Nasir Iqbal comes in as Hesham is haunted by leg injury
By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor
Egyptian maverick Mazen Hesham has withdrawn from the upcoming Canary Wharf Classic, PSA M70 tournament after continuing to suffer with the leg injury that has plagued his 2016 so far.
The World No.17, whose last PSA World Tour appearance came in December’s Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open, will be replaced as the event’s number eight seed by Spanish former World No.5 Borja Golan.
Golan has move up to a seeded position and now meets English wild card Ben Coleman in the first round.
Pakistan No.1 Nasir Iqbal moves into the main draw and he will face former World No.1 James Willstrop, who would have faced Golan prior to Hesham’s withdrawal.
The Yorkshireman, who bowed out in Chicago after being drawn against Omar Mosaad in the first round, will be aiming to win the tournament for the fifth time in his career.
Willstrop’s appearance at the East Wintergarden this year will be his 13th appearance in the Canary Wharf competition, having won the very first final back in 2004, when he beat Thierry Lincou 4-2 in a best-of-seven match, playing PAR to nine and lasting 87 minutes.
Coming soon: Major interview with James Willstrop. Stay tuned to Squash Mad.
Revised Main Draw, 2016 Canary Wharf Squash Classic:
[1] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[Qualifier] v [7] Daryl Selby (ENG)
[8] Borja Golan (ESP) v [WC] Ben Coleman (ENG)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) v [4] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
[3] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v [Qualifier]
Nasir Iqbal (PAK) v [5] James Willstrop (ENG)
[6] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [2] Simon Rösner (GER)
Tickets for the 2016 Canary Wharf Classic, which takes place between Monday March 7 – Friday March 11, have now sold out but you can be added to the ticket waiting list by contacting [email protected]
Picture by STEVE LINE (www.squashpics.com)Â