THE Irish women's squash team has finished third in its pool in the World Team Championships in Malaysia after yesterday's 3-0 defeat by Canada. They will now play 10th seeds France in the first of three matches in the ninth 16th place play off section.
The Canadian line up of Heather Wallace, Melanie Jans and Kelsey Souchereau, the number nine seeds, proved too strong for an Irish team still without Madeline Perry, who has been confined to bed with illness.
Aisling McArdle and Olivia French lost to their opponents in straight games, but Louise Finnegan fought back to level her match, after going 2-0 down, before losing the final game 9-8 to Jans.
If the team is to match the ninth place finish achieved at the last World Championships in Guernsey, they must win their three remaining matches, beginning with France today.
. Derek Ryan made it safely through to the first round proper of the US Open squash championships in Minneapolis yesterday when he beat world number 21 Danny Meddings in straight games.
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