Squash: Australians claim team title for ninth time

Joelle King. Photo / Richard Robinson

Australia have added yet another women's world team squash championships title to their tally.

The second seeds yesterday took out the 2010 title at the IPC in Palmerston North after a 2-1 win over England in the final.

Five times world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who came out of retirement to play this event, gave the Aussies a perfect start with a 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 demolition of Sarah Kippax in the opening match.

But world No 2 Jenny Duncalf hauled the top seeds back into the tie with an 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 win over Australian No 1 Rachael Grinham, to send the final into a deciding third match between Laura Massaro, of England, and Australia's Kasey Brown.

Brown raced to a 2-0 lead, but Massaro has already proven she can fight back after pegging New Zealander Joelle King back on Saturday. Once again, the world No 9 showed her grit, taking the third. But Brown would not be denied, reclaiming the ascendancy in the fourth to close out an 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 victory.

It is the ninth time Australia have won the championships, in the 17 times they have been held.

Meanwhile, it was a disappointing final day for hosts New Zealand.

After going close to beating England in the semifinals, a 2-1 loss to Malaysia meant the fourth seeds had to settle for fourth.

Shelley Kitchen finished unbeaten after an 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 win over Sharon Wee, but Jaclyn Hawkes was predictably beaten in straight games by world No 1 Nicol David.

Low Wee Wern and Joelle King were left to decide the title. Three days ago in pool play King won, but this time the Malaysian turned the tables with an 11-13, 11-2, 11-8, 11-1 victory.

Egypt beat France 2-0 to come fifth.

- Staff reporter