08/01/2014
BRITISH JUNIOR OPEN 2014
Five For Egypt and Yathreb, Two for Malaysia as Ahmed Lifts the Cup for Jordan
Day 5 Finals Report
Five For Egypt and Yathreb, Two
for Malaysia as Ahmed Lifts the Cup for Jordan
It was a fantastic start to the day with the G13 final! Malaysia’s Aifa
Azman saw a two-game lead disappear and then came back from 6-10 down in
the fifth, saving six match balls in all before taking the match 16-14
in the decider.
It was another five-setter that followed in the Boys U13, but this time
the top seed triumphed as Mohamed El Shamy retained his title in similar
dramatic fashion to how he won it last year. At 2-1 down and 9-5 down in
the fourth it wasn’t looking good, as he took a second injury break of
the game and looked to be struggling with leg and back problems. But he
returned to take a rumbustious fourth game 12-10 – saving a match ball –
and was in control in the decider.
incredibly another five-setter ensued in the G15 final, this time a
seesaw battle between the unflappable top seed Siv Subramanian,
runner-up in last year’s final, and the excitable Egyptian Hania El
Hammamy, still sporting her forehead bump from yesterday’s match. It
swung one way then the other, with whoever got a lead in each of the
games staying ahead until the end, and in the decider it was the
Malaysians who were cheering the loudest.
After saving a couple of game balls in a tight first, top seed Youssef
Ibrahim always had the edge in his all-Egyptian B15 final with Moustafa
Montaser.
Next up it was another all-Egyptian final in the G17 climax, and once
again it was the top seed who triumphed in straight games. The
irresistible force that is Habiba Mohamed was too strong for Hana Basem
as she stormed through to collect her fourth BJO title in a row.
Egypt collected their fourth title when Boys U17 top seed Youssef
Soliman beat Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow – last year’s U15 winner – in four
games. The Egyptian looked strong as he took a 10-5 lead in the first,
and although Ng closed that gap and took a close second game, Suliman
was on top again in the next two games to claim his first title.
It was a repeat of their 2010 U15 final, but for Yathreb Adel the Girls
U19 final was a sixth in a row, and she repeated her 2010 win over
Mariam Metwally – the top seed – in four tough, uncompromising, tense,
and fiercely contested games. Adel edged the first two after early
deficits, but couldn’t do the same in the third as Metwally pulled one
back. Adel was always just ahead in the fourth though, finally clinching
her fifth BJO title in just unbder an hour.
A new nationality was sure to be engraved on the Boys U19 trophy, the
Drysdale Cup, as Peru’s Diego Elias, the U17 winner last year, took on
Jordan’s Ahmad Alsaraj. Alsaraj forged ahead in the early stages of both
the first two games and held on to those advantages, and although Elias
rallied to take the third, it was the Jordanian who was on top from the
start of the fourth, capitalising on a 7-1 advantage to take the game
11-3 and with it the title.
FINALS:
Girls Under13
[3/4] Aifa Azman (Mas) 3-2 [1 ] Jana Shiha (Egy) v11-7, 11-2, 8-11,
8-11, 16-14 (49m)
Boys Under 13
[1 ] Mohamed El Shamy (Egy) 3-2 [3/4] Moustafa Assal (Egy) 11-8, 8-11 ,
9-11, 12-10, 11-6 (59m)
Girls Under 15
[1 ] Siv Subramanian (Mas)3-2v [3/4] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 7-11, 11-8,
8-11, 11-5, 11-6 (49m)
Boys Under 15
[1 ] Youssef Ibrahim (Egy) 3-0 [3/4] Moustafa Montaser (Egy) 15-13,
11-9, 11-6 (31m)
Girls Under 17
[1 ] Habiba Mohamed (Egy) 3-0 3/4] Hana Basem (Egy) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4
(24m)
Boys Under 17
[1 ] Youssef Soliman (Egy) 3-1 [2 ] Ng Eain Yow (Mas) 11-8, 9-11, 11-5,
11-7 (45m)
Girls Under 19
[2 ] Yathreb Adel (Egy) 3-1 [1 ] Mariam Metwally (Egy) 11-9, 11-9, 7-11,
11-9 (59m)
Boys Under 19
[5/8] Ahmad Alsaraj (Jor) 3-1 [3/4] Diego Elias (Per) 11-7, 11-9, 8-11,
11-3 (64m) |
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Pictures from the final day |
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Day Four Semi Finals
Egypt Lose Grip on Drysdale Cup But
Still Have Seven Chances
While seven of the top seeds made it through to the finals of the
Tecnifibre Junior Open in Sheffield, there were upsets aplenty in
today’s semi-finals held at the Abbeydale and Hallamshire clubs.
The Boys U19 title – the Drysdale Cup – will be won by someone other
than an Egyptian for the first time since 2005, with Peru and Jordan
claiming first-time finalists in two dramatic semis at Abbeydale.
Diego Elias, who won the U17 title last year, beat top seed and world
junior champion Karim El Hammamy in straight games to reach the final
without dropping a single game. England’s George Parker came close to
taking Amhad Alsaraj to a decider, but the Jordanian saved six game
balls from 7-10 down in the fourth to clinch it 15-13 on his own first
match ball.
The girls U19 final will return to Egyptian hands with top seeds Mariam
Metwally and Yathreb Adel set to contest the final after winning
all-Egyptian semi-finals. For Mariam it will be a second BJO final –
after losing to Yathreb in the 2010 U15 climax – and for Yathreb an
amazing sixth
in a row.
Despite their troubles in the B19 event, Egypt still have the chance to
win seven of the eight titles, while Malaysia will be pleased with their
haul of three finalists. Top seeds Siv Subramanian – who won 16-14 in
the fifth on her sixth match ball after saving just one – and Ng Eain
Yow are joined by Aifa Azman who beat the second seed in her G13 semi.
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Day Four
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Top seed
Mariam Metwaly, Egy, beats Salma Hany, Egy, 3-0 (Metwaly all in black)
2nd seed
Yathreb Adel, Egy, beats Nouran Gohar, Egy, 3-1 (Adel in white top)
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Diego Elias, Peru,
beats top seed
Karim El Hammamy, Egy,
3-0
Ahmad Alsaraj, Jor,
takes out England's
George Parker 3-2 |
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Day Four Semi Final Results Abbeydale:
Boys Under 13
[1 ] Mohamed El Shamy (Egy) 3-2 Viktor Byrtus (Cze) 7-11, 5-11, 11-4,
11-9, 11-9 (38m)
[3/4] Moustafa Assal (Egy) 3-1 [2 ] Asser Hisham (Egy) 11-9, 4-11,
11-8, 11-7 (42m)
Girls Under 15
[1 ] Siv Subramanian (Mas) 3-2 [3/4] Amina Yousry (Egy) 7-11, 11-9,
13-11, 2-11, 16-14 (48m)
G15: [3/4] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 3-1 [2 ] Rowan Reda (Egy) 9-11, 11-9,
11-0, 11-4 (98m total)
Girls Under 19
[1 ] Mariam Metwally (Egy) 3-0 [3/4] Salma Hany (Egy) 11-9, 13-11, 11-7
(34m)
2 Yathreb Adel (Egy) 3-0 [3/4] Nouran Gohar (Egy) 11-5, 11-5, 9-11,
11-9 (58m + 20m blood)
Boys Under 19
[3/4] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 1 Karim El Hammamy (Egy) 11-7, 11-1,
11-6 (42m)[ 5/8] Ahmad Alsaraj (Jor) 3-1 George Parker (Eng) 11-6, 3-11,
11-8,
15-13 (73m)
Hallamshire:
Girls Under 13
[1 ] Jana Shiha (Egy) 3-1 [5/8] Jamila Tamer (Egy) 11-8, 8-11, 11-6,
11-7 (40m)
[3/4] Aifa Azman (Mas) 3-0 [ 2] Nouran Youssef (Egy) 11-6, 11-7, 11-2
(21m)
Boys Under 15
1 Youssef Ibrahim (Egy) 3-1 Adhitya Raghavan (Ind) 13-11, 11-7,
9-11, 11-7 (37m)
[3/4] Moustafa Montaser (Egy) 3-0 [2 ]Ziad Sakr (Egy) 11-5, 11-8, 11-9
(32m)
Girls Under 17
1 Habiba Mohamed (Egy) 3-0 [3/4] Nadid Shahin (Egy) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
(26m)
[3/4] Hana Basem (Egy) 3-1 [2 ]Mayar Hany (Egy) 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-4
(31m)
Boys Under 17
[1 ]Youssef Soliman (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Mohammad Alsaraj (Jor) 11-7, 11-5,
11-8 (42m)
[2 ] Ng Eain Yow (Mas) 3-0 [5/8] Patrick Rooney (Eng) 12-10, 11-7, 11-8
(41m)
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Day Three Report
Parker and Rooney Keep English Hopes
Alive
While the Egyptian girls predictably dominated proceedings in the Girls
U19 quarter-finals, the Egyptian boys are having a much harder time of
it this year, and only one will feature in the Boys U19 semis.
That one happens to be top seed and world junior champion Karim El
Hammamy, but they’re use to having several chances at this stage, and
all-Egyptian finals have been the norm in recent years.
Hammamy meets last year’s U17 champion Diego Elias after the Peruvian
maintained his unblemished record of 3-0 wins.
Ahmad Alsaraj of Jordan meets England’s George Parker in the other semi.
Alsaraj came from a game down to beat unseeded Indian Kush Kumar, whose
flamboyant shots weren’t quite enough on the night.
Parker created a second successive big upset as he beat 3/4 seed and
fellow Englishman Richie Fallows in a tempestuous all-English match.
Parker surged ahead to take the first, held on in the second to double
his advantage before Fallows struck back to take the third with
something to spare. Parker went 9-4 up in the fourth, but Fallows fought
back to 9-9 before Parker took it on his second match ball and claim an
unexpected but thoroughly deserved semi final spot.
Patrick Rooney made it two English representatives in the semis with a
professional 3-0 display against national rival James Peach. Rooney now
moves on to face No2 seed Ng Eain Yow of Malaysia.
Quarters at Abbeydale:
Boys Under 13
[1 ] Mohamed El Shamy (Egy) 3-0 Kiven Shanmugathan (Mas) 11-3, 11-6,
11-5 (13m)
Victor Byrus (Cze) 3-1 [3/4] Yehia El Nawasany (Egy) 11-13, 11-7, 11-9,
11-5 (39m )
[3/4] Moustafa Assal (Egy) 3-1 [5/8] Moustafa Elserty (Egy) 9-11, 11-9,
13-11, 11-6 (54m)
[2 ] Asser Hisham (Egy) 3-2 Tushar Shahani (Ind) 8-11, 10-12, 11-4,
11-8, 11-8 (48m)
Girls Under 15
[1 ] Siv Subramaniam (Mas) 309 Hiu Lam Lui (Hkg) 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (15m)
[3/4] Amina Yousry (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Satomi Watanabe (Jpn) 11-1, 11-5,
11-7 (23m)
[3/4] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 3-1 [5/8] Elize Lazarus (Eng) 11-5, 11-4,
15-17, 11-8 (41m)
[2 ] Rowan Reda (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Hana Ayoub (Egy) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (26m)
Girls Under 19
[1 ] Mariam Metwally (Egy) 3-1 Lily Taylor (Eng) 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-1
(29m)
[3/4] Salma Hany (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Nada Elkalaawy (Eng) 11-8, 11-7, 11-2
(26m)
[3/4] Nouran Gohar (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Anna Kimberley (Eng) 11-1, 11-5, 11-9
(29m)
[2 ] Yathreb Adel (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Nele Gilis (Bel) 11-6, 11-1, 11-8
(29m)
Boys Under 19
[1 ] Karim El Hammamy (Egy) 3-1 [5/8] Daniel Poleshchuk (Isr) 11-13,
11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)
[3/4] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 [5/8] Mohamed El Gawarhy (Egy) 13-11, 11-6,
11-4 (44m)
George Parker (Eng) 3-1 [3/4] Richie Fallows (Eng) 11-6, 12-10, 4-11,
12-10.(81m)
[5/8] Ahmad Alsaraj (Jor) 3-1 Kush Kumar (Ind) 7-11, 11-9, 11-8 , 11-4
(56m)
Quarters at Hallamshire:
Girls Under 13
[1 ] Jana Shiha (Egy) 3-0 Meghna Sreedar (Usa) 11-0, -11-4, 12-10 {16m}
[3/4] Aifa Azman (Mas) 3-0 [5/8] Farida Mohamed (Egy) 11-9, 11-4, 11-4
(19m)
[5/8] Gamela Tamer (Egy) 3-2 Jessica Kheng (Mas) 11-7, 11-13, 9-11,
11-4, 11-6 (36m)
[2 ] Nouran Youssef (Egy) 3-0 Aminah Rosli (Mas) 11-6, 11-5, 11-1 (18m)
Boys Under 15
[1 ] Youssef Ibrahim (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Andrew Magdy (Egy) 11-7, 11-7, 14
12 (35m)
Adhitya Raghavan (Ind) 3-1 Patrick McElroy (Usa) 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8
(30m)
[3/4] Moustafa Montaser (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Victor Crouin (Fra) 11-9, 11-5,
11-7 (22m)
[2 ] Ziad Sakr (Egy) 3-1 Sai Hung Ong (Mas) 11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8
(44m)
Girls Under 17
[1 ] Habiba Mohamed (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Norhan Magdy (Egy) 11-4, 11-4, 11-0
(22m)
[3/4] Nadin Shahin (Egy) 3-1 [5/8] Georgina Kennedy (Eng) 12-10, 8-11,
17-15, 11-8 (47m)
[3/4] Hana Basem (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Nazihah Harris (Mas) 11-4, 116, 11-4
(31m)
[2 ] Mayar Hany (Egy) 3-0 Harshit Jawanda (Ind) 11-1, 11-9, 11-5 (16m)
Boys Under 17
[1 ] Youssef Soliman (Egy) 3-1 [5/8] Saad El Din (Egy) 11-8, 11-6, 4-11,
11-7 (45m)
[5/8] Mohammed Alsaraj (Jor) 3-0 [3/4] Mohd Mukhtar (Mas) 12-10, 11-8,
13-11 (36m)
[5/8] Patrick Rooney (Eng) 3-0 James Peach (Eng) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (27m)
[2 ] Ng Eain Yow (Mas) 3-0 [5/8] Adham Madgy (Egy) 11-6, 11-6 rtd |
Day Two Report
English Advance as Egyptian
Boys Falter in Sheffield
It was another busy day in Sheffield as many of the draws worked their
way down to the quarter-final stage.
At Abbeydale, where all the finals will be held, there were two rounds
of play in the Boys U19 and one in the Girls top age group as the
quarter-finalists were decided.
Egypt predictably dominated the Girls event with their top four seeds
all winning, but England will have three players in the quarters, Anna
Kimberley, Nada El Kalaawy and Lily Taylor.
There was less good news for Egypt in the boys matches with just two
left in contention, while England are guaranteed a semi-finalist after
wins from both Richie Fallows and George Parker. However the upset of
the day though came from India’s Kush Kumar who took out second seed
Shehab Essam in three impressive games.
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Day Two
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Unseeded George
Parker, Eng, celebrates his first win over 3/4 seed compatriot Richie
Fallows
An impressive
Nouran Gohar, Egy, puts out the last English girl Anna Kimberley
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Day One Report
Malaysian Clean Sweep on Opening Day
in Sheffield
It was an earlier start than usual for some on the opening day of the
Tecnifibre British Junior Open, being staged in Sheffield for the 19th
year in a row, as Sheffield’s own world champion and world number one
Nick Matthew hosted a book signing at the Copthorne Hotel, giving some
lucky juniors a chance that most professional players can only dream
about …having Nick Matthew for breakfast!
Then the action took place at three venues – Abbeydale, Hallamshire and
Fulwood – for a busy opening day featuring 400+ players and 36 nations.
The large Egyptian contingent – in serious contention for a clean sweep
of all eight titles – had a good day with their seeded players
progressing in all divisions, but it was the Malaysians who had most to
cheer about with an impressive 23 wins out of 23, the highlight being a
comeback from 0-2 and 0-5 down from Kah Yan Ooi in the Girls’ U15 event.
There were plenty of home players in action too, of course, with Richie
Fallows and Lily Taylor – both featured on the tournament poster –
leading the charge into day two.
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Day One
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George Parker has a controversial win against Omar El Atmas (Egy)
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Richie Fallows beats fellow Englishman Lyell Fuller |
Kush Kumar (Ind) beats 2nd seed Shehab Essam (Egy) |
Preview
The Tecnifibre British Junior Open,
the most prestigious junior squash event in the world returns to
Sheffield for the 19th consecutive year. Tecnifibre,
Official Partner of England Squash and Racketball are title sponsors
for the event which will see 424 players from 36 nations compete
between the 2nd – 6th January.
Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club and
Abbeydale Park Rackets & Fitness Club remain as host venues and are
joined once again by Fulwood Sports Club, enabling all 8 categories
to be played out in full monrad.
Egypt will return to Sheffield with
some exceptionally strong players, taking 7 out of the 8 top seed
positions. 2013’s Junior World Champion Karim El Hammamy takes his
place at the top of the Boys under 19 draw, with fellow countryman
and two time British Junior Open Champion, Shehab Essam as the
number 2 seed. Hoping to spoil it for the Egyptians is 3/4 seed and
last years Boys Under 17 champion Diego Elias of Peru and England’s
own Richie Fallows of Essex who occupies the other 3/4 seeded
position.
This years Girls under 19 competition
looks to be an all Egyptian affair, as they occupy all of the top 4
seeded positions. Top seed Mariam Metwaly who came runner up at the
World Juniors this year is favourite for the title, however last
years under 17 British Junior Open champion Yathreb Adel, will be
looking to make it 3 in a row. Last years runner up Nouran Gohar,
and Salma Hany occupy the 3/4 positions.
The Boys under 17 competition will be
a battle between Egypt and Malaysia. Top seed Youseff Soliman (Egy)
who finished runner up in 2012 in the under 15 category will be
closely chased by the number 2 seed Eain Yow Ng (Mas) who won last
years boys under 15 competition. The battle continues with Mohd
Mukhtar (Mas) and Karim Ibrahim (Egy) taking the 3/4 positions. In
the girls under 17 competition top seed Habiba Mohamed (Egy) will be
looking to make this her 4th title in a row, but will
face tough competition from her fellow Egyptians who take the rest
of the top seed positions.
The boys under 15 category looks to be
fiercely contested with Egypt’s Youseff Ibrahim topping the seeds
and team mate Ziad Sakr coming in at number 2. Marwan Tarek (Egy)
and Moustafa Montaser (Egy) take the 3/4 spots. Malaysia’s Siv
Subramaniam was last years Girls under 15 runner up , but takes the
top spot this year, and is hoping to spoil the day for Egypt as they
take the next 3 seeded positions with Rowan Reda at 2, and Amina
Yousry and Hania El Hammamy at 3/4. England’s hopes lie with Elise
Lazarus (Essex) who holds a 5/8 position.
Egypt look set to take both the Girls
and Boys under 13 titles with Mohammed El Shamy at 1 and Asser
Hisham at 2 in the boy’s competition, and Jana Shiha topping the
girls draw and Nouran Youseff at number 2.
Play starts every day at 9am with all
finals scheduled to start from 9.30am on Monday 6th. All
spectators are welcomed free of charge.
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