LONDON, Nov 22: Injury problems have caused three seeds to withdraw from the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship, the $175,000 PSA Tour event which gets underway on the island on Sunday.

Ramy Ashour, the world No2 from Egypt, is the highest-ranked casualty. The 20-year-old from Cairo injured his left foot in the Qatar Classic earlier this month. A calf injury has also led to the withdrawal of compatriot Karim Darwish, the world No8.

Spain’s Borja Golan will also miss the PSA Tour calendar’s most important event after sustaining an injury in last week’s SantiagoOpen at his home club. Furthermore Englishman Stacey Ross, the world No41, has also pulled out of the 2007 World Open.

“It is a terrible shame that Ramy, Karim, Borja and Stacey have been forced to withdraw under these circumstances,” said Tournament Director Ross Triffitt. “Our sympathies go out to them, as it is never good news to hear of a player suffering an injury and I’m sure they will be disappointed to be missing the World Open Championship.”

A revised draw has elevated France’s world No3 Gregory Gaultier, winner of this year’s British Open, to No2 seed. English players also benefit - with James Willstrop promoted to fourth seed, and Nick Matthew and Lee Beachill acquiring seedings within the top eight - at 7th and 8th, respectively. Furthermore, Londoner Adrian Grant becomes the 16th seed.

These changes have the effect of bringing Canada’s world No27 Shahier Razik, France’s world No28 Renan Lavigne and England’s Joey Barrington, the world No29, into the main draw.

It also means a change of opponent for Bermuda’s wild card entry James Stout, who is now drawn against 10th seed Stewart Boswell, the former world No4 from Australia. They will play the second match on Opening Night, Sunday 25th November.

“It is not unusual for several players to have to drop out major championships due to injury because squash is an exceptionally physical game demanding tremendous fitness,” added Triffitt. “In order to compete in the World Open, these players really have to be at the peak of fitness.”

Revised 1st round draw: 1- Amr Shabana (EGY) v Renan Lavigne (FRA) 10- Stewart Boswell (AUS) v James Stout (BER) 5- Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Qualifier 15- Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Qualifier 3- David Palmer (AUS) v Qualifier 11- Peter Barker (ENG) v Qualifier 8- Lee Beachill (ENG) v Alex Gough (WAL) 9- Wael El Hindi (EGY) v Qualifier 14- Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Qualifier 7- Nick Matthew (ENG) v Joey Barrington (ENG) 12- Mohammed Abbas (EGY) v Cameron Pilley (AUS) 4- James Willstrop (ENG) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 13- Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Shahier Razik (CAN) 6- John White (SCO) v Qualifier 16- Adrian Grant (ENG) v Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 2- Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier. — Agencies