01-Jan-05:
COCORICO ...
 Oh
come on, I’m allowed to have a little victory shout, aren’t I?
How many times in the history of squash did we have a World Champion
who was also World Number One?
From the top of my head, I would say, Jahangir, Jansher, Peter Nicol
and Jonathan Power. I was told that Geoff Hunt would probably also
qualify… In other words, not many, “la crème de la crème”, as you
say over here…
Twelve months ago, a lot of people didn’t recognize Thierry as world
number one, although he reached the position fair and square, mostly
because at the time, he hadn’t won any major tournaments.
Well, the feeling this time around is all together different.
 When
I was in Pakistan, most of the players came to me to tell me how glad they
were that Thierry was now World Champion and World Number One, as he had
been extremely consistent for these past months, and rightfully deserved
the supreme ranking.
Of the seven tournaments in a row Thierry took part in, he won five
of them: Super Series,
Hong Kong, Super Gerrard,
Canadian Classic, and of course,
of course, the World Championship
in Qatar.
Not bad for a frog, now, is it....?
For a few months now, I’ve learnt to know him, and all those around
him who have made him the great young man he is today. I’m glad to say
that to know him is to love him. With Thierry, what you get is what you
see, and what you see is what you get. There is no pretence, no game, no
hypocrisy, only who he is. Plain and simple.
His perfect attitude on court and his kindness, his simplicity and
generosity, his determination and love of the game, have made him, like a
lot of other players of the circuit, a perfect ambassador for the sport of
squash.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the new World Number One, Monsieur Thierry
Lincou.
Framboise
|
 “I
think the number one ranking is a reward for my last eight
months, during which I think I was very consistent, as I won 5
tournaments, 3 of which were accountable for the rankings.
“These eight months have been absolutely fantastic for me, not
to mention of course the World Championship Title to crown it
all. Last year, I lost the number one ranking pretty quickly,
and that affected me deeply, more deeply than I wanted to
admit, and that’s why I had it at heart to occupy it again.
“But I knew it was going to be hard, much harder that the
first time. The first time, you may succeed by surprising
everybody, but the second time, everybody is ready for you! To
get there a second time, one has to confirm one’s results, and
I think that what I’ve done by winning five tournaments during
the season.”
Thierry
Lincou |
Dear Thierry,
 I
would like to congratulate you for your remarkable victory in the
World Championship in Doha. First Overseas French in the History of
Squash, you are climbing up the ladder of fame by wining trophy
after trophy, contributing yet again to the shining of La Réunion
and of course, French Squash.
I’m supporting you and encouraging you to carry the French Colours
higher and higher in your next sportive challenges…
All the very best,
Brigitte Girardin
Overseas Minister |
|
