Egyptians claim singles and team titles in Botswana
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad Correspondent
Egypt triumphed in the All-Africa Junior Squash Championships, winning all three titles in the regional event in Gabarone, Botswana.
Both individual events concluded in all-Egyptian finals. Top seed Amr Arafa dismissed Saadeldin Abouaish, the No.3 seed, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8 in the men’s final to keep the trophy in Egyptian hands for the fourth year in a row.
It was a similar position in the other final, where Mariam Metwally extended Egyptian ownership of the women’s trophy.
But the 18-year-old top seed, ranked 38 in the world, was taken the full distance by second seed Mayar Hany Mohamed before beating the world No.101 from Cairo 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8.
South Africa provided the opposition in the team final. But for the fourth time in successive years, the Egyptian favourites brushed aside the second seeds 3/0 to ensure Egypt a trio of titles in the Botswana capital.
All Africa Junior Squash Championships, Gabarone, Botswana
Men’s Individual quarter-finals:
[1] Amr Arafa (EGY) bt Callum Lawton (ZIM) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5
[4] Jean-Pierre van de Merwe (RSA) bt Makashonke Ntuli (RSA) 13-11, 7-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-9
[3] Saadeldin Abouaish (EGY) bt Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
[2] Abdel Rahman Zaher (EGY) bt John Kuhn (RSA) 5-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-1, 11-6
Semi-finals:
[1] Amr Arafa (EGY) bt [4] Jean-Pierre van de Merwe (RSA) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7
[3] Saadeldin Abouaish (EGY) bt [2] Abdel Rahman Zaher (EGY) 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10
Final:
[1] Amr Arafa (EGY) bt [3] Saadeldin Abouaish (EGY) 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8
Women’s Individual quarter-finals:
[1] Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt Lida-Marie Calizt (NAM) 11-1, 11-1, 11-5
[4] Panashe Sithole (RSA) bt Daniela Scriba (NAM) 11-6, 11-4, 11-5
[3] Mariska Wiese (RSA) bt Danielle Cunningham (ZIM) 11-4, 11-2, 11-2
[2] Mayar Hany Mohamed (EGY) bt Jade Pinkney (ZIM) 11-2, 11-1, 11-1
Semi-finals:
[1] Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt [4] Panashe Sithole (RSA) 11-3, 11-2, 11-6
[2] Mayar Hany Mohamed (EGY) bt [3] Mariska Wiese (RSA) 11-3, 11-3, 11-5
Final:
[1] Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt [2] Mayar Hany Mohamed (EGY) 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8
Team Championship Final:
[1] EGYPT bt [2] SOUTH AFRICA 3/0
Amr Arafa bt Jean-Pierre van de Merwe 11-2, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9
Mariam Metwally bt Mariska Wiese 11-6, 11-9, 11-2
Abdel Rahman Zaher bt John Kuhn 11-8, 12-10, 11-3