4th WORLD UNIVERSITY SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIP
Linz, Austria - August 11th to 17th, 2002
The 4th edition of the World University Squash Championship was played from 11 to 17 August last summer in Linz, Austria. Linz, the capital of northern Austria on the Danube, with three universities and a population of about 200 000 inhabitants, is well known for the 'Bruckner Music Festival' and its museum of electronic arts. Every year it stages a Grand Prix in athletics in the 'Linz Gugl' stadium.
In 1999, Linz hosted the European Squash Team Championships, drawing 350 participants. The excellent sports facilities 'Pueblo Freizeitzentrum' already used in 1999 also served for the university championships. The squash courts often host major national tournaments including the Austria Open in 1997 and 1998. The complex includes 11 squash courts, 9 of which have windows at the back. Two courts have seating capacity for 100 spectators during matches. In addition, the centre has a swimming paul, a sauna, a fitness room and a badminton court. Athletes' housing is just a 5 minute walk from the site of the tournament. Everyone was lodged in the 'Sommerhaus Hotel', an annex to Linz University regularly used for international sports events.
Pouring Rain
For all these facilities, the Organizing Committee was very jittery as torrential rains hit Austria, causing enormous damage, just a few days before the opening ceremony. Concerned organizers watched the Danube rise to dangerous levels, but although water was lapping the foundations of the sports centre, the meet took place without a hitch and the participants' security was never at risk.
Egyptian Domination
These events did not dampen the morale of the 43 men and 17 women who came to Austria to do their utmost. The team that really stood out during the tournament was the one from Egypt. In the men's tournament, three Egyptians took the first three places! Karim Darwish (18th in the World Squash Federation Ranking) trounced his compatriot Mohammed Abbas (WR 27) in the finals with a severe (9/2,9/3,9/1) in three short sets. The match for the bronze medal opposed British Ben Garner (WR 63) to Egyptian Wael El Hindi (WR 29), who easily took third place with three sets to one The team competition also favoured Egypt took the gold medal over France, the defending champion for the first time. Karim Darwish, Mohammed Abbas and Engy Kheirallah each won his match decisively over the very solid French opponents. The bronze medal went to Great Britain that won the play-off against Canada.
Eman El Amir (EGY) was less fortunate in the individual woman's tournament, since she left the place on the podium to the Canadian Carolyn Russel (WR 96), who won the match three sets to one. Unfortunately, the woman's final could not take place because Jenny Tranfield (GBR), an excellent player who already won the 98 edition in Wales, had to declare forfeit: she was too ill to play a serious game. So Isabelle Stoehr from France won the gold medal without a fight.
FINAL RANKING
MEN
1. Karim DARWISH - EGY 2. Mohammed ABBAS - EGY 3. Wael EL Hindi - EGY
WOMEN
1. Isabelle STOEHR - FRA 2. Jenny TRANFIELD - GBR 3. Carolyn RUSSEL - CAN
TEAM
1. EGYPT 2. FRANCE 3. GREAT BRITAIN 4. CANADA 5. SOUTH AFRICA 6. SWITZERLAND
PARTICIPATION
1. AUT - 6 2. CAN - 7 3. CRO - 4 4. CYP - 1 5. EGY - 9 6. FRA - 8 7. GBR - 8 8. GER - 1 9. HKG - 4 10. HUN - 3 11. IRL - 4 12. KUW - 5 13. NZL - 3 14. RSA - 6 15. SLO - 3 16. SUI - 6 17. SVK - 3 18. YUG - 1 TOTAL: 82
