Article originally posted at http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/non-olympic-sports/1023758-world-s-top-10-to-compete-at-wsf-world-team-squash-championship-in-canada
Defending champions Egypt have revealed a line-up boasting four players within the world's top 11 and are likely to be named as favourites to retain the title in the 19th staging of the biennial Championship at White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, from December 1 to 6.
Led by world number three Raneem El Welily, the Egyptian squad also includes world number four Nour El Sherbini, world number eight Nour El Tayeb and world number 11 Omneya Abdel Kawy.
England, the six-time former champions who have only once in the 35-year history of the Championship finished outside the top two, will be led by world champion Laura Massaro, the world number two.
With world number five Alison Waters at second string, the squad will also feature two event débutantes, Sarah-Jane Perry and Emma Beddoes, ranked 17th and 18th in the world respectively.
"There is considerable depth at this year's SHOP.CA Women's World Team Squash Championship with the top 10 players in the world participating," said Squash Canada executive director and Championship director Danny Da Costa.
"Egypt, England and Malaysia are all strong contenders for the title, however, we feel our Canadian girls can challenge for a top eight placing at this year's event.
"Hosting the SHOP.CA Women's World Team Squash Championship gives Canada a unique opportunity to showcase the best female players in the world and, by doing so, we feel it presents an opportunity to grow the game of squash in Canada.
"One of our main focuses of this year's event was to promote women in sport and women in leadership positions and by hosting this event we can create an opportunity to have more girls playing, coaching and officiating squash across all levels of our development pathway."
The United States will also field a powerful squad, led by Amanda Sobhy, the 21-year-old Harvard University student whose career-high world number 10 ranking cements her status as the country's highest-ranked home-grown player of all-time.
Sobhy will be supported by younger sister Sabrina, the in-form 21-year-old Olivia Blatchford and South Africa-raised former world number one Natalie Grainger.
The full 20-team line-up comprises of Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United States, Wales and Guatemala, who are making their maiden appearance in the Championship.
Nicol David, who this month celebrated an unprecedented 100th consecutive month at the top of the world rankings, leads Malaysia for the seventh successive time since 2002, hoping to improve on her country's bronze medal finish on the past four occasions and win the only major title which has so far eluded her.
David, unbeaten in the event in 27 matches over the past 10 years, will be supported by world number seven Low Wee Wern, together with Delia Arnold and Zulhijjah Binti Azan.
Hosts Canada, aiming to make it into the last eight for the first time since 2000, will be led by the country's two-time champion Samantha Cornett, the world number 30, making her third appearance in the Championship.
Ottawa-based Cornett will be partnered by Canadian Nationals runner-up Danielle Letourneau, Toronto-based Nikki Todd and 20-year-old Hollie Naughton.
