India Prepares For World Team Squash Championship In Chennai

Chennai will host the biggest squash event ever to be held in India when 29 nations contest the 21st ICL Men's World Team Championship at the ICL Squash Academy from 6-12 December.

Egypt heads the list of the countries competing in the championships which were first contested 40 years ago in Australia. In addition to leading squash-playing nations Australia, Pakistan, France, Malaysia and defending champions England, the 2007 championship will also celebrate the debut appearances of Chinese Taipei, Venezuela and Sri Lanka.

England beat Egypt in the final of the last Men's World Team Championship, which was held in 2005 in Pakistan.

More than 100 players are expected to be seen in action, including the world's top eight: 1 Amr Shabana (Egypt); 2 Ramy Ashour (Egypt); 3 Gregory Gaultier (France); 4 David Palmer (Australia); 5 James Willstrop (England); 6 Nick Matthew (England); 7 Thierry Lincou (France); and 8 Karim Darwish (Egypt).

The ICL Squash Academy is getting spruced up for the big occasion. The facility boasts seven ASB glass back courts, plus one permanent four-sided all-glass centre court. The all-glass court has undergone a minor transformation with a new glass floor. In addition, a new state-of-the-art gym will be available in the Academy complex.

The Championship will be played in two stages: In the first stage, the teams will be placed in eight pools, the teams playing each other in a 'round-robin league'. The top two teams from each pool will then progress to the knockout phase, while the remaining teams will play for positions 17 to 29.

The Championship will be officiated by six WSF-recognised International Referees, along with other national and international referees. The Tournament referee will be Muneer Sait.

The Championship management team includes Mr N Ramachandran, Chairman; Major (R) S Maniam, Championship Consultant; and Manan Mashruwala, Tournament Director.