SA players for Squash Games

2005-05-10 14:56

Johannesburg - Rodney Durbach and Tenille Swartz have been selected to represent South Africa at the World Squash Games in Duisburg, Germany, from July 16 to 19.

Some 15 countries including Australia, Great Britain, and Egypt will be seen in action where the qualifying criteria was a finish in the top 10 in either of the Men's World Team or Women's World Team Championships.

The competition will be fierce with Australia's Rachel Grinham and Vanessa Atkinson, ranked one and two in the world respectively, heading the women's seedings and France's Thierry Lincou and Peter Nicol of England, also ranked one and two in the world respectively, topping the men's.

Manager of the SA team is Richard Castle who has recently been appointed national coach. Castle's appointment has been made possible by funding from the Lotto.

Squash South Africa, because of financial constraints, has not had a national coach since 1994 and as with all federations competing in the international arena, this position is vital in taking the sport forward.

Castle, presently based in Somerset West, is ranked in the country's top 20 and has coached Adrian Hansen, Glenn Whittaker and Farrah Ferner as well as a number of the country's up-and-coming juniors. He coached the KwaZulu-Natal men's squad when they swept to victory in the 2003 Jarvis Cup - the annual interprovincial - winning all three sections.

- SAPA