CANADA

NEWS

Laurens  Jan Anjema Wins Montreal Title
Howard Harding reports...

RESULTS: National Bank Financial Group Squash International, 

Montreal, Canada

Final:
[3] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [4] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-9, 11-8,  11-1(65m)

Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema launched his 2010 PSA World  Tour campaign in fine style in Canada where he won the National  Bank Financial Group International after beating England's  Daryl Selby in straight games in the final of the $40,000 squash  event at Midtown Le Sporting Club Sanctuaire in Montreal.

After surviving a 96-minute quarter-final against lower-ranked  Englishman Tom Richards, third seed Anjema made his breakthrough in  the next round where he upset second seed Adrian Grant, the world  No10, also from England.

And the 27-year-old from The Hague continued his dominant form  against Englishmen in the final with Selby, the fourth seed from Essex who  is ranked three places below Anjema in the PSA world  list.

The world No15 got the better of Selby in the first two close  games, then raced to victory for the loss of just a single further point  as he celebrated his 11-9, 11-8, 11-1 title triumph after 65  minutes.

The win follows Anjema's fifth successive Dutch National title  success in February – and takes the left-hander's PSA Tour title tally to  nine since his first in October  2002.

Canada's Shahier Razik advances to quarterfinals at National Bank Financial Group squash tournament

MONTREAL – Shahier Razik of Toronto advanced to the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the $40,000 National Bank Financial Group men’s professional squash tournament while the number-one seed was knocked out of the competition.

The tournament being held at the recently renovated Midtown le Sporting Club du Sanctuaire, is a stop on both the Canadian Circuit and the Professional Squash Association tour.

Razik, seeded seventh and ranked 32nd in the world, defeated Simon Rosner of Germany 6-11, 11-7, 11-5, 14-12 in 75 minutes. Razik has enjoyed a great start to the 2010 season. He successfully defended his title at the National Capital Open in Washington last month and reached finals in two other tournaments in January.

“Shahier played a very solid match,” said Canadian national team coach Yvon Provençal of Montreal. ‘’Rosner is one of the most promising young players on the circuit but Shahier used good tactics to counter his strong play.’’

Razik faces qualifier Gilly Lane of the U.S., in his quarterfinal on Thursday. Lane upset top-seed and world number-seven Peter Barker of England 7-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6. Lane is ranked 59th in the world.