Squash world cup in Chennai from March 8

Chennai: Top players, led by Malaysia’s world number one Nicol David, will compete in the WSF squash World Cup to be held here from March 8 to 12.

A total of nine teams have been grouped under two pools with the top two teams from each moving on to the semi-finals. Hosts India, seeded six, have been drawn in Pool B along with England (second seed), Australia (3) and Mexico (7) while Pool A comprises top seed Egypt, France (4) Malayaisa (5), South Africa (8) and Sri Lanka (9), a World Squash Federation release here said on Sunday. “The 2011 WSF World Cup, the first of three mixed team biennial events will be staged initially at the Indian Squash Academy. The final rounds would be played on an all-glass show court erected at the Express Avenue Mall, the largest shopping complex in southern India,” the release said. Egypt would be led by former world number ones Ramy Ashour and Karim Darwish. Also in the Egyptian squad for the event, the first world championship of the year, are Mohamed El Shorbagy, Raneem El Weleily and 17-year-old Nour El Tayeb, ranked 9, 11 and 18, in the world. Expected to line up against the favourites in the final are England, whose strong squad features Jenny Duncalf, James Willstrop, Peter Barker, Laura Massaro, and Tom Richards, ranked 2, 4, 8, 9 and 31, respectively, in the world.Australia will be relying on a three-player squad, featuring world No 12 Cameron Pilley, former world No 1 Rachael Grinham and Hobart-born Aaron Frankcomb, ranked 42 in the world. New national champion Camille Serme will lead France, while five-time world champion Nicol David will spearhead the Malaysian attack. PTI