SA squash hopes rest with two
15 July 2005
World number one players Thierry Lincou of France and Rachael Grinham of Australia head world-class fields in the squash events at the 2005 World Games in Germany this month as the world squash community continues its efforts to gain entry into the 2012 Olympics.
South Africa's squash hopes rest on the shoulders of Rodney Durbach and teenage sensation Tenille Swartz, who recently beat veteran Claire Nitch to win the National Championships.
The World Games is a unique international event featuring non-Olympic sports. The 2005 Games, the seventh since the inception of the Games in 1981, is being held in the four German cities of Duisburg, Bottrop, Oberhausen and Mülheim from 14 to 24 July.
Pretoria-born Durbach has campaigned on the men's professional tour
with some success in recent years, but will have to pack his A game if he is to end in the medals against a field that includes Lincou, fifth-ranked Peter Nicol, world number eight James Willstrop and number nine Nick Matthew.
Based on current rankings, Africa's best hope at the World Games is probably world number 11 Karim Darwish of Egypt. But the experienced Durbach is written off at his opponents' peril, warns his manager Richard Castle.
"And let's also not forget Tenille, who although still in her teens, has got all the talent in the world and is among the outsiders being mentioned as having a chance," says Castle.
Apart from Grinham, Swartz is facing the likes of world number four Nicole David of Malaysia, the British pair of Linda Elriani (ranked six) and Jenny Tranfield (eight), and number 10 Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt.
Players from 20 countries across five continents are competing for the squash titles won in the 1997 World Games in Finland by
Australia's Sarah Fitzgerald and Egyptian Ahmed Barada.
Denmark's Ellen Petersen will be the only player making her second appearance in the event after taking part in the 1997 World Games.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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