Squash: Open not safe enough for Owens

By JULIE ASH

World No 2 Carol Owens doubts she will compete in the Qatar Open if it goes ahead in the Middle East next month.

Owens, world No 1 Leilani Joyce and Shelley Kitchen, all of Auckland, were to compete in the tournament from October 3-8 before the World Open in Australia from October 11-19.

Owens said she would fear for her safety in the Middle East after last week's terrorist attacks in the United States.

"We don't want to go and play. I think my life is a bit more important than squash," she said.

"We feel safe in New Zealand and just being in the air on a plane at the moment is frightening."

The Women's International Squash Players Association will decide in the next few days whether the tournament will be postponed.

Owens said that if the tournament did go ahead, missing it could affect the New Zealanders' world rankings.

"I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens but it is a hard call. If it goes ahead and everyone else goes then you are going to miss out on important ranking points but I am pretty sure it will be postponed."

The New Zealanders had been planning to use the tournament as a build-up to the World Open.

"If it is postponed then it will mean there won't be a tournament before the World Open, which could be a good thing or a bad thing. It will at least give us a bit more time to prepare for the worlds."