Day FOUR – Quarter-Finals

Egyptians  monopolise Girls’ proceedings with four nationalities through to Boys’ semis …

Quarter-Finals :
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[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 3-0 [9/12] Lily Taylor (ENG)  11-2, 11-3, 11-3 (18m)
[5/8] Habiba Mohamed (EGY) 3-0 [3/4] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY)  12-10, 11-3, 11-5 (38m)
[3/4] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-0 [9/12] Georgina Kennedy (ENG)  11-7, 11-2, 11-9 (24m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)  3-0 [5/8] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)  11-9, 11-4, 11-8 (31m)
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[1] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 [5/8] Mohamed El Gawarhy (EGY)  11-6, 11-4, 11-6 (36m)
[3/4] Kush Kumar (IND) 3-0 [5/8] George Parker (ENG)  11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (40m)
[9/12] Omar El Atmas (EGY) 3-2 [3/4] Tayyab Aslam (PAK)  7-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (110m)
[9/12] Syed Ali Bokhari (PAK) 3-2 [13/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 (79m)
—

Quarters Roundup

Egyptians  monopolise Girls’ proceedings with four nationalities through to Boys’ semis …

The first two quarter-final matches featured top seeds Nour El Sherbini and Diego Elias, both of whom progressed comfortably enough in straight games.

Next came a little all-Egyptian upset as Habiba Mohamed beat Salma Hany. Mohamed squandered five game balls before edging a combative first game 12-10 but was always in control in the second and third.

India’s Kush Kumar was always ahead against George Parker. Despite the Englishman’s best efforts the Indian 3/4 seed’s speed around court and deft shotmaking proved decisive. Kush becomes the first Indian ever to make the world junior semis, while George will probably need a new racket for his next match.

In the evening session Mariam Metwally and Nouran Gohar made sure that there will be an Egyptian girls’ champion as they beat Georgina Kennedy and Sabrina Sobhy, both in straight games, to complete Egyptian domination of the semi-finals.

The first boys’ match of the evening was a marathon, and also saw an Egyptian winner as Omar El Atmas upset the seedings with a 110-minute five game win over  Tayyab Aslam – coming from two games down –  to complete the decimation of the top seeds in the bottom half of the draw.

The day finished with Pakistan’s Syed Ali Bhokari stopping the Egyptian charge as he beat Youssef Soliman 3-2 in 79 minutes to make it four different nationalities in the semi-finals.

Top seeds anticipate tougher opposition

By Corry Ihuhua

Both top seeds Diego Elias of Peru and Egypt’s Nour-el-Sherbini reached the semi-finals of the World Junior Squash Championships in emphatic style with both glad to get to that stage, but anticipate tougher opposition as the finals approach in Windhoek. The semi-finals are on Thursday, with the finals are to be decided on Friday.

“I am quite happy I made it to the semi-finals of the competition and the fact that I have improved with each game has given me more confidence to face the next opponent,” Sherbini said after her quarter-final victory.

She adds that she will do her best to make it to the final: “The competition normally gets tougher through the rounds, but I’m ready and so far I’m really glad that I have made it thus far.”

Sherbini defeated England’s Lily Tylor (9/12) 11-2 11-3 11-3 in what seemed an easy victory that only 18 minutes.

Sherbini will now  meet fellow Egyptian Habiba Mohamed, the 5/8 seed who beat Salma Hany, seeded 3/4, in straight games.

Elias showed his supremacy once again when he tactically got around the pace shown by Egypt’s Mohamed El Gawarhy, winning in straight sets 11-6 11-4 11-6.

“I’m happy with my progress so far. I know it’s going to get tougher, but I am in good shape and hope to make it to the final,” said Elias after his victory.

He added that it does not matter who he faces in the semi-finals, but expect strong opposition as the matches are all getting tough.

 “There is no player here that can be written-off. The best thing is to be prepared for anything as one never knows how it will turn out in the end. But for now, I will take it one game at a time,” he added.

Elias now meets India’s Kush Kumar, who beat England’s George Parker in straight games to become the first Indian to reach the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Namibian progress …

Meanwhile, Namibia’s Le-Hugo van Rooyen pulled off an impressive win 11-1 11-4 11-4 against Botswana’s Tebogo Thalologo to record his first win in the tournament. He dismissed his opponent in just 14 minutes and joins Gerhardus Lottering who also claimed victory after Ali Algallaf of Egypt who retired when the match stood at 5-11 8-11.

Other Namibians who played today included Alyssa Cummings who succumbed to Botswana’s Makgosi Peloakgosi 11-3 11-2 11-3, while Elsje van der Merwe lost 11-2 11-3 11-2 to Sweden’s Linnea Wallsten. Also for Namibia, Daniela Scriba was shown the door by Kayley Leonard of the USA in straights sets (11-2 11-2 11-2) with Lida-Marie Calitz also losing to Casey Sheyeong Wong of the USA (11-2 11-2 11-1).

Namibia’s Kyle Christopher, one of the youngest players in the team showed a bit of resistance in the first set, but could not contain Nils Lindgren of Sweden, bowing out 11-7 11-1 11-2.