Squash: Women on fire at world team champs

The New Zealand women's squash team have got off to a blistering start at the world team championships in Odense, Denmark.

After three matches, Carol Owens, the world No 2, Shelley Kitchen, Sarah Cook and Lara Petera had unblemished records as they whitewashed Denmark, the 11th seeds, and 14th-seeded France on the opening day of the tournament on Monday, and Japan, the No 18 seeds, yesterday.

The team were to take on sixth-seeded Netherlands in their final pool match overnight.

New Zealand, who are seeded third behind Australia and England, have never won the event, but have twice finished in second place.

Record six-time winners Australia, headed by world No. 1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald, are the top seeds for the week-long tournament.

They lost the 2000 final to England, bringing to an end their eight-year reign.

Second seeds England have contested every final with Australia since 1992.

- NZPA