Squash Hails Global Success At World Games

World Squash Federation officials are celebrating the sport's participation in this week's IOC-backed World Games in Germany, highlighting the fact that the two finals featured players from four different countries and three separate continents.

The men's climax in Mülheim an der Ruhr, near Duisburg, saw Britain's world No5 Peter Nicol beat Thierry Lincou, the world number one from France, whilst the women's final also featured the upset of a world number one as Australia's Rachael Grinham fell to Malaysia's Nicol David, the world No3.

"Seeing the world's best players giving their all in pursuit of the ultimate prize, without ranking points at stake, gives us a powerful picture of what our participation in the Olympic Games would be like," said WSF Chief Executive Christian Leighton.

"We had packed and highly enthusiastic crowds at each session - and at the end of the two spectacular finals, both sets of players were given standing ovations by the crowd, something I have never witnessed before," added Leighton.

"But the fact that we started with entries from all five continents - ranging from players at the very top of the game to those from less-developed countries for whom competing in a multi-sport event was a first-time experience - and finished with four finalists from different parts of the world, says everything about the universality of squash.

"The success of the event also highlights both the health of squash in Germany and the sport's growing status as a sport which has high spectator-appeal," added the WSF chief.

"I was also delighted that IOC Director of Sport Kelly Fairweather was able to join WSF President Jahangir Khan and myself at the finals. A keen former player himself, Kelly clearly enjoyed the high quality clashes on the all-glass court."

Ron Froehlich, Emeritus President of the International World Games Association, also witnessed the squash action at the Sport-Treff-Punkt centre - and was impressed at the size of the crowds in the arena.

"If we had known that we'd get this level of support, we would have put more seating in," exclaimed the driving force behind the World Games movement. "We know that almost all of the players here are professionals - which is why it is nice that they all want to be part of it."

IWGA Vice President Roland Hilfiker also expressed his delight that squash is part of the World Games: "The fact that you've attracted crowds like this here - at this time of the year and with the weather being so hot - is fantastic. It shows that there is tremendous interest in the sport.

"We also compliment the sport for bringing so many of its top players to compete here in Duisburg," added Hilfiker.

The World Games victory by Peter Nicol represented the 50th major international title of his illustrious career.

"Winning my 50th title is a big landmark for me - and I'm really happy," said Nicol at the presentations. "I didn't quite realise what a big event this was before I got here, but I'm delighted I came and even more delighted that I won."

Nicol David, whose recent rise to number three in the world rankings was hailed in her home country as 'the best ever position by a Malaysian sportsperson', was also overjoyed with her Duisburg success: "To win the World Games title is a huge thing. I came here wanting to enjoy myself, but winning the gold medal is an honour."