WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Shanghai Hails First Squash Event In China

The world's leading women begin the battle to claim the first ever major squash title on mainland China when the main draw of the Shanghai WISPA WorldStars Championship gets underway at the Megafit Sports Club in Shanghai on Thursday (18 November) after two days of qualifying.

Fresh from her second successive British Open triumph in England ten days ago, Australia's world No1 Rachael Grinham leads a star-studded field which features the top women in the world.  The later rounds of the WISPA Gold event will be staged in one of the world's most spectacular settings - on the all-glass court erected on the city's stunning Bund waterfront. 

The $43,500 event will be hosted by the Shanghai Sports Commission in conjunction with the Chinese Squash Association.  The Shanghai WorldStars Championship will be shown on television across the world as part of WISPA's Qatar Airways Grand Prix TV programming.

Rachael Grinham is expected to meet England's world No2 Cassie Jackman in the final on Sunday 21st November - though the Cairo-based Australian is first likely to face USA's fourth seed Natalie Grainger in the semi-finals in what would be a repeat of this month's British Open final. 

Grinham's first round opponent will be Rebecca Chiu, the reigning Asian Games champion from Hong Kong who is certain to be a firm favourite with the local crowds.  Jackman begins her Shanghai campaign in an all-English clash with Jenny Tranfield, ranked 11 in the world.

England's Vicky Botwright and New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen, ranked 12 and 13, respectively, in the world, head a high-quality qualifying draw for four places in the main draw after Jenny Tranfield was elevated following the withdrawal of third seed Vanessa Atkinson with a shoulder injury.

1st round draw:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
[8] Rebecca Macree (ENG) v Qualifier
[4] Natalie Grainger (USA) v Qualifier
[7] Nicol David (MAS) v Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[5] Linda Elriani (ENG) v Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Qualifier
[6] Fiona Geaves (ENG) v Qualifier
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) v Jenny Tranfield (ENG)

Picture caption:  Deng Li, Deputy General Secretary of the Chinese Squash Association (2nd left), seen addressing a well-attended press conference on the eve of the event in Shanghai, featuring more than thirty journalists and representatives from three TV channels.  Also at the press conference was WISPA Executive Director Andrew Shelley (2nd right).