WOMEN’S ELITE SQUASH PLAYERS LOOK AHEAD TO THE HI-TEC
WORLD SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS – MANCHESTER 2008
With the curtain coming down on the 2007 World Women’s Open in
Madrid last weekend, the women’s squash spotlight is now firmly
focused on Manchester, which will be hosting The Hi-Tec World
Squash Championships next October.
Former six time World Champion and World
Squash Federation President Jahangir Khan, officially handed over
the Championships to Manchester, when presenting Eamonn O’Rourke,
Director of Leisure for Manchester City Council with the World
Squash Federation flag.
The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships –
Manchester 2008 will see Rachael Grinham look to defend the title
she won in style in Spain, where she overcame her sister Natalie in
the first ever all sibling women’s final.
Next year’s Championships in Manchester, which
start on October 11th and run through to the
19th October, will see the men’s and women’s event run
concurrently for the first time ever in Britain, with the world’s
leading 64 men and top 32 women battling it out for the title of
World Champion.
Hopes are high for home grown success with no
fewer than six British players featuring inside the World’s Top 20
in both the men’s and women’s rankings, including Tania Bailey who
reached this year’s World Open semi finals.
All matches will take place at the National
Squash Centre in Manchester’s Sportcity, which boasts no fewer than
six traditional glass backed courts, along with a special showcase
all-glass court, which will be used for the Championship’s latter
stages.
Event Director, Paul Walters,
said, “We very much look forward to welcoming Rachael Grinham
to Manchester to defend her title. All the leading players from
around the world will be planning on coming to Manchester, but
there are some very strong British players in both the men’s and
women’s games so there will be plenty of interest for the home
crowds to cheer on.”
“With less than twelve months to go until
The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008, the
excitement levels are starting to rise. Traditionally the men’s and
women’s events are played separately but for the first time ever in
a British city the two Championships will be held together,
providing the public with what promises to be the best squash
tournament ever staged.”
The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships –
Manchester 2008 are just one of five world class sporting events to
take place in Manchester next year, with the North West City also
hosting the UCI Track World Cycling Championships, the FINA World
Swimming Championships, the BUPA Great Manchester Run, and the UEFA
Cup Final.
For further information about the
Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 or a wider
selection of high resolution photography please contact the Event
Press Office at Capitalize or visit the event website
www.worldsquashchampionships2008.com:
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