Squash: Khan steals march after robbery

AFTER declining to play a repeat of last month's World Open final because his kitbag had been stolen from the courtside, Jansher Khan changed his mind and again went on to beat Chris Dittmar 15-12, 15-10, 15-13 in the final of the NCM Dutch Open yesterday, writes Richard Eaton from Amsterdam.

The theft of the world champion's equipment, passport and money occurred after his semi-final on Monday, and it was not until a courier agreed to fly to London to pick up five new rackets and shoes that Jansher decided he would play the world No 2 from Australia.

With perverse timing, an anonymous telephone call then informed the organisers that the missing bag could be found from a locker at the main railway station, and was retrieved with the loss of pounds 300. 'The money doesn't matter - he must have been a nice guy,' commented the Pakistani.

Jansher is not generally supposed to regard Dittmar as a nice guy, but he did generously give his bitterest critic and rival a point at 8-8 in the second game when the referee was unable to tell whether a fast drive had been up or down.

Perhaps he felt he had something to spare. However, Dittmar had leads of 9-5 and 12-10 in the first game and of 8-4 and 13-12 in the third, and until he produced ill-advised returns of serve on the last two points of the match - one a forehand boast down and another a cross-court volley giving a chance for a winning interception - the Australian had looked well capable of extending the match beyond straight games.

Lambs of London, the Pimm's Premier League leaders, have accused the Squash Rackets Association of 'inflexibility' after their England international, Paul Gregory, was barred from playing after arriving late for their match against W F Village Manchester last night. Although Lambs won 3-1 they were automatically deducted one point.