KARACHI, July 30: World number one and newly crowned Pakistan Open squash champion Thierry Lincou said he was determined to bring a French revolution to the sport. The 29-year-old from Marseille began a hectic season with a workman-like performance by clinching the title in Karachi on Friday and hopes his achievements will inspire others back home.

“I want more for squash in France,” Lincou said. “It’s a delight to be the first Frenchman to be at the top of world rankings, but I would like a French revolution in squash where we get more television coverage.”

His unflappable concentration and cucumber-cool nature carried him through the US$85,000 event as he realised his ambition of starting the new season with a win. Lincou overcame Australian Anthony Ricketts in the semis in four sets before he took another Aussie scalp, beating world number three David Palmer in a gruelling final after five sets.

“I think my hard work is paying off,” he said. “My sport was not followed much back home in the past, but it’s getting more popular day by day.”

Before winning the world squash title in Qatar last year, he said, he was a commoner in France, but since reaching the top his fan club is getting bigger.

“Now people recognise me in Marseille and in my birthplace, Reunion Island,” said Lincou, whose Karachi victory came two years after he lost to Egyptian Amr Shabana in the final of the 2003 world open in Lahore.

And since he won the world title, more and more youths are attracted to squash in France, with more female players coming to the fore, he said.

“Now more and more youngsters play squash and squash clubs are full,” said Lincou, who received his first national recognition when President Jacques Chirac wrote him a letter to congratulate him on his world title win.

“President Chirac’s letter is a treasure to me but I would want more government recognition to a level that players get encouraged and fare better.”

Without television coverage, Lincou fears, squash will not become popular.

“Squash can’t get the coverage football gets in France but still there should me more coverage and more squash events to lift the sport,” said Lincou.

Following in his footsteps are fast-improving countrymen Gregory Gaultier and Renan Lavigne. Gaultier is 12 in the world rankings while Lavigne is at 27.

“Lincou has brought a change in French squash,” agreed Gaultier, who lost to eventual runner-up Palmer in the semi final of the Pakistan open.

“Once we get squash on television and in schools, the sport will progress by leaps and bounds,” said Gaultier. “We have a role model in Lincou to follow.”—AFP