Kush Kumar heads Indian squash challenge

Asian junior runner-up Kush Kumar will spearhead India's campaign in the 2014 WSF World junior squash championship to be held in Namibia, Aug 10-21.

Kush Kumar, who was instrumental in helping India gain a bronze -- India's best show till date -- in the team event in the previous edition held two years ago in Qatar, has been given 3/4 seeding and a first round bye.

According to a press release from the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), here Wednesday, other members of the squad are, Madhav Dhingra, Vijay Kumar Meena, Velavan Senthilkumar (recent winner of Pioneer Cup U-17 event) and national U-19 girls champion Harshit Kaur Jawanda. Avinash Bhavnani (coach) and Cyrus Poncha (national coach) are accompanying the team.

Diego Elias, a 17-year-old from Lima, is favourite in the men's event and seeded to become the first ever world squash champion from Peru.

Egyptian Nour El Sherbini, who became the sport's youngest ever world champion after first winning the women's world junior (U- 19) title in Chennai 2009 - aged just 13 - is now competing for the final time and going for a record fourth title.

This is the first time that Namibia are hosting a world championship. The competitions will be organised in the capital city of Windhoek at the Wanderers Squash Club and a new multi-sport complex which has come up for the occasion.

The championship will include men's and women's individual events to be followed by the team competitions. More than 150 players from 30 nations are expected to compete in the championship.