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 04-Nov-2010:
Fitz-Gerald & Grinham to make Australian comebacks |
Australian squash great Sarah Fitz-Gerald and former world
number one Rachael Grinham will make their Australian
comebacks at the Women’s World Teams Championship in the New
Zealand city of Palmerston North from November 29-December
4.
Fitz-Gerald and Grinham will join New South Wales pair Kasey
Brown and Donna Urquhart in the Australian team, which will
be managed by Fitz-Gerald’s former teammate and great rival,
Michelle Martin.
 Fitz-Gerald retired from the world tour in 2003 but has
remained incredibly fit and still plays in the A Grade men’s
competition in Melbourne.
The 41-year-old, who was inducted into the Sport Australia
Hall of Fame last month, has won five individual world
titles and five team titles, as well as five Australian
Opens and two British Opens.
Grinham last played for Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth
Games in Melbourne but had made herself unavailable since
then due to a falling out with officials.
However, Grinham and Squash Australia have enjoyed better
relations in recent months and the 33-year-old from
Toowoomba contacted Squash Australia after the Delhi
Commonwealth Games and expressed interest in rejoining the
Australian set-up.
 Grinham played for Australia at the 2002 and 2004 Women’s
World Teams Championships, winning the title in 2002 in a
team that also included Fitz-Gerald.
“It’s very exciting to welcome Sarah and Rachael back into
the team,” Martin said.
“Rachael’s current record speaks for itself – she’s been one
of the top players on the women’s tour for a decade now and
on her day she can beat anyone in the world.
“And Sarah is simply a living legend of the sport. Although
she’s been ‘retired’ since 2003 I think she still plays
almost every day.
“With Kasey and Donna thrown into the mix, Australia have
gone from outsiders at the tournament to one of the
favourites.”
Squash Australia CEO Gary O’Donnell stressed that the
selections of Fitz-Gerald and Grinham were a huge boost for
Australian squash.
“Once Rachael expressed an interest in coming back we
welcomed her with open arms, while Sarah will give the team
much needed experience, as well as her undoubted talent,”
O’Donnell said.
“We have some gifted young women coming through, led by
Kasey Brown and Donna Urquhart, who will both build on their
Delhi success through this team.
“We can do well now and create momentum at this early stage
for Glasgow in 2014.”
O’Donnell said Queensland’s Lisa Camilleri would be the
non-travelling reserve and would remain in Melbourne to
train with former world number one Vicki Cardwell. |
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