Hong Kong,
Pakistan & England Shine In Regional Championships
Annie Au
made history in Pakistan at the weekend when she became the first Hong Kong
Chinese player to win the women's FMC Asian Squash Championship
title, after upsetting Malaysian favourite Low Wee Wern in the final at
the Mushaf Ali Mir Squash Complex in Islamabad.
Runner-up in
the last championship in 2011, the 24-year-old world No13 beat Low, ranked six
places higher, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-1.
The men's
championship provided the first Pakistan winner for 15 years when Aamir Atlas
Khan beat third-seeded Kuwaiti Abdullah Al Muzayen 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 -
ending Malaysian dominance of the men's event since 1998.
The 40th
European Team Championships took place in the Netherlands city of
Amsterdam, where England maintained their grip on both the men's and
women's titles despite stiff opposition.
Former world
No2 Jenny Duncalf earned her 100th England cap in sensational style on
semi-finals day by clinching victory in the deciding match against third seeds
France.
The
30-year-old from Yorkshire was then called upon to repeat her heroics 24 hours
later in the final decider against second seeds Ireland - Duncalf beating
Laura Mylotte 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 to give favourites England their third
title in a row, and the 35th since the women's championships began in 1978.
In their 13th
successive final again France, the England men found themselves
2/0 down for the first time after powerful French wins by world No3 Gregory
Gaultier and the now retired former world champion Thierry Lincou.
But Essex duo
Daryl Selby and Peter Barker - ranked 13 & 7, respectively, in the
world - steadied the England ship with straight games wins over Lucas Serme
and Gregoire Marche to give the defending champions an 8-6 win on games
countback - and England's narrowest victory since 2002.
Men's final:
[6] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [3] Abdullah Al Muzayen (KUW) 11-9,
11-3, 11-8
Women's final:
[2] Annie Au (HKG) bt [1] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 5-11, 11-8, 11-7,
11-1
European
Team Championships,
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Men's final:
[1] ENGLAND bt [2] FRANCE 2/2 (England win 8-6 on games countback)
James Willstrop lost to Thierry Lincou 11-4, 12-10, 5-11, 9-11,
5-11 (67m)
Nick Matthew lost to Gregory Gaultier 11-13, 6-11, 12-14 (82m)
Daryl Selby bt Lucas Serme 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (48m)
Peter Barker bt Gregoire Marche 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 (53m)
Women's final:
[1] ENGLAND bt [2] IRELAND 2/1
Laura Massaro bt Madeline Perry 11-7, 11-5, 11-2 (29m)
Alison Waters lost to Aisling Blake 5-11, 9-11, 6-11 (28m)
Jenny Duncalf bt Laura Mylotte 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (23m)
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