Squash Year Climaxes With Three World Championships

As 2004 draw to a close, the sport of Squash reaches an unprecedented climax with three World Championships being staged in three separate countries over 20 days.

The world's top men compete in the Qatar Men's World Open Championship in Doha, from 28 November to 3 December, while the women converge thereafter on Malaysia to battle for honours in the 20th Women's World Open Championship in Kuala Lumpur from 7 to 11 December.

The rare opportunity to excel in doubles will then attract a star-studded field of men and women from all over the world to compete in the 2nd World Doubles Championships in Chennai, India, from 13-17 December.

World Squash Federation President Jahangir Khan, one of the legends of the game with a record ten British Open titles to his name, is delighted that the sport is flourishing so well and drawing the year to such a fitting climax on the eve of the Olympic movement's plan to consider five new sports for inclusion in the Games programme from 2012.

"We were delighted when the IOC chose to include Squash as one of the five recognised sports to be included in the Olympic Programme Commission evaluation," said Khan. "It is very fortunate and timely that three of our major World Squash Championships are being played in December, just after the submission of the IOC questionnaire and during the period of consideration by the Commission.

"To have the publicity resulting from the Men's and Women's World Open Championships and also the World Doubles Championships will show the Olympic family just how strong and popular Squash is around the world," added the WSF President.