WILLSTROP EYES HOME GLORY AS MANCHESTER GEARS UP FOR ITS
BIGGEST EVER YEAR OF SQUASH
World Squash number 6 and Hi-Tec star, James
Willstrop is hoping to land a memorable Manchester double in 2008
as he aims to defend his National title in February before
challenging for the sport’s greatest prize, The Hi-Tec World Squash
Championships – Manchester 2008, in October.
Willstrop, the British number 2, has been in
red hot form recently having won The Mamut English Open in December
before finishing runner-up in The Bear Stearns Tournament of
Champions in New York this week, and is relishing the chance of
getting back on the court in Manchester.
“2008 is a massive year for me, said
Willstrop. “First I need to focus on defending my National title
and then I can start to think about the World Championships later
in the year. I have a lot of very special memories of Manchester
having won the Nationals there and it would be a dream come true to
win the World’s on home soil in front of a home crowd.”
Since hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2002,
squash has enjoyed a rich heritage in Manchester with the city
having played home to both the National Championships and The
Dunlop British Open, which regularly attracts the world’s best
players.
The arrival of The Hi-Tec World Squash
Championships – Manchester 2008 will be the first time in the
history of the sport that the men’s and women’s World Opens will be
contested concurrently in a British city. The Manchester crowds
will be treated to a feast of top squash action with the world’s
top 64 men and leading 32 women all vying for the title of World
Champion during the nine days of competition which kicks off on
Saturday 11th October.
Jim Quigley, Head of Partnerships and Sports
Events Manchester City Council said, ”We are very proud of our
association with sport. The National Squash Centre in Manchester is
firmly established as one of the world’s premier venues for hosting
both domestic and international squash tournaments. To stage the
world championships in any sport is the pinnacle for a host city
and we are very much looking forward to welcoming the world’s very
best players to Manchester.”
The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships –
Manchester 2008 are just one of a series of world class sporting
events taking place in the north west in 2008, with the city also
hosting the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the
9th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), the BUPA
Great Manchester Run and the UEFA Cup Final.
Tickets are already on sale for The Hi-Tec
World Squash Championships and can be purchased for the official
website - http://www.worldsquash2008.com/
which also has full details on the event.
For further information about the
Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 or high
resolution photography please contact the Event Press Office at
Capitalize:
Jonathon Bates
Telephone: 020 7940 1708 / 020 7940
1700
Mobile: 07825 427 461
E-mail:jbates@capitalize.co.uk
Daniel Krendel
Telephone: 020 7940 1733 / 020 7940
1700
Mobile: 07825 602
549
E-mail:dkrendel@capitalize.co.uk