Team Announced for World Champs in France

The New Zealand team has been announced for the Women's World Team Squash Championships in Nimes later this year.

All four players in the squad are in the world's top 50, led by Joelle King who is 12th in the rankings.  It is King's fourth appearance at the biennial event, after making her debut as a 17-year-old in 2006.  The 23-year-old has since established herself amongst the top echelon of players on the WSA world circuit, picking up regular wins over top 10 players and reaching a career high number 10 in the world in October last year.

Teammate Jaclyn Hawkes has an even longer history at the World Champs, making the side for the fifth time in succession after her initial selection in 2004.  The world number 19 slots in at number two in the Kiwi team, trading places with King after holding top spot two years ago. Hawkes has shown some good form in recent months, making the semifinals of the Matamata Open despite taking a few weeks of off tour to get married.

The other two players in the team are making their world championship debuts.  Kylie Lindsay has been named at number three, after climbing to a career high 39 in the latest world rankings, while world number 46 Amanda Landers-Murphy has earned her spot with some superb form on the WSA world tour this year.

New Zealand has a proud history at the Women's World Team Championships, finishing runner-up twice and third on nine occasions.  Indeed, the kiwi side has only once finished outside the top four since debuting in 1981, claiming fifth place in Edmonton in 2006.

Full team:

1)Joelle King (Waikato)

2)Jaclyn Hawkes (Auckland)

3)Kylie Lindsay (Waikato)

4)Amanda Landers-Murphy (Bay of Plenty)

The Women's World Team Squash Championships will be held in Nimes, France from November 12-17, 2012.