The men’s climax in Mülheim an der Ruhr,
near Duisburg, saw Britain’s world No5 Peter Nicol beat
Thierry Lincou, the world number one from France, whilst the
women’s final also featured the upset of a world number one as
Australia’s Rachael Grinham fell to Malaysia’s Nicol
David, the world No3.
“Seeing the world’s best players giving their
all in pursuit of the ultimate prize, without ranking points at
stake, gives us a powerful picture of what our participation in
the Olympic Games would be like,” said WSF Chief Executive
Christian Leighton.
“We had packed and highly enthusiastic crowds
at each session – and at the end of the two spectacular finals,
both sets of players were given standing ovations by the crowd,
something I have never witnessed before,” added Leighton.
“But the fact that we started with entries from
all five continents - ranging from players at the very top of the
game to those from less-developed countries for whom competing in
a multi-sport event was a first-time experience – and finished
with four finalists from different parts of the world, says
everything about the universality of squash.
“The success of the event also highlights both
the health of squash in Germany and the sport’s growing status as
a sport which has high spectator-appeal,” added the WSF chief.
“I was also delighted that IOC Director of
Sport Kelly Fairweather was able to join WSF President Jahangir
Khan and myself at the finals. A keen former player himself,
Kelly clearly enjoyed the high quality clashes on the all-glass
court.”
Ron Froehlich
