King and Knight seeded to rule National Champs

A top line-up of New Zealand squash talent will contest the National Championships at the North Shore Squash Club in Auckland this week. 

A who's-who of the country's best players have entered, including all eight members of the Commonwealth Games team.

World number four Joelle King headlines the women's draw, fresh from her bronze medal winning effort in the singles at Glasgow.  King is chasing the title for the fifth year in a row, having first won in back in 2010.  She will face Bay of Plenty's Karen Roberts in the opening round tomorrow.

Standing in King's way is New Zealand teammate Megan Craig, who she beat in the semifinals last year.  Craig is seeded second after some good form on the WSA world tour this year. Kylie Lindsay will also be keen to make amends for a surprise quarterfinal exit in 2013 while Amanda Landers-Murphy rounds out the top four seeds.

Meanwhile, Martin Knight is chasing back-to-back titles in the men's event, and his third overall after also winning in 2011.  However, Campbell Grayson will have his own designs on picking up title number three, having triumphed in 2010 and 1012.

The long time rivals are again seeded to make the finals, but New Zealand teammate Paul Coll could prove a fly in the ointment for Grayson in the semis.  Knight may also have to navigate a potentially tricky tie against either five times champion Kashif Shuja, or Glasgow teammate Lance Beddoes who are seeded fourth and fifth respectively.

The National Champs get underway on Wednesday from midday.  Entry for spectators is free.  From Thursday, live streaming will be available, also free of charge.  Tune in here. 

Full draws are available at: http://www.northshoresquash.co.nz/article.php?id=166