Beachill Blasts British Open Withdrawal Claims

Angry world No1 Lee Beachill today hit out at claims that he was pulling out of the forthcoming Harris British Open after suffering an injury at the weekend.

The 26-year-old Yorkshireman, who succeeded compatriot Peter Nicol as world No1 this month, is top men's seed in the Harris British Open Squash Championships - Nottingham, from 29 October to 6 November.

"I am having treatment for a slight abductor strain in my right leg and expect to be back on court in the next few days," said Beachill, who sustained his injury on the second day of the Gerrard Super 8 Grand Prix, a non-ranking event at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.

"I feel I've got plenty of time to recuperate from this - I'm not planning to pull out of the British Open, that's for sure," added the Pontefract-based player.

Beachill heads a world-class field in the men's event, featuring eight of the world's top ten PSA players.

After first rounds at the Nottingham Squash Rackets Club, action in the Harris British Open moves onto the all-glass court at the Albert Hall in Nottingham from Tuesday 2 November - leading to the men's and women's finals on Saturday 6th November.

Tickets for the Harris British Open can be booked either by telephone on 0115-941 9419, or via email on britishopen@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk. Further details will also be available on the event's official website www.britishopensquash.com