WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Australia Seeded To Retain Men's World Title

Title-holders Australia have been named as top seeds for this month's World Men's Team Squash Championship in the Austrian capital Vienna from 19-25 October.

Led by world champion and newly-crowned British Open champion David Palmer, the seven-times champions are expected to face No2 seeds England in the final.  England, winners in 1995 and 1997, will be led by world No1 Peter Nicol for the first time.

Fast-emerging squash nation France, runners-up to England in the European Championships for the past four years, are expected to claim a top four finish for the first time as third seeds.  1999 champions Egypt are seeded four.

Thirty countries will contest the 19th Men's World Championships, competing initially in eight pools before the top 16 teams move into the knockout stage.  A record six nations - Bermuda, Czech Republic, Hungary, Korea, Russia and Slovenia - will be making their first appearances in the event.

Hosts Austria are pooled with France, 14th seeds Sweden and event newcomers Slovenia.

The pool line-ups (with seeding in brackets) are:

Pool A: [1] Australia, [16] Germany, [17/24] Japan, [25/30] Russia
Pool B: [2] England, [15] Switzerland, [17/24] New Zealand, [25/30] Hungary
Pool C: [3] France, [14] Sweden, [17/24] Austria, [25/30] Slovenia
Pool D: [4] Egypt, [13] Finland, [17/24] Hong Kong, [25/30] Bermuda
Pool E: [5] Canada, [12] Netherlands, [17/24] Czech Republic,
Pool F: [6] Scotland, [11] South Africa, [17/24] USA, [25/30] Korea
Pool G: [7] Wales, [10] Ireland, [17/24] Mexico, [25/30] Kuwait
Pool H: [8] Malaysia, [9] Pakistan, [17/24] Italy