Quarters Day for Egypt…

 

Quarters:
.
[1] Mostafa Asal 3-0 [5/8] Siow Yee Xian (Mas) 11-3, 11-4, 11-1 (27m)
[3/4] Mostafa El Serty 3-1 [5/8] Sam Todd (Eng) 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5 (39m)
[2] Omar El Torkey 3-0 [5/8] Yehia Elnawasany  11-6, 11-2, 11-3 (25m)
.
[1] Hania El Hammamy 3-0 [5/8] Chan Sin Yuk (Hkg) 14-12, 11-3, 12-10 (32m
[3/4] Farida Mohamed  3-1 [5/8] Chan Yiwen (Mas) 3-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (36m)
[2] Jana Shiha  3-1 [5/8] Marina Stefanoni (Usa) 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (31m)

 

And then there were 6….

Six out of eight. If last year it was 7 out of 8, we still can say that Egypt is still doing not too bad on the World Junior Scene, now, can we…

So only 2 non Egyptians in the semis: Jana will have to overcome the local favourite Aifa Azma who keeps home hopes alive, while Mostafa will meet unseeded English boy Lewis Anderson, who extended his giant-killing run by scalping a third seeded player in two days, becoming the first unseeded player to reach the semis since Pakistani Aamir Atlas Khan in 2004 (source SquashInfo)

 

“It was a tough game but it felt good to win because it was like revenge for me. I lost to Marina a few years ago. I was 2 games up but I lost 3-2 so I’m happy to get my revenge, said Jana.

It also helped that I had an extra game on the glass court earlier. I could get my rhythm and I managed to figure out where the ball was going to bounce. Now I hope to go one step further in the world juniors.

Last year I finished third. And I also lost to Aifa twice previously so I’m hoping to get my revenge as well.

 

Mostafa, the defending champion, was really a class above as he gave home hope Siow Yee Xian no breathing space in an 11-3, 11-4, 11-1 demolition. Alongside him, second seed Omar El Torkey and 3/4 seed Moustafa El Sirty all powered into the last four.

I was concentrated to win and play good squash. I know my opponent is a pretty good player so I needed to get my tactics right and I’m pleased to be in the semi-finals,” said Mostafa. “It’s always tough being the top seed as all the focus is on you. The pressure is also on you as well.

But now I’m focused and I’m hoping to keep up this level. It’s just two more pushes and then I’m done with the juniors.”

 

Second seed Jana dropped the opening game against USA’s Marina Stefanoni but had enough quality to power to a 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 win in 31 minutes.

Same difference for Farida, who lost the first against the 18-year-old Yiwen, with the Egyptian upping the tempo to take a 3-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 win in 36 minutes. Farida now goes on to meet top seed and compatriot Hania El Hammamy who is gunning for her first world junior title on her fifth attempt, survived a scare before getting past Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk 14-12, 11-3, 12-10.