Yahoo News Manchester to host huge sports event next week with top world players, local talent, plus pizza and gin stalls
Top squash players from across the world will descend upon Manchester’s National Squash Centre next week for the Manchester Open. Across five days spectators can watch 48 players battle it out for the Manchester Open title.
It’s the sixth edition of the Manchester Open, a PSA World Tour Silver-level event. Among the players hoping to achieve victory this year are the current men’s World No.3 Mostafa Asal and Women’s World No.5 Nour El Tayeb.
But there will be homegrown talent on court too; Manchester-born Finnlay Withington has secured a wildcard spot. The 20-year-old, based in Heywood, is the World No.81 and was the men’s wildcard in last year's event.
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He’s now looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd at the Eastlands-based venue once more. He said: “I’m very happy to receive the wildcard spot again this year.” I loved playing in front of the home crowd last year and I felt it really pushed me to play better and perform at near to my best.”
Joining him will be Trafford-born Saran Nghiem, another wildcard entry. The 20-year-old, who currently studies at Harvard University, first started playing squash at the venue so it’s a homecoming of sorts for her. Saran said: “I’m very happy to receive the wildcard spot again.
“The National Centre is the club where I first picked up a racket and my family still lives not too far from the venue so it’s the perfect opportunity to come back and experience a world tour event. I’m over the moon to get to play again.”
During the tournament six of the world’s top 10 players will play across the men’s and women’s draws, with 15 of the top 20 across both genders represented. The squash action will play out across the five days, with the semi-finals held on Saturday and the finals taking place on Sunday.
There will be two glass courts used throughout the first two days of the event; the static one in place at the National Squash Centre as well as an all-glass showcourt specially constructed on the Athletics track specifically for this event - with the showcourt being used for the final three days of the event too.
While the action unfolds on court, spectators can grab refreshments from local food and drink vendors, which will be on site throughout the tournament. The stalls include Prestwich Gin, founded by a father and son duo; Manchester-based Worker Bee Coffee; Mediterranean-inspired baked goods from Le Ble; and pizza from Killa Carbs.
Live action from the tournament will be streamed via SQUASHTV while the semi-finals and finals will be shown by the TNT Sports. Tickets can be bought here on the Manchester Open website here - the semi finals have sold out but tickets for all other matches are available.
