Hosts India fall to bitter rivals
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent
In the day’s biggest upset in the WSF Men’s World Junior Team Squash Championship, Asian rivals Pakistan denied hosts India a place in the quarter-finals after a shock 2-1 defeat in the last 16 round at the Express Avenue Mall in Chennai.
Earlier in the day, favourites Egypt, second seeds Canada, third seeds and former champions England, and fourth seeds Malaysia, all eased into the last eight without dropping any matches.
Seeded five and expected to achieve their best finish for six years, India had high hopes against underdogs Pakistan – hoping for their first ever win over their fierce rivals in the event. But, despite being the 11th seeds, Pakistan are the title-holders and were determined to perform like champions, despite their opponents’ home advantage.
India went ahead in the opening match between the third strings, but Haris Qasim reclaimed the advantage to put Pakistan 1-0 up after beating Rahul Baitha 5-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-7 in 56 minutes.
The hosts also took an early lead in the next match between the teams’ top strings, but 16-year-old Peshwari Abbas Zeb held his nerve and silenced the crowd when he defeated Yash Fadte 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-2 to put the 11th seeds into the last eight.
Veer Chotrani provided small consolation for the hosts by beating Pakistan’s Muhammad Uzair 2-0 in the third match.
The win bodes well for Pakistan, who have been finalists in the past eight championships. But the five-time champions now face third seeds England, four times winner of the title.
“We’re just so relieved now,” said Pakistan Coach Mo Yasin. “There was a lot of pressure on us today. Our boys started slowly but they both picked up the pace and I’m proud of how they handled it. The win has given the boys confidence now for the next match against England.”
The day’s closest tie also ended in an upset when Hong Kong China, the ninth seeds, beat seventh seeds Colombia 2-1. With the tie standing at one-all after the first two matches, Hong Kong’s Ho Ka Hei saw a 2-0 lead fall away as Colombian Luis Alejandro Mancilla fought back to draw level – then the decider went to a tie break before Hei clinched the match 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10 in 55 minutes.
“A few unforced errors in the third turned the whole match around,” said HK coach Dick Leung (pictured above with the victorious HK squad). “But I’m proud of how he handled the end of a tough match to put us back into the top eight.”
WSF World Junior Team Squash Championship, Chennai, India.
Last 16 round:
[1] EGYPT bt [15] ARGENTINA 3/0
Mostafa El Serty bt Lisandro Ortiz 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 (20m)
Marwan Tarek bt Jeremías Azaña 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (23m)
Omar El Torkey bt Dylan Tymkiw 11-3, 11-1 (13m)
[9] HONG KONG CHINA bt [7] COLOMBIA 2/1
To Wai Lok bt Andres Villamizar 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (35m)
Chung Yat Long lost to Matias Knudsen 3-11, 6-11, 3-11 (28m)
Ho Ka Hei bt Luis Alejandro Mancilla 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10 (55m)
[4] MALAYSIA bt [14] IRELAND 2/0
Duncan Lee bt Scott Gillanders 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (50m)
Darren Rahul Pragasam bt Conor Moran 7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-8 (46m)
[6] CZECH REPUBLIC bt [12] SWITZERLAND 2/0
Marek Panacek bt Miguel Mathis 11-5, 11-2, 11-5 (25m)
Viktor Byrtus bt Yannick Wilhelmi 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (39m)
[11] PAKISTAN bt [5] INDIA 2/1
Haris Qasim bt Rahul Baitha 5-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-7 (56m)
Abbas Zeb bt Yash Fadte 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-2 (45m)
Muhammad Uzair lost to Veer Chotrani 10-12, 5-11 (18m)
[3] ENGLAND bt [18] GERMANY 2/0
Jared Carter bt Maximillian Baum 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (33m)
Nick Wall bt Abdel-Rahman Ghait 12-10, 11-6, 11-4 (40m)
[8] USA bt [10] NEW ZEALAND 2/0
Thomas Rosini bt Temwa Chileshe 6-11, 11-9, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9 (59m)
Daelum Mawji bt Matthew Lucente 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 12-10 (46m)
[2] CANADA bt [16] AUSTRALIA 3/0
Ryan Picken bt Maaz Khatri 9-11, 12-10, 13-15, 11-5, 11-5 (64m)
James Flynn bt Nicholas Calvert 11-6, 3-11, 11-3, 11-5 (50m)
George Crowne bt Jacob Ford 6-11, 11-4, 11-8 (16m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] EGYPT v [9] HONG KONG CHINA
[4] MALAYSIA v [6] CZECH REPUBLIC
[3] ENGLAND v [11] PAKISTAN
[2] CANADA v [8] USA
9th – 16th place play-offs:
[7] COLOMBIA v [15] ARGENTINA
[12] SWITZERLAND v [14] IRELAND
[5] INDIA v [18] GERMANY
[16] AUSTRALIA v [10] NEW ZEALAND
17th – 24th place play-offs:
[20] SINGAPORE v [21] FINLAND
[13] FRANCE v [24] ZIMBABWE
[19] SOUTH AFRICA v [23] SAUDI ARABIA
[17] SCOTLAND v [22] QATAR
Tournament website: www.wsfworldjuniors.com
Images courtesy of #wsfworldjuniors