New Zealand To Host 2010 Women's World Team Championship

Squash NZ has secured the 2010 Women's World Team Championship. The biennial World Squash Federation event will be hosted at SquashGym Palmerston North, the country's largest club, in late November 2010.

New Zealand continues its proud history of hosting World Squash events, with the 1994 Men's World Junior Championship and the 2008 World Masters held in Christchurch, and the 2006 Men's World Junior Championship at the Palmerston North venue.

2010 Championship Chairman Grant Smith and his organising team are looking forward to the challenge: "Having hosted World Championships in 1971 and 2006, we know the expectations and are grateful for the opportunity to host again. We want Palmerston North to become New Zealand's Squash capital, the same as Manchester and Adelaide are for Squash in Britain and Australia.

"It doesn't always go to the capitals or nations' biggest cities, but to those who run the best events and cities that are Squash-passionate," Smith explained.

"Palmerston North will be guaranteeing a superb 'Kiwi style' championship that we can all be proud of. This is a great opportunity for the Kiwi girls to play on the international stage in front of their home crowd and they will be eager to do well," Smith added.

On court New Zealand should field a strong team, led by manager Dame Susan Devoy. New Zealand recently finished fourth at the 2008 Championship in Egypt and currently has four women ranked inside the world's top 50, led by current world No10 Shelley Kitchen.

In Olympic/Paralympic style, Palmerston North will also host the 2010 World Deaf Championships directly after the World Women's Teams.

"Squash NZ and SquashGym Palmerston North are certainly in for a busy time in late 2010," concluded Grant Smith.