Squash: Greats in hall of fame

New Zealand's greatest player, Dame Susan Devoy, heads the inaugural eight inductees into the New Zealand squash hall of fame to be unveiled this year.

Devoy, eight times British Open champion and four times world champion, is one of five players being inducted.

Others are 1986 world champion Ross Norman, former top four-ranked players Bruce Brownlee and Stu Davenport and past world No 1 women's player Leilani Rorani, nee Joyce, who twice won the British Open.

New Zealand's first fulltime coach, Dardir El Bakary, is included for his effect on the sport's development in New Zealand, along with prominent administrators Murray Day and Roy Haddon.

"It's fantastic that we can now give something back to those who have given so much of themselves to the sport," said Squash New Zealand chief executive Mike Thompson yesterday.

A permanent site for the hall is yet to be decided. Several options are being considered.