World Squash Stars Head World Games Entries In Germany

World number ones Thierry Lincou (France) and Rachael Grinham (Australia) head world class fields in the Squash events in the 2005 World Games, the multi-sport event which is being staged in July in Germany under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The 2005 World Games will feature 3,500 athletes from 100 nations, competing at 27 venues in 40 sports ranging from Sumo to Squash. The squash action will be staged in Mülheim an der Ruhr, near Duisburg, from 16-19 July.

"The World Games provide an invaluable opportunity for athletes from a variety of sports not currently on the programme of the Games of the Olympiad, to compete in their own elite multi-sport event and represent their countries as members of a delegation, with National Olympic Committee involvement and support in an increasing number of cases," said IOC President Jacques Rogge. "The World Games, for this very reason, play an important role in the sports framework of the Olympic Movement."

Players from 20 countries across the five continents will compete for the squash titles won in Finland in 1997 by Australia's Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Egyptian Ahmed Barada.

"The World Squash Federation has been collaborating with the International World Games Association (IWGA) to make sure the 2005 Squash event is the best ever," said WSF Chief Executive Christian Leighton. "The World Games provide a special opportunity for Squash to be showcased on the global sports arena."

In addition to world champion Lincou, the men's field will feature world No5 Peter Nicol, world No8 James Willstrop and world No9 Nick Matthew (all Great Britain); world No11 Karim Darwish (Egypt); world No14 Joseph Kneipp (Australia); world No15 Ong Beng Hee (Malaysia); world No17 Shahid Zaman (Pakistan); Matthew Giuffre (Canada); Stefan Leifels (Germany); Mark Krajcsak (Hungary); Steve Richardson (Ireland); Tommy Berden (Netherlands); Rodney Durbach (South Africa); Christian Drakenberg (Sweden); and Lars Harms (Switzerland).

Rachael Grinham will be joined in the women's field by world No4 Nicol David (Malaysia); world No6 Linda Elriani and world No8 Jenny Tranfield (both Great Britain); world No10 Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egypt); world No16 Isabelle Stoehr (France); Pamela Pancis (Austria); Runa Reta (Canada); Ellen Petersen (Denmark); Karin Beriere (Germany); Samantha Teran (Mexico); Tenille Swartz (South Africa); Olga Puigdemont Sola (Spain); Sonia Pasteris (Italy); Milja Dorenbos (Netherlands); and Latasha Khan (USA).

"Squash is delighted to be represented by world number ones Thierry Lincou and Rachael Grinham, alongside a very deep field of top Squash athletes from all continents," Leighton added.

Denmark's Ellen Petersen will be the only player making her second appearance in the event after taking part in the 1997 Games in Lahti.