Favourites Egypt
beat USA 2/0 in the final of the WSF Women's World
Junior Team Squash Championship to claim the World Squash
Federation title for a record seventh time - and fifth time
in a row - at the Squashtime Centre in Eindhoven
in the Netherlands.
It was the third
successive final between the two nations - Egypt celebrating
their seventh in a row since 2003 and second seeds USA looking
to win the trophy for a first time after appearing in all 16
championships since 1985.
In the opening clash
between the countries' two top strings, Habiba Mohamed
started well for the defending champions against USA's
Sabrina Sobhy, building up a 6-1 lead before taking the
first game. The American fought back to take the second, but
Mohamed was in commanding form in the next two games as she
powered Egypt into the lead 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-1.
Egypt again took the
early lead in the next match between the number threes, Salma
Hany Ibrahim taking the first game against USA's Kayley
Leonard. There was little to choose between the two
teenagers in the next three games - but Ibrahim, in her last day
but one as a junior, fought back from 7-9 down in the fourth to
complete her 11-7, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9 victory in 53 minutes to
the delight of herself and her team-mates.
"We are so, so,
so, so, so happy to win this title,"Nouran Gohar the world individual champion who was
grateful not to be called on to play the decider said,
"Habiba and Salma played really well, but at
one-all in each match we were getting worried.
"We told Habiba to
do this for Egypt, and at one-all in Salma's match I thought we
were going to lose so I started to warm up. But she managed to
win, and that's really big for us."
Ibrahim, who turns 19
on the 5th, was relieved and happy: "I was so under pressure
- some thought I was going to win easily but I knew how tough it
would be. I really didn't want to put Nouran under the pressure
of playing a decider, so I didn't think about anything, just
tried to play one point at a time, and when the referee said
'stroke' on that last point I just exploded, and then I cried my
eyes out (pictured above).
"Our coaches and
the National Federation have helped us so much, put so much into
this that it's the least we could do to repay them. It's my
birthday in a few hours' time, and I'm so happy to be able to
finish my junior career by winning this title as part of this
amazing team."
Despite being
disappointed to lose, the US players were pleased with their
performances: "We thought we played pretty well," said
Sobhy and Leonard (both pictured below).
"We think we got them a little rattled when the
games were so close. We put it all out on there and we're proud
of the way we played, it's a good end to our junior careers."
Former champions
England and fifth seeds Malaysia shared the bronze
medals - England, last winners of the title in 2001, marking
their best finish since 2005, and Malaysia their best since
reaching the final in 2007.
Eighth seeds
Canada won the play-off for fifth place after beating New
Zealand 2/0 - but whilst the former repeated their success
in the past two championships, the Kiwis' sixth place was their
best finish since 2007.
Switzerland
emerged as winners of the 9-12th place pool to record their best
finish since 1999 - while Finland, 2/1 winners over
South Africa in the play-off for 13th place, claimed their
best ever finish.
Guyana
and Zimbabwe, both only making their second appearances
in the championship, battled hard for 17th place - Guyana
ultimately emerging as victors after a 3/0 triumph.
RESULTS: WSF World
Junior Team Squash Championship, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Final:
[1] EGYPT bt [2] USA 2/0 Habiba Mohamed bt Sabrina Sobhy 11-7, 8-11, 11-6,
11-1 (33m) Salma Hany Ibrahim bt Kayley Leonard 11-7, 11-13,
11-8, 11-9 (53m)
7th place
play-off:
[4] HONG KONG CHINA bt [7] INDIA 2/1 Choi Man Shan bt Adya Advani 12-10, 9-11, 11-3,
12-10 (33m) Lui Hiu Lam Bubble lost to Nikita Joshi 11-13,
7-11, 8-11 (27m) Ho Ka Wing bt Harshit Jawanda 11-8, 7-11, 11-6,
11-7 (37m)
9th - 12th place
play-offs:
[9] SWITZERLAND bt [11] FRANCE 3/0 Cindy Merlo bt Laura Gamblin 11-8, 15-13, 11-8
(31m) Marija Shpakova bt Elise Romba 6-11, 11-4, 11-0,
2-11, 12-10 (34m) Celine Walser bt Julie Rossignol 11-4, 12-10, 11-6
(26m)
[10] AUSTRALIA bt [12] GERMANY 2/1 Lakeesha Rarere bt Saskia Beinhard 11-7, 11-7,
11-7 (23m) Victoria Leow bt Ramona Bauer 15-13, 11-9, 11-7
(27m) Samantha Calvert lost to Nele Hatschek 11-5, 1-11,
7-11, 9-11 (30m)
Final
positions: 9 Switzerland, 10 Australia, 11 France, 12 Germany
13th place
play-off:
[13/16] FINLAND bt [13/16] SOUTH AFRICA 2/1 Riina Koskinen bt Mariska Wiese 7-11, 11-5, 9-11,
11-5, 11-3 (29m) Henrietta Huuhka bt Cassey Preece 11-7, 8-11,
11-5, 5-11, 11-7 (30m) Maarit Ekholm lost to Faith Sithole 11-9, 13-15,
1-11, 7-11 (27m)
15th place
play-off:
[13/16] BELGIUM bt [13/16] NETHERLANDS 2/0 Tinne Gilis bt Elena Wagenmans 4-11, 11-7, 11-5,
11-3 (30m) Anouk Feys bt Joy Half 11-8, 12-10, 11-8 (23m)
Top seeds Egypt and USA will meet in the final of the WSF
Women's World Junior Team Squash Championship for the third time
in a row after 2/0 semi-final wins in the World Squash
Federation event at the Squashtime Centre in Eindhoven in the
Netherlands.
Defending champions Egypt denied fifth seeds Malaysia a return
to the final for the first time since 2007 - while second seeds
USA, looking for their maiden title, stopped five-time champions
England, the third seeds.
It was the two individual championship finalists Nouran Gohar
and Habiba Mohamed (pictured above with fellow team-mates) who
ensured Egypt's seventh successive appearance in the final - new
world champion Gohar beating Malaysia's Andrea Lee 11-0, 11-7,
11-4 before former champion Mohamed despatched Sivasangari
Subramaniam 11-6, 11-5, 11-6.
In the second semi, USA took the first match courtesy of Reeham
Sedky, England's Amelia Henley unable to deal with the power and
court coverage of the US number two.
Sabrina Sobhy clinched the match for the Americans after beating
Georgina Kennedy in straight games. Sobhy powered ahead to take
the first after a short break in the middle of the game to
attend to a grazed knee. The US number one trailed throughout
most of the second but managed to hang in with some impressive
retrieving and took the last five points to win the game 11-9.
The third was close, but Sobhy was again stronger at the end as
she took the USA through to the final.
"We knew England would be tough, they're all good players," US
manager Scott Devoy (victorious team pictured above) said later.
"We tried to play at a tempo and pace that would make it
difficult for them, and Reeham's pace and weight of shot was too
good in the first match.
"Sabrina showed what a fighter she is, coming from 6-9 down in
the second and that was crucial. Once she has momentum she's
difficult to stop and she was faster onto the ball at the end of
the match.
"It's great to reach the final again, and hopefully it will be
third time lucky!"
England manager Tania Bailey was gracious in defeat: "Reeham
played brilliantly, she made probably one error in the whole
match. You probably need a few games against her to get used to
her style, and she was just too much for Amelia to handle today.
"Gina didn't deserve to lose 3/0, if she'd taken the second it
might have been different, but credit to Sabrina, she somehow
hung in there and managed to get her racket on the ball in some
crucial points.
"Obviously we would have loved to be in the final, but well
played USA and we're happy to finish with bronze medals to take
home."
New Zealand and Canada will play for fifth place - sixth seeds
New Zealand assured a best finish since 2007.
RESULTS: WSF World Junior Team Squash Championship, Eindhoven,
Netherlands
Semi-finals:
[1] EGYPT bt [5] MALAYSIA 2/0
Nouran Gohar bt Andrea Lee 11-0, 11-7, 11-4 (19m)
Habiba Mohamed bt Sivasangari Subramaniam 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (21m)
[2] USA bt [3] ENGLAND 2/0
Reeham Sedky bt Amelia Henley 11-4, 11-2, 11-5 (29m)
Sabrina Sobhy bt Georgina Kennedy 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (34m)
5th - 8th place play-offs:
[6] NEW ZEALAND bt [7] INDIA 2/1
Abbie Palmer lost to Harshit Jawanda 9-11, 4-11, 11-6, 13-11,
6-11 (39m)
Eleanor Epke bt Adya Advani 12-10, 11-4, 11-3 (20m)
Juee Bhide bt Akanksha Salunkhe 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-0, 11-3
(41m)
[8] CANADA bt [4] HONG KONG CHINA 2/1
Sophie Mehta lost to Ho Ka Wing 7-11, 11-13, 5-11 (26m)
Chloe Chemtob bt Choi Man Shan 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (46m)
Maddie O'Connor bt Cheng Nga Ching 13-11, 11-4, 11-8 (31m)
9th - 12th place play-offs:
[9] SWITZERLAND bt [10] AUSTRALIA 2/1
Celine Walser bt Samantha Calvert 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (17m)
Cindy Merlo bt Lakeesha Rarere 11-1, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5 (29m)
Marija Shpakova lost to Victoria Leow 11-4, 9-11, 8-11, 9-11
(32m)
[11] FRANCE bt [12] GERMANY 3/0
Julie Rossignol bt Nele Hatschek 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (27m)
Laura Gamblin bt Saskia Beinhard 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 11-5 (37m)
Laura Paquemar bt Ramona Bauer 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 (23m)
13th - 16th place play-offs:
[13/16] SOUTH AFRICA bt [13/16] NETHERLANDS 2/1
Faith Sithole bt Sanne Veldkamp 14-12, 11-7, 11-6 (27m)
Mariska Wiese lost to Elena Wagenmans 4-11, 7-11, 7-11 (18m)
Cassey Preece bt Fleur Maas 11-8, 11-6, 13-11 (19m)
[13/16] FINLAND bt [13/16] BELGIUM 2/1
Maarit Ekholm bt Kato Verwilt 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10 (27m)
Riina Koskinen lost to Tinne Gilis 7-11, 7-11, 8-11 (21m)
Henrietta Huuhka bt Anouk Feys 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (18m)
Malaysia Gatecrash World Junior Semis
Malaysia
will play for a place in the top four of the WSF Women's
World Junior Team Squash Championship for the first time
since 2007 after defeating New Zealand 2/1 in the
quarter-finals of the World Squash Federation event at
the Squashtime Centre in Eindhoven in the
Netherlands.
It was a 3/0 final
qualifying round win over hosts Netherlands in the
morning which confirmed fifth seeds Malaysia as winners of Pool
D - resulting in a favoured quarter-final slot against New
Zealand, the No.6 seeds.
Malaysia took the
lead when third string Zoe Foo Yuk Han beat Juee Bhide
in straight games - but New Zealand levelled in the top string
match after Eleanor Epke won a thriller against
Sivasangari Subramaniam.
UK-born Epke took a
two-nil lead but the Malaysian fought back to level, then saved
two match balls to force a tie-break decider. Subramanian had a
match ball at 11-10 but served out, then tinned on her second
chance and it was Epke who finally took the match 14-12.
"I was feeling so
tired in the fifth," admitted the Kiwi, "I just tried to stay
calm and told myself 'don't lose' !"
The deciding match
between Andrea Lee and Abbie Palmer was equally
close, equally tense and exciting. After the first four games
were shared, Malaysian Lee led 9-7 in the fifth - but Palmer had
the first match ball at 10-9. Eventually it was the Malaysian
who drove the ball deep into the corner for the victory, 14-12
after an hour's play.
Malaysian Manager
Andrew Cross (celebrating with his squad above) was
naturally delighted: "Never in doubt," he joked afterwards.
"What a match!
"We got a good start,
then Siva went two down but came back to get match ball and
served out, which didn't make me feel good! The decider was such
a close match, at the end they were both hitting it hard,
keeping it tight but we were lucky enough to win it.
"That's what it's all
about, quarter-finals of the World Juniors, big match, big
challenges to see if you can come through."
Runners-up in 2007,
Malaysia now face favourites Egypt for a place in the
final. The defending champions despatched India 2/0.
"Tomorrow, against
Egypt, it's going to be difficult," Cross continued. "But it's
going to be good experience for our girls - they're all going to
be able to play in two years' time, so that's what they're here
for, to get experience against the best in the world."
The other semi-final
will see USA, runners-up in the past two events, take on
former champions England. Second seeds USA beat
neighbours Canada (both teams pictured above) in
convincing fashion, and third seeds England beat Hong Kong,
the No.4 seeds, 2/0.
Hany Hamouda,
Vice President of the Egyptian Squash Federation, was wary of
being too confident: "People may think 'oh, Egypt will win', but
we don't think like that," he said. "We haven't won anything yet
and we tell the players that they must concentrate and do their
best in every match."
USA manager Scott
Devoy was happy with his team's performance: "All the girls
played well, they were focused and played disciplined squash. It
should give them some confidence for tomorrow, and if we can
take that momentum into the match and play as well as that, then
we'll be difficult to beat."
England manager
Tania Bailey (team pictured above) was equally delighted
with her team's performance: "It's great to reach the semis,
that's what we came here for at least. I've been really
impressed with the girls, they're looking strong and have
handled themselves well. The nerves built up a little waiting
for the Malaysia match to finish, but Lucy handled that very
well, and Gina is playing world top 50 squash at the moment.
"We know the USA are
all strong, but we believe we can get a result in all three
matches, so they'll certainly be giving it a go and hopefully it
will be a great match.
RESULTS: WSF World
Junior Team Squash Championship, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Final qualifying
rounds - Pool C:
[11] FRANCE bt [17/18] ZIMBABWE 3/0 Julie Rossignol bt Carley Barton 11-1, 11-2, 11-5
(14m) Elise Romba bt Shannon O'Donovan 11-1, 11-6, 11-0
(10m) Laura Paquemar bt Kuzivakwashe Madungwe 11-1,
11-0, 11-1 (10m)
[6] NEW ZEALAND bt [13/16] BELGIUM 2/1 Eleanor Epke lost to Tinne Gilis 11-2, 9-11, 11-5,
5-11, 14-16 (50m) Abbie Palmer bt Kato Verwilt 11-6, 11-3, 11-2
(13m) Juee Bhide bt Anouk Feys 11-4, 11-0, 11-4 (17m)
Final
positions: 1 England, 2 New Zealand, 3 France, 4 Belgium, 5
Zimbabwe
Malaysia Surprise Hong Kong In World Team
Qualifiers
Fifth seeds
Malaysia pulled off the only surprise on the second day of
qualifying in the WSF Women's World Junior Team Squash
Championship by beating Hong Kong, the No.4 seeds,
2/1 at the Squashtime Centre in Eindhoven in the
Netherlands.
Choi Man Shan
put the top seeds in Pool D ahead with a four-game win over
Sivasangari Subramaniam, but Malaysia bounced back to secure
the tie following impressive wins by Andrea Lee and
Zoe Foo Yuk Han.
"They all played
well," Malaysian coach Andrew Cross
(pictured above, third from right, with the Malaysian squad)
said later. "But we haven't won
anything yet - now we need to prepare for tomorrow's
quarter-final."
Further ties will
take place today in both Pool C and Pool D - but favourites
Egypt and second seeds USA are confirmed as winners
of Pool A and B, respectively, after the completion of action in
the other two qualifying groups.
RESULTS: WSF
Women's World Junior Team Squash Championship, Eindhoven,
Netherlands
2nd qualifying rounds
- Pool A:
[1] EGYPT bt [13/16] SOUTH AFRICA 3/0 Nouran Gohar bt Mariska Wiese 11-6, 11-0, 11-3
(15m) Mariam Metwally bt Faith Sithole 11-2, 11-5, 11-6
(11m) Salma Hany Ibrahim bt Cassey Preece 11-6, 11-6,
11-6 (16m)
[8] CANADA bt [9] SWITZERLAND 2/1 Chloe Chemtob bt Cindy Merlo 11-8, 11-8, 11-4
(23m) Sophie Mehta lost to Celine Walser 11-5, 13-11,
9-11, 6-11, 6-11 (39m) Maddie O'Connor bt Marija Shpakova 11-6, 11-4,
11-5 (19m)
[1] EGYPT bt [8] CANADA 3/0 Nouran Gohar bt Chloe Chemtob 11-2, 11-4, 11-2
(15m) Mariam Metwally bt Maddie O'Connor 11-6, 11-5,
11-9 (14m) Salma Hany Ibrahim bt Grace Thomas 11-6, 11-1,
11-2 (14m)
[9] SWITZERLAND bt [13/16] SOUTH AFRICA 3/0 Cindy Merlo bt Mariska Wiese 11-7, 11-4, 11-2
(16m) Celine Walser bt Faith Sithole 11-8, 11-2, 11-1
(15m) Marija Shpakova bt Cassey Preece 11-9, 11-8, 11-7
(16m)
Final
positions: 1 Egypt, 2 Canada, 3 Switzerland, 4 South Africa
Pool B:
[2] USA bt [13/16] FINLAND 3/0 Sabrina Sobhy bt Maarit Ekholm 11-1, 11-5, 11-3
(15m) Reeham Sedky bt Nea Falck 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 (16m) Casey Wong bt Henrietta Huuhka 11-3, 11-9, 11-4
(16m)
[7] INDIA bt [10] AUSTRALIA 2/1 Adya Advani lost to Lakeesha Rarere 8-11, 3-11,
11-5, 16-14, 4-11 (46m) Harshit Jawanda bt Samantha Calvert 11-4, 11-5,
11-3 (19m) Akanksha Salunkhe bt Victoria Leow 11-5, 11-4,
11-3 (19m)
[2] USA bt [7] INDIA 3/0 Sabrina Sobhy bt Adya Advani 11-4, 11-5, 11-9
(21m) Reeham Sedky bt Harshit Jawanda 11-3, 11-2, 11-4
(23m) Kayley Leonard bt Akanksha Salunkhe 11-7, 12-10,
4-11, 11-8 (25m)
[10] AUSTRALIA bt [13/16] FINLAND 2/1 Lakeesha Rarere bt Riina Koskinen 11-6, 3-11,
11-5, 8-11, 11-8 (36m) Samantha Calvert bt Maarit Ekholm 11-9, 12-10,
11-4 (27m) Rachael Gibson lost to Nea Falck 9-11, 5-11, 11-7,
9-11 (21m)
Final
positions: 1 USA, 2 India, 3 Australia, 4 Finland
Pool D:
[4] HONG KONG CHINA bt [17/18] GUYANA 3/0 Ho Ka Wing bt Akeila Wiltshire 11-7, 11-4, 11-7
(21m) Lui Hiu Lam Bubble bt Larissa Wiltshire 11-6,
11-5, 11-2 (17m) Cheng Nga Ching bt Taylor Fernandes 11-2, 11-5,
11-3 (16m)
[12] GERMANY bt [13/16] NETHERLANDS 3/0 Saskia Beinhard bt Elena Wagenmans 11-8, 11-7,
11-7 (21m) Nele Hatschek bt Sanne Veldkamp 11-6, 11-8, 11-7
(25m) Ramona Bauer bt Fleur Maas 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (17m)
[5] MALAYSIA bt [4] HONG KONG CHINA 2/1 Sivasangari Subramaniam lost to Choi Man Shan
14-16, 9-11, 13-11, 9-11 (48m) Andrea Lee bt Ho Ka Wing 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8
(41m) Zoe Foo Yuk Han bt Lui Hiu Lam Bubble 11-9, 11-7,
11-5 (23m)
[13/16] NETHERLANDS bt [17/18] GUYANA 3/0 Elena Wagenmans bt Akeila Wiltshire 11-3, 11-5,
11-5 (18m) Sanne Veldkamp bt Larissa Wiltshire 11-8, 11-9,
11-9 (29m) Fleur Maas bt Gabrielle Fraser 11-8, 9-11, 11-9,
11-9 (33m)
World Team Championship Underway In Eindhoven
Less than 24 hours after competing against each other for the
World Individual title, champion Nouran Gohar and
runner-up Habiba Mohamed lined up side-by-side to
represent favourites Egypt in their opening qualifying
tie in the WSF Women's World Junior Team Squash Championship
at the Squashtime Centre in Eindhoven in the
Netherlands.
Bidding for a fifth title in a row, Egypt beat Switzerland
3/0 - both Gohar and Mohamed comfortably winning their matches
in straight games.
Egypt's main Pool A rivals Canada also won 3/0, beating
13/16 seeds South Africa.
Former champions England also made a strong start to their
2015 campaign - beating both Belgium and France
3/0 in Pool C.
Second seeds USA, runners-up in the past two
championships, faced Australia - and beat the three-time
champions 3/0 in the opening tie in Pool B.
RESULTS: WSF Women's World Junior Team Squash Championship,
Eindhoven, Netherlands
First qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] EGYPT bt [9] SWITZERLAND 3/0 Habiba Mohamed bt Cindy Merlo 11-3, 11-7, 11-9
(17m) Nouran Gohar bt Celine Walser 11-6, 11-1, 13-11
(17m) Salma Hany Ibrahim bt Sarah Ludin 11-1, 11-3, 11-2
(12m)
[8] CANADA bt [13/16] SOUTH AFRICA 3/0 Sophie Mehta bt Mariska Wiese 11-4, 11-4, 11-3
(14m) Maddie O'Connor bt Faith Sithole 16-14, 11-5, 11-5
(26m) Grace Thomas bt Cassey Preece 11-7, 11-4, 11-5
(17m)
Pool B:
[2] USA bt [10] AUSTRALIA 3/0 Reeham Sedky bt Lakeesha Rarere 11-3, 11-5, 11-1
(25m) Kayley Leonard bt Victoria Leow 11-3, 11-2, 13-11
(21m) Casey Wong bt Rachael Gibson 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
(19m)
[7] INDIA bt [13/16] FINLAND 3/0 Adya Advani bt Riina Koskinen 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
(17m) Harshit Jawanda bt Maarit Ekholm 11-1, 11-5, 11-4
(14m) Akanksha Salunkhe bt Henrietta Huuhka 11-1, 11-8,
11-5 (16m)
