The Hindu : Sport : Top players for World team event

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 15, 2007
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Sport

Top players for World team event

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: December is the month of big time squash in Chennai. If it was the World junior event first and the World doubles championship next, the biggest of them all — the 21st ICL World men’s team championship — will be held this time at the ICL Academy from December 6 to 12.

Held every two years, this year’s championship has attracted 29 countries, including defending champion England, runner-up Egypt, Australia, Pakistan, France and Malaysia, according to a press release.

In the previous edition in Pakistan, 22 countries had taken part, including India which finished 11th.

The world’s top 10 players will be among the bunch of over 100 players who will be seen here in action in the World team championship.

Getting ready

Meanwhile, host ICL Squash Academy is getting spruced up for the big occasion.

The seven ASB glass back courts are getting a fresh coat of paint, while the glass centre court has undergone a major transformation with a new glass flooring which has been approved by the WSF.

In addition, a state-of-the-art gym is getting ready in the Academy complex.

The championship will be played in two stages. In the first stage, the teams will be placed in eight pools for a pool-league.

The top teams from each pool will then progress to the knock-out phase. The teams that do not make it to the knock-out stage will play for minor placings (17 to 29).

Six WSF-recognised international referees, along with the other international and national referees, will supervise the championship.

Referees’ conference

In addition to the championship, the SRFI will be hosting a WSF referees’ conference on December 4 and 5.

International and regional referees from around the world, along with 15 local referees, are expected to attend the conference.

The key officials who will be involved in the conduct of the championship are: Chairman: N. Ramachandran.

Championship consultant: Maj. S. Maniam; Tournament Director: Manan Mashruwala; Tournament Referee: Muneer Sait.

The world’s top 10 players (according to Nov. rankings): 1. Amr Shabana (Egy), 2. Ramy Ashour (Egy), 3. Gregory Gaultier (Fra), 4. David Palmer (Aus), 5. James Willstrop (Eng), 6. Nick Matthew (Eng), 7. Thierry Lincou (Fra), 8. Karim Darwish (Egy), 9. Anthony Ricketts (Aus) and 10. John White (Sco).

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