Egypt Seeded To Retain World Junior Team Title

Egypt are expected to retain their title in the Women's World Junior Team Championships later this month in Belgium according to the provisional seedings announced today by the World Squash Federation (WSF).

Champions in 1999 and 2003, Egypt are seeded ahead of Hong Kong, the second seeds that have never before progressed beyond the quarter-finals. Five-times champions England are the third seeds, while USA are seeded four.

Australia, runners-up to Egypt in 2003, have been relegated to ninth seeds after the eleventh-hour withdrawals of 2003 squad members Peta Hughes and Donna Urquhart due to injury.

The 2005 Team event, from 27-31 July, will follow the World Individual Championships in Herentals.

The full list of seeds is: [1] EGYPT, [2] HONG KONG, [3] ENGLAND, [4] USA, [5] MALAYSIA, [6] CANADA, [7] FRANCE, [8] NEW ZEALAND, [9] AUSTRALIA, [10] SOUTH AFRICA, [11] BELGIUM, [12] GERMANY, [13] WALES, [14] SCOTLAND, [15] NETHERLANDS, [16] MEXICO, [17] SWITZERLAND, [18] IRELAND, [19] FINLAND and [20] JAPAN.

Japan will be appearing in the event for the first time.