WORLD SQUASH NEWS

World's Top Women Take Up Qatar Airways Challenge in Doha

The world's top women squash players will head for the Qatar capital Doha next week for the Qatar Airways Challenge, the first Grand Prix Gold event of the year on the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) World Tour.

The $70,000 event is the first to be sponsored by Qatar Airways, the fast-growing global airline which recently announced a three-year agreement with WISPA to become the television sponsor of the WISPA Grand Prix, in addition to becoming the association's official airline.

Natalie Grainger, the world No2 from the USA, is seeded to win the new event which takes place at the Khalifa Squash Complex in Doha from 24-28 February. 

Grainger, the 26-year-old WISPA President from Washington DC, is expected to face England's new world No1 Cassie Jackman in the final.  Jackman, from Norwich, will arrive in Doha fresh from her domestic triumph in the British National Championships in Manchester where she won the title for a record sixth time.  Both players face qualifiers in the first round.

"The Qatar Airways Challenge, which will bring top world-class women's squash to Doha, will be seen by millions of TV viewers around the world thanks to our new TV sponsorship deal with the fast-growing and forward-thinking airline," said WISPA Director Andrew Shelley.  "The support of Qatar Airways will enable us to make further strides with the quality and breadth of distribution of our Grand Prix television programming."

Comprehensive coverage of the event will also be available on the event's official website at www.squashplayer.co.uk/qasquash/

1st round draw:
[1] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Qualifier
[15] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Qualifier
[8] Fiona Geaves (ENG) v Latasha Khan (USA)
[13] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) v Sharon Wee (MAS)
[4] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Qualifier
[16] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) v Qualifier
[7] Rebecca Macree (ENG) v Qualifier
[10] Vicky Botwright (ENG) v Madeline Perry (IRL)
[9] Nicol David (MAS) v Qualifier
[6] Linda Charman (ENG) v Qualifier
[12] Tania Bailey (ENG) v Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Karen Kronemeyer (NED)
[14] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Alison Waters (ENG)
[5] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Carla Khan (PAK)
[11] Stephanie Brind (ENG) v Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) v Qualifier