Eye Group Women's World Open

The qualifying rounds of the Eye Group Women's World Team Squash Championship have so far been more about those not functioning at the Hallamshire Club in Sheffield than those on court fighting for places in Wednesday's last 16.

USA MINUS KHANS
The USA have taken two thrashings in Pool F. On Sunday they lost to South Africa and on Monday to Scotland, with only a single game, wrested from Senga Macfie by Louisa Hall, to show for their efforts without the Khan sisters; Latasha and Shabana.

GERMAN DUTCH SHOWDOWN
In Pool F the eighth seeded Germans went on court against the fifth seeded Dutch without their second string, Karin Beriere, and won the tie when Ina Meine, their fourth ranked player fought back from two games down against Daphne Jelgersma to win 9-3 in the fifth game of the third string match.

AIR NIGERIA CANCELLED
In Pool D the entire Nigerian squad failed to show up, leaving Egypt and Canada to pick up easy points on succeeding days while Switzerland was beaten by both of them.

Canada boasts the Pan American Champion, Melanie Jans, and the Wsorld University Champion, Marnie Baizley, but it was Egypt's young Omneya Abdel Kawy who took the eye. Should be a great last qualifying round between the two nations.

New Zealand, the third seeds, are dominating Pool C, beating Spain on Sunday and France on Monday, but the world number one, Leilani Joyce, went walkabout in her third game against Isabelle Stoehr and needed 52 minutes to get past the young French player 9-5 9-3 9-10 9-5.

AUSTRALIA MINUS OWENS +
Australia have maximum points in Pool B from wins over Wales and Malaysia, who are missing the talents of Asian Champion Nicol David, but there are so many players missing from the second seeded defending champions' squad it is hard to believe they can take the title again. The new World Champion, Carol Owens, has refused to play for Australia. The former world junior champion, Rachael Grinham, has claimed injuries will not allow her to play a full week of team squash.

The veteran Liz Irving is managing the Dutch squad.

ENGLAND SUBS
England retain the top seeding they were given when it seemed Cassie Campion would lead the challenge with the redoubtable Sue Wright at fourth string. They lead in Pool A with easy wins over Italy and Hong Kong, but Campion failed to make it through the British Open and is out for back surgery while Wright unexpectedly reached the British Open Final and collapsed back into viral pneumonia symptoms soon after.

Rebecca Macree has taken two wins at third string from her first appearances in an England shirt. Stephanie Brind, the other late replacement, has yet to make an appearance. The relative wealth of England at the middle order level was unexpectedly displayed when Suzanne Horner, the England number four who did not make the cut for their world championship squad for the first time since 1987, turned up at Hallamshire as second string for Barnsley men's team in a Sheffield District League match against the home side, and defeated Steve Jones 3-1 to clinch victory for the visiting side while England were busy beating Hong Kong without her.

For the latest results go to www.squashtalk.com/womensworld

advertisement

advertisement