Rachael wants to come home ...
some day


From NineMSN
She may live in Egypt and have performed her best in Hong Kong, but Australia's second ranked woman squash player would like to come home - some day, reports NineMSN.

Queensland-born 2002 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Rachael Grinham says she cannot afford to live in Australia as a professional squash player. Lack of sponsorship opportunities and the high cost of international travel have made her an exile for the past five years.

"It is sad. In Australia there are plenty of other sports people are interested in," said 25-year-old Grinham from her Cairo home.

"In Egypt squash is really popular, we have a tournament here and the matches are live on TV and everyone knows who the top players are. Most players base themselves around Europe because in-between tournaments we play leagues and you get paid a bit of money for that."

Grinham, who ranked ninth in the world listings after winning her second world tour title in Hong Kong this month, moved to Egypt after she was offered free coaching and the opportunity to play for a major club.

"I was out here about 12 months ago I had an offer from the club here to play for them. I just decided to see what happened and so far so good," she said.

But the lack of support in her own country has not deterred Grinham. She is set to represent Australia at the World Women's Team Championships in Denmark from October 13-19 with compatriots Sarah Fitz-Gerald, world number one, and sister Natalie, world number 14.

"I have been playing really well since the beginning of the year," Grinham said. "It is a bit scary actually because it is like I am expecting to have a bad result soon because I have just been getting better and better."

Grinham said the England team would be Australia's greatest threat.

"England won that last time so we are going to have our work cut out for us to beat them but we will definitely give it a good shot."

And from October 28 to November 2 Grinham hopes she won't come face to face with Fitz-Gerald until the final matches of the Women's World Open in Doha, Qatar.

Fitz-Gerald took out the gold medal at the Manchester Commonwealth Games and has won more than 60 Women's International Squash Players' Association world tour titles.

"I may not even get to play her, it depends on the draw. I don't want to come up against her, at least not until the finals anyway," she said. "If I play like I do now and have been lately I think I can do well."

Training with men had boosted Grinham's game.

"I have been physically fit enough lately but I think it is just hanging in there with the top girls and keeping your head on the game," Grinham said. "I have been playing more with the boys which has helped me prepare, they are much quicker and can get the ball back faster, so it helps me to keep going and not lose focus."

But a permanent move home to Australia is out of the question - at least for the time being.


Rachael wins in Hong Kong

Full Hong Kong details

 


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