a long time so I’m a bit rusty, but I think all the top seeds are in the same boat so hopefully that will even things out,’ he said.

‘I’m feeling fit, and injury wise I’m okay so I’m really looking forward to it.’

The Australian Open honour board features some of the most famous names in national and international sport: Heather McKay, Vicki Cardwell, Michelle Martin, Sarah Fitz-Gerald, Dame Susan Devoy are just some of the past winners of the women’s trophy, while Geoff Hunt, Jahangir Khan, Jonah Barrington, Chris Dittmar and Ken Hiscoe haveall had their names on the men’s trophy.

The Australian Open Squash Championships has enjoyed a glorious history, but it was languishing somewhat until the town of Clare applied to host the championships in 2007. The event begins with qualifying games tomorrow and ends with the men’s and women’s finals held on Sunday.