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Bermuda's young squash players will get a chance to mix it with the world's best juniors - possibly including a rising young Indian star dubbed the "Ana Kournikova of squash'.

A new youth tournament has been established to coincide with the World Open, to be held here in November. Squash spokesman Roger Sherratt, said the competition - a junior world ranking event - had already received applications from top juniors across the world, some as far afield as Pakistan and India.

Teenage Indian star Dipika Pallikal, who at 16 is ranked 64 in the women's world rankings, and has received a torrent of media attention in her home country largely because of her stunning good looks - is the biggest star to have applied to take part.

Sherratt added: "With this Championship coinciding with the Endurance World Open Bermuda 2007 Squash Championship, we have been anticipating considerable interest from young players around the world, and already we have international juniors from several Caribbean Islands, North America, India and Pakistan signing up to compete.

"Two of the girls from the states are ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. Dipika Pallikall is clearly a "rising star" on the world squash scene and we would love to see her in action during the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Open Squash Championship."

The tournament will be held between November 30 and December 2 at the same time as the World Open.[[In-content Ad]]

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