Natalie Back for Grainger Champs

Written by Squash South Africa

Thursday, 25 February 2010 09:09

Former South African Natalie Grainger, now based in America and presently ranked 5 in the world, heads the women’s seedings for the Keith Grainger UCT Squash Championships, which will be played at the UCT courts in Cape Town, starting on Friday 26 February, with the finals on Sunday 28 February.

Nine years ago during his third year at UCT, Keith Grainger, a promising South African junior squash player, succumbed to a prolonged battle with bone cancer. During the time that he was a student, despite being an amputee, Grainger was actively involved with the UCT squash club, coaching many of the beginners as well as managing the students’ tour to the USA. Posthumously he received the UCT Sports Councils Chairman’s Award.

Natalie Grainger represented South Africa at both senior and junior level before moving to the USA. She has oscillated between number 1 and number 5 on the world rankings during the past few years, and played a very active role in Squash’s bid for the Olympics last year. Grainger has also been the chairperson of WISPA, the World Women’s Squash Players’ organisation.

Western Province players Milnay Louw and Siyole Waters fill the second and third places, with Northerns Cheyna Tucker at number 4.

Women’s Seedings:

1- Natalie Grainger (USA)

2- Milnay Louw (WP)

3- Siyole Waters (WP)

4- Cheyna Tucker (NG)

5- Juanette le Roux (Border)

6- Chanel Birch (NG)

7- Zoe Durbach (WP)

8- Helen Prockop (USA)