Friday, January 28, 2011

HEAD'S INNEGRA series-A First Look

Here is a brief introduction to the latest addition to the squash arsenal market by Head, The new YouTek™ Innegra™ series. Detailed product review for every individual racket will follow as soon as get my hands on these exciting "guns".
YouTek™ Cyano2 115


The Cyano2 115 Teardrop will take your game to the next level. It is the perfect racquet for the ambitious player and offers perfect power on every stroke.
It offers proven d3o technology that perfectly adapts to your game, CT2™ for even more power and the all new technology Innegra™, which reduces vibration on ball impact by up to 17 % resulting in outstanding precision and control.




  • Weight: 115 g (unstrung)


  • Head size500 cm²


  • Length: 685 mm


  • Balance365 mm


  • Beam: 20 mm


  • String pattern: 12 x 17


  • TechnologyInnegra


  • Construction: Corrigated Technology


  • Grip Shape: round 









  • YouTek™ Neon2 130

    YouTek™ Neon2 130: The new Neon2 130 offers outstanding power with great manoeuvrability and comfort. It is an excellent racquet for players looking for extra power within a Quadro shaped racquet.



  • Weight: 130 g (unstrung)


  • Head size500 cm²


  • Length: 685 mm


  • Balance370 mm


  • Beam: 16.5-20 mm


  • String pattern: 16 x 17


  • TechnologyInnegra


  • Construction: Corrigated Technology


  • Grip Shape: round









  • YouTek™ Argon2 155

    The Argon2 155 is Daryl Selby’s weapon of choice. It incorporates the perfect blend of control, precision and maneuverability.


  • Weight: 155 g (unstrung)

  • Head size460 cm²


  • Length: 685 mm

  • Balance335 mm

  • Beam: 16.5-20 mm

  • String pattern: 14 x 16

  • TechnologyInnegra

  • Construction: Corrigated Technology

  • Grip Shape: round

  • HEAD is ready with its new line of squash racquets for 2011. The new YouTek™ Innegra™ series combines the best features of the well-accepted YouTek™ umbrella concept and adds innovation by marrying the high performance materials d3o™ with HEAD's new Innegra™ fibre technology.

    The unique Innegra™ fibre is lifting racquetsport development to a higher, more competitive level and its performance benefits are targeted to optimally suite the needs of the modern squash player. Extremely tough and light, Innegra™ boasts the lowest density of any existing fibre. Its extreme toughness together with HEAD’s advanced carbon composite technology leads to a novel ultra tough hybrid-composite, which is integrated into the racquet for shock absorption and improved stability. As a result vibrations are reduced by up to 17% on ball impact for unique control and precision. 

    On top of this: HEAD’s new hybrid-composite structure with the ultra tough Innegra™ fibre considerably extends the performance of the racquet without losing any of its great properties. 

    HEAD’s YouTek™ concept aims to provide players with the perfect racquet for their individual game. The new YouTekTM Innegra series introduces the following racquets: the YouTek™ Cyano2 115, the YouTek™ Neon2 130 and the YouTek™ Argon2 115; they complement the existing Xenon 135, Anion 135 and Cerium 150 racquets which will remain in the 2011 line-up. Whether squash players are looking for power or control in their racquet (or the right combination of both), for a head heavy or a head light racquet, the YouTek™ series offers the right weapon for any style of play.

    For 2011 HEAD also developed the Anti Shock Foam, a special honeycomb foam which is integrated into the handle. This development provides an instantly noticeable benefit. Vibration of the racquet on ball impact is reduced within nanoseconds. That creates a perfect impact absorption along with resulting benefits of touch and comfort. The addition of the new Ultra Soft Tour grip tape further increases the positive feel of the new HEAD squash racquets.

    Thursday, January 20, 2011

    PSF bans Aamir Atlas for violating code of conduct

    The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has banned Pakistan’s No.1  player Aamir Atlas Khan for six months for violation of its code of conduct.PSF Secretary Wing Commander Irfan Asghar told APP on Wednesday that  Aamir Atlas Khan was banned for violating PSF’s code of conduct and misbehaving with coaches and officials.He said that the Federation had warned Aamir many times to follow the rules of business and code of conduct. The decision to ban him was taken in the best interest of the game. 
    He said that Aamir was banned to play at any court in the country and the PSF had also withdrwan all facilities given to him.
    He advised the players to follow rules and regulations along with the federation’s policy. 
    He said six months ban might be extended if Aamir did not change his behaviour. 
    He said the PSF had also warned him over his remarks about the national blazer at a ceremony organized in honour of the team which won gold medal in South Asian Games held at Sri Lanka.
    World No. 29 Aamir Atlas Khan had recently won honours for the country by winning team gold medal and a silver medal individually in the 16th Asian Games held at Guangzhou, China. Aamir, who turned pro in 2002 was ranked 14th in 2009, his highest ranking, and is the current No. 1 Pakistan squash player. He is the nephew of former world champion, Jansher Khan. Aamir said, he had not received anything from the PSF in written and came to know through a telephonic conversation with the Secretary PSF Irfan Asghar. 
    “I’m winning laurels for the country but I have been banned for playing in any court of the country,” he said, adding,”I want to win honours for my country but the PSF has withdrawn all facilities without giving me any warning in writing.”
    He said during a talk show he had refuted the remarks of Jansher Khan that he (Aamir) was finished. He also criticized Jansher and termed him a bad choice by the PSF. With his appointment, the squash would further deteriorate, he concluded.

    Friday, January 14, 2011

    Amazing Deep Drop by Gregory Gaultier




    The commentators (Nick Matthew amongst them) just pointed out how much work Gregory Gaultier was doing in the previous rally, and he is 0:4 down and again totally dominated by Karim Darwish. So I think this totally unbelievable deep drop shot was more due to lack of breath and desperation than anything else. This is why we might call it genius, he comes out with the most amazing shot at the least possible moment. Talking aboutGaultier, I really feel for him concerning his last year. End of 2009 he finally became world number one which made him lay back and lose motivation in the last couple of tournaments of the year. But except his match against Cameron Pilley in February he came back strong in 2010, played great squash just to lose so many times in the decider. He played 13 tournaments, won one, retired in two of them towards the end of the year (both times against Shabana), in the other tournaments he has lost 3:2 seven times out of ten (only against Ramy four times)! The whole year, he won one sole match that went to five (against David Palmer at Canary Wharf). For sure these losses were not due to lack of fitness, they were rather the result of some tough to guess psychological-mental issues combined with bad luck. I really hope he can work on these aspects and jump back strong in 2011 - like him or not, he is just a great addition on the squash scene.

    Fixing in sports not a new phenomena: Jahangir Khan

    Former world squash champion Jahangir Khan of Pakistan has claimed that fixing of matches is not a new phenomena in any sport and he was also approached several times by the bookies during his career to throw away matches.

    "Several times I was contacted by the bookmakers when I was at the peak of my career and was winning matches," Jahangir told the media in here.

    "They offered me huge amounts of money, which could be considered very good at that time because the prize money in squash was not very lucrative in those days. They wanted me to lose matches but every time I told them to get lost," Jahangir added.

    The former 10-time British Open winner and six times World Champion said that his conscience never allowed him to deliberately lose matches or even a single game in his entire career.

    "The offers were at their best when I remained unbeaten for five years," he recalled.

    "Whatever I am today it is because of my country and my people and I could never even think of letting them down. That is why today when I hear and read about the fixing allegations in cricket and other sports it saddens me."

    Jahangir added that the menace of fixing was nothing new in any sport and from time to time he had heard about such things in other countries as well.

    "People will always be greedy," said Jahangir.

    Meanwhile, he applauded the induction of his biggest rival and former champion Jansher Khan in the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) but said it would not have any impact on the sport in the country.

    "It will bring about no changes because in Pakistan there is a need to work selflessly for squash as individuals and it is not necessary to get positions in the federation."

    Jahangir said that the pinnacle of success squash had seen in the time of former PSF President, Air Marshal Nur Khan is unprecedented because he took very good care of the players and treated champions like champions. 


    Thursday, January 13, 2011

    Squash champion Nick Matthew seeks new challenges

    If you think making New Year resolutions is an easy thing spare a thought for squash player Nick Matthew.
    The 30-year-old finished 2010 as World Champion, double Commonwealth Games champion and world number one, leaving him with a headache as to what to aim for in 2011.
    But it's a problem he's more than happy to have.
    He said: "It's been a year beyond my wildest dreams. I had three major goals at the beginning of the year and would have been satisfied if I'd achieved one, never mind all three. I obviously need to sit down and get some new goals."
    Canary Wharf played a significant part in Matthew's 2010 success, as his victory in last year's tournament provided the springboard for him to go on to global domination.
    He said: "It was a big boost for me, as I didn't have the best record up until then at Canary Wharf and I had been quite vocal about being determined to improve it.
    matthew.jpg"My match with James Willstrop (pictured) in the semis will go down as one of the best in my career, and to back that up with a win over Gregory Gaultier in the final was a massive statement.
    "Injury permitting, I'll be back this year. It's one of the players' favourite stops on the tour, with great crowds every day."
    Matthew clinched the world title last month, beating Willstrop in an all-English final. The pair have helped raise the profile of the sport in this country, although Matthew revealed their relationship isn't particularly friendly.
    "There's a massive amount of respect there, but we are not massive buddies off the court," he said. "It's a very healthy rivalry, though, and has been great for each of us to be pushing each other and great for the sport in this country.
    "Tickets were sold out for our potential meeting in the final of the Nationals before the event had even started, so people obviously want to see the two of us go head to head."
     nickmatthew2.JPGMatthew's victory in the Worlds made him the first Englishman to claim the crown, ending the recent domination of the Egyptians. He described the feeling at the moment of victory.
    "It was a very strange feeling," he said.
    "Obviously one of joy, but also of relief that I didn't blow this fantastic opportunity. It's not often you're in the World Open final, so I didn't want to blow it."
    Picking up gold in the singles and doubles at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi underlined Matthew's current dominance of the sport. His biggest regret is squash's failure to be accepted as an Olympic sport for 2016.
    He said: "If we were involved in the Olympics the exposure of squash would be accelerated massively. It's highly disappointing that we're not there because everyone can see we deserve to be. Governing bodies like the IOC and FIFA clearly don't often make sense.
    "But the state of the professional tour is the healthiest it has ever been. Players have been complaining that the schedule is too busy, which shows how popular the tour has become around the world."
    Titles are important, but Matthew takes pride from the consistency that propelled him to the world number one slot in the summer.
    He's back on top again, and wants to use his status to continue to build the sport's profile in the UK.
    ff-apr1-squashtrophy.JPGHe said: "Getting to world number one for the first time was the culmination of 20 years of effort, so that was a massive thing. It showed I was the best player over the course of a year, rather than just a one-off, so it was important.
    "I'm delighted to have got it back for January 2011, and hope to come to Canary Wharf still as number one.
    "We can build on that by taking the sport out to the masses and capitalise on our success by getting the next generation of players involved in the game. Tournaments like Canary Wharf, in iconic locations, really help that."

    Jahangir Khan wants Pakistan squash to be run by professionals



    Former World Champion and President of World Squash Federation (WSF) Jahanagir Khan believed that national squash should run by the professionals to regain past glory.
    “Without changing the structure of and mindset of the people at the realm of affairs of the game, nothing can be changed,” he told reporters at PN Roshan Khan/ Jahangir Khan Squash to unveil the details of Parco National Junior Squash Championship on Wednesday.
    Jahangir Khan said he once offered 1-100 to loss a match. “I was dominating squash for five and half year at one time and could have easily indulged in such activities. But my conscience did not accepted it,” he recalled.

    Tuesday, January 4, 2011

    Harrow Sports Introduces the Sneak Indoor Court Shoe


    The Sneak Indoor Court shoe is the newest addition to the Harrow Sports footwear line. Squash Magazine did a write up on the new Harrow sneak court shoe for their October issue - Here's what they had to say -

    "Have you ever experienced that adrenaline rush when a hot car is sitting at a traffic light just dying to throw down the hammer with treads that are gushing with confidence? You know, the kind with the jet black discs of seemingly inch thick rubber wrapped around a glistening set of aluminum alloy wheels waiting to rocket from 0 - 100 mph in a blink of the eye - all the while ensuring a stickiness that will let you pull a couple of G's around the tightest corners?
    "I know, I know, this isn't 'Road N' Track', but you look for the same thing for your feet on the court, right? Okay, maybe not black soled kicks since they're outlawed on the beautiful hardwoods of our squash courts, but finding a faithful, dependable, slick - looking comfy pair of shoes is a squash players dream.
    "If this sounds like Nirvana for your feet, not to mention your fashion sense, then welcome to the Harrow sneak! These shoes are hot - very light, supple (as in ready to hit the courts right out of the box) snug, with a squeaky grip that is like having a sprinters starting blocks providing that little extra 'umph' as you chase down your opponent's next shot.
    "What else can we say? There are squash shoes, and then there are Bugatti Veyron-like treads that you'll never want to put in the garage."
    The Harrow Sneak features a breathable mesh upper, synthetic nubuck construction and amazing cushioning from heel to forefoot. A nubuck toe drag area will enhance the durability along the inside of the shoe and the added padding on the tongue and ankle surround give you increased stability and comfort with every movement.
    The Harrow Sneak also has a high performance, responsive gum rubber sole for enhanced traction and flexibility on any indoor court surface.

    Monday, January 3, 2011

    6th Annual World Squash Awards


    The 6th Annual World Squash Awards are set to take place in the Vanderbilt Hall at the Grand Central Terminal, New York, on Thursday, 20th January-the night before the J.P. Morgan Tournament stages in the same venue.

    These awards were founded by Eventis Sports Marketing back in 2005 and are endorsed annually by the WSF, PSA and WISPA.


    Visit:
    World Squash Awards 2010


    World Squash Awards 2009


    World Squash Awards 2008