Malta Open starts tomorrow

Prize-money will be at stake for the first time ever in this year's Malta International Squash Open, starting tomorrow evening at the Marsa Sports Club.

The inaugural match of the Open sees Malta's top junior player Colette Sultana, 11, with a mammoth task at hand when facing Polish no.1 Dominka Witkowska.

Besides Sultana and Witkowska, the women's event includes former Malta Open winner Theresa Camilleri, Johanna Rizzo (long-time Malta no.1) and the entire women's national squad. Natalia Luczynska, ranked no.5 in Poland, completes the draw.

The Men's Open includes Michael Fiteni (highest world ranking of 64), Lukasz Nitka (Poland's no.1) and Derek Collins, a leading player from England.

They will be joined by two of Malta's most consistent international performers over the last few years, namely Steve Schranz, the current Malta Open champion, and Bernard Bugeja.

Three local qualifiers make up the men's draw.

The men's A and B events start on Thursday and Friday evening respectively and will also be contested by a group of players from the UK. All semi-finals and finals will be played on Saturday.