The entry list for the 2025 New Zealand Squash Open in Christchurch in March has been confirmed with a strong women's field and Paul Coll leading the men's.
The women's draw has nine of the world’s top 20 players athletes, with Kiwi squash legend Joelle King and up and coming New Zealander Ella Lash joining the event as wildcards.
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Tinne Gilis from Belgium heads the women's draw at No 5 in the world followed by Amina Orfi of Egypt who is just 17 and already ranked eighth in the world with countrywoman Rowan Elaraby No 8.
Ninth ranked Nele Gilis-Coll, the older sister of Tinne and wife of Paul Coll, has also been named in the women’s draw and will be looking to defend the title she won when the tournament was last held, in 2023.
Maylasia's Sivasangari Subramaniam is next at No 10, Japan's Satomi Watanabe will be the sixth seed with a ranking of 11, followed by Fayrouz Aboelkheir (Egypt) at 12 and Salma Hany from Egypt rounding out the seedings at 13.
However for New Zealand's King it is a chance to get back into winning after a partial year on the PSA circuit returning from injury.
“I’m really looking forward to playing at home again,” said King.
“I love the New Zealand Squash Open, it’s such a competitive event and the field is absolutely stacked. There’s going to be some amazing squash on display so it’ll make for a great event.”
The men's field has Coll ranked fourth in the world followed by No 5 Mazen Hesham of Egypt and runner up from the previous NZ Open, Marwan Elshorbagy, also Egypt at No 10.
Aucklander Anthony Lepper receives a wildcard with Wellington teenager Ollie Dunbar the other direct entry.
The overall draw features 24 men and 24 women from 17 nations and will be held at Christchurch’s iconic Isaac Theatre Royal, which will be decked out with a glass court on stage from March 4th to 9th 2025.
The tournament is part of the PSA Tour at a Silver level with prizemoney of US93,000 per draw.
Men's seeds: Paul Coll (NZL) 4, Mazen Hesham (EGY) 5, Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) 10, Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 13, Greg Lobban (SCO) 20, Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 22, Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 23, Iker Pajares (ESP) 24.
Women's seeds: Tinne Gilis (BEL) 5, Amina Orfi (EGY) 7, Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 8, Nele Gilis-Coll (BEL) 9, Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 10, Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 11, Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 12, Salma Hany (EGY) 13.