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Squash to change to point-a-rally method
A new system of scoring in squash, with one rally gleaning one point rather than allowing only server the chance to score, is to be used for the first time in the 30-year history of women's squash.
It will be used at the women's World Open at The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships in Manchester, in October 2008.
The point-a-rally system is to replace the traditional hand-in-hand-out system which only allows players to win a point when they are holding serve. However all matches will still remain the best of five games.
The point-a-rally method was formally introduced onto the WISPA Tour for last month's CIMB Malaysian Open and now brings the women's game into line with the men's PSA Tour.
Tournament Director, Paul Walters said: "The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 are going to set a benchmark as the best tournament the sport has ever seen so it's great that we will be the first ever women's World Open to use this exciting scoring system.
"With so many sports evolving at the moment squash needs to keep at the forefront of change and this new method will make it easier and more enjoyable for the spectators to follow the action.
"The point-a-rally system has proved over many years on the men's Tour that it provides for fast and thrilling games and with the Men's and Women's World Opens being staged along side each other in Manchester this October it makes perfect sense that both will be using the scoring system."