Kashif & Kasey Capture Central Open Crowns

New Zealand's Kashif Shuja claimed his second PSA Tour squash title on home soil in a matter of weeks after winning a thrilling final at the Central Open in New Plymouth. Australian Kasey Brown secured her fifth WISPA World Tour title of the year after triumphing in today's four-game women's final at Kawaroa Park Squash Club.

Second seed Shuja edged out 20-year-old unseeded compatriot Campbell Grayson in five games, winning the decider 5-3 in the tie break - in a match described by New Zealand coach Dave Clarke as the best he has seen between two kiwi players since arriving in the country five years ago.

Grayson reached the first PSA Tour final of his career after his semi-final opponent Mike Corren, the top seed from Australia, suffered a career-threatening ruptured Achilles tendon midway through their second game

Shuja was thrilled with his effort in the final, and was also full of praise for his unseeded opponent: "Campbell played brilliantly, although it was no more than I expected," said the Pakistan-born 27-year-old after his 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-10 (5-3) victory in 77 minutes.

"We train together a lot which means there are not too many surprises on court and it was a matter of grinding out the long hard rallies."

It was the sixth PSA Tour title of the kiwi's career, and the second of the month after also winning the Bay of Plenty Open two weeks ago. Shuja says it caps off what has been a relatively successful first 12 months as a full-time squash player. "I had a couple of setbacks when I first decided to go full time, but things are definitely back on track now. My aim was to win two of the three PSA Tour events in New Zealand this month, and that's exactly what I have done."

The latest success has also reinforced the New Zealand national champion's commitment to play full-time. "It's a tough life at times, but it also has its rewards. I want to give it at least another three or four years to see just how far I can go," explained Shuja.

Meanwhile, Australia's Kasey Brown beat second-seeded New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes in a fiercely-contested women's final, battling home 9-6, 5-9, 9-5, 9-7.

Hawkes, the second seed from Auckland, looked set to push the decider to five games at one stage, fighting back from 2-6 down to lead 7-6 in the fourth. However Brown, the favourite from Eight Mile Plains in Queensland, regained the momentum to close out the match 9-7 to claim the sixth WISPA title of her career.

Men's final:
[2] Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-10 (2-0), 6-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-10 (5-3) (77m)

Women's final:
[1] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt [2] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 9-6, 5-9, 9-5, 9-7