Sarah Kippax Appointed As Hi-Tec World Championships Official Ambassador

Rising British squash star Sarah Kippax has been appointed as an official ambassador for the Hi-Tec World Open Championships in Manchester in October. Kippax, 25, who hails from Cheshire and trains twice a week at the city's National Squash Centre, will help to promote the event to a younger audience.

The partnership will also run into 2009 with Kippax's ambassadorial role also encompassing the 2009 British National Championships, to be held at the same venue next February.

Kippax, who boasts a highest world ranking of 30, has had an impressive start to 2008 with three Tour titles already under her belt as she gears up for the all important World Championships this October. Kippax commented: "I am delighted to have become an ambassador for The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008. Coming from the north-west myself it is a fantastic opportunity for me to be involved in the promotion of a major international squash event which can create a legacy for the sport for years to come.

"Squash does not always get the profile it deserves and I hope that my involvement will play some part in taking the sport to a new, younger audience who can carry squash towards its goal of becoming an Olympic sport for 2016."

Jim Quigley, Chairman of The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 Organising Committee and Head of Major Sports Events and Partnerships for Manchester City Council, added: "Since hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2002, Manchester has become a centre of excellence for hosting world class sporting events, many of which have inspired local sportsmen and women to take their sporting ambitions to the highest level.

"As home to the National Squash Centre, Manchester has extremely strong links with the sport and Sarah is a perfect example of a local sportsperson who has been inspired and benefited from the great events which we host."

As part of Kippax's ambassadorial duties she has modelled for a library of creative images which will be used in the promotion of the Championships and will be providing master-class sessions to members of the media. Kippax is in esteemed company as an ambassador for The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships Manchester 2008, with both the men's and women's World Number ones Amr Shabana and Nicol David also lending their backing to the tournament.

The arrival of The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 marks the first time in the history of the sport that the men's and women's World Opens will be contested concurrently in a British city. The Manchester crowds will be treated to a feast of top squash action with the world's top 64 men and leading 32 women all vying for the title of World Champion during the nine days of competition which kicks off on Saturday 11th October.

The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 are just one of a series of world class sporting events which have taken place in the north west in 2008, with the city having successfully hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), the UEFA Cup Final and the BUPA Great Manchester Run.