Rachael Grinham on court at Manchester 2002.
Australia’s Squash sisters Natalie and Rachael Grinham have held on to their positions inside the world’s top five players, but will have to overcome the seemingly immovable world number one Nicol David to take home the Commonwealth gold.
The March rankings for the Women’s International Squash Players Association keep Rachael at third and Natalie at fourth – unchanged from their February positions.
But Malaysia’s Nicol David, fresh from a victory at the Asian Squash Championships, has made the Melbourne Games a priority and is expecting to take out the finals.
“All I can say is that everything is going well,” she told Malaysia’s The Star. “I am expected to be the top seed in Melbourne. There is some pressure. A lot of top players will be there. It will be just like another major event on the women's Tour.”
England’s Vicki Botwright, who rounds out the world top five, will also be on hand for the Games competition.
Meanwhile, Australian Men’s challenger David Palmer has lost his world number one status after just one month in the top position, but will still come to Melbourne as the highest ranked player.
Canada’s Jonathan Power regained the top spot, but has opted not to compete in Melbourne, opening the way for Palmer and fellow Australian Anthony Ricketts to make the most of their medal chances.
Ricketts has dropped from fourth to sixth in the latest rankings, allowing England team member James Willstrop to slip past him.
Willstrop and his team mate, Manchester silver medallist Peter Nicol, currently ranked seventh, are expected to present the most trouble for the Australian challenge.
The Australian Squash players for the Commonwealth Games are:
Men’s doubles: Anthony Ricketts/Stewart Boswell, David Palmer/Joseph Kneipp.
Women’s doubles: Rachael Grinham/Natalie Grinham, Amelia Pittock/Kasey Brown.
Mixed doubles: Rachael Grinham/David Palmer, Natalie Grinham/Daniel Jenson.
Women's singles: Rachael Grinham, Natalie Grinham, Amelia Pittock, Kasey Brown.
Men’s singles: David Palmer, Anthony Ricketts, Stewart Boswell, Joseph Kneipp.
Five gold medals will be on offer in the Commonwealth Games Squash competition at the Melbourne Sport and Aquatics Centre from 16 – 26 March.
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