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| October 22, 2001 | Monday | Shaba'an 4, 1422 |
Pakistan attempt to regain lost glory
KARACHI, Oct 21: Pakistan will open its campaign in the 17th World Team Squash Championship with the opening match against Kenya in Group C, reports from Melbourne said Sunday.
The 24-team biennial event starts Monday with Egypt defending its title.
Six-time champions Pakistan is being represented by Mansoor Zaman, Shahid Zaman, Aijaz Azmat and Shamsul Islam — all out of the top 30 of international squash rankings.
David Palmer’s elevation to top of the individual rankings has made Australia the number one seed in the World Team event, which was introduced in 1967 in Australia.
England, without the world number two Peter Nicol, is seeded third with Wales getting the number two seed. Defending champions Egypt is seeded sixth.
Pakistan, placed at number 10 in the final seeding, is in Group C along with England, Sweden and Kenya. Two top teams from each group will enter the next round of 16 teams. Four best third-placed teams will also go in the next round starting October 25.
The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center will see all the 24 teams in action on day one. Pakistan takes on England Tuesday and Sweden Wednesday.
Pakistan won the World Team event in 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1993. Pakistan and Australia have the distinction of winning four titles on the trot.
Australia won the inaugural title in 1967 and followed it up with triumphs in 1969, 1971 and 1973.
Pakistan finished a poor sixth in the 1997 event and an abysmal 12th in the Team Championship in Egypt two years ago.
Pakistan coach Aftab Javed had said Pakistan would spring a surprise in the 2001 version.—SADA
AFP ADDS:
MELBOURNE: World number one David Palmer has set his sights on leading his country back to the top of the team rankings with a home victory in the squash world championships.
The Australian side will have world number six Paul Price, number 11 Stewart Boswell and number 23 John Williams.
“Getting to world number one in the rankings was tremendous,” said Palmer, the British Open Champion.
“But it would probably be even better to be part of a winning Australian team here in Melbourne.
“All the boys are really up for it, and we can’t wait to get started.
“Paul has enjoyed the perfect warm-up by winning the WSF World Challenge here today, and the rest of us are ready to put on a good show for the spectators.”
Egypt, the winners in Cairo two years ago, are only seeded sixth following the loss of the now retired Ahmed Barrada, while Wales are second favourites.
The Welsh side has the same three players who lost in the 1999 final - David Evans, Alex Gough and Greg Tippings, plus Gavin Jones.
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