Pakistan set date with Egypt in World Junior Squash final

By Jawad Hussain

DOHA: Pakistan junior squash team continued their impressive show at the World Junior Squash 2012 on Tuesday when they outclassed England by 2-0 to set date with top seeds Egypt in the final to be played on Wednesday.

In the other semi-final, Egypt defeated India in a one-sided contest by 3-0 as they will be up against second-seeded Pakistan, which is renowned for producing the world’s best squash talent.

In the first semi-final, double individual champion Marwan El Shorbagy outlasted Mahesh Mangonkar despite of losing the initial game by 9-11 but came back strongly to clinch the next two games by 12-10 and 11-5 before Mahesh found his rhythm back in the fourth game taking it by 6-11. However, the double champion enjoyed good run of form in the penultimate game which he eventually won by 11-7 to give Egypt 1-0 lead over India in a match that lasted for about 72 minutes.

In the second leg of the semi-final, world number two junior squash player Mohamed Abouelghar also got off to a shaky start as Abhishek Pradhan won the first game by 10-12. However, the world number two junior squash player put his act together remarkably as he demolished his Indian opponent in the next three games and completed victory in just 33 minutes with final score of 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5.

In the dead-rubber third leg of the semi-final match between Egypt and India, Mazen Hesham took only 21 minutes to sweep aside Virshab Koitan by 11-9, 11-4 as Egypt completed an emphatic 3-0 victory to storm into the final of the even with a huge confidence on their back.

In the other semi-final, Pakistan needed only two matches to edge England out as Nasir Iqbal and Syed Hamzah Bukhari won their matches against Ollie Holland and Tom Ford respectively.

In the first leg of the second semi-final, Nasir Iqbal outclassed Ollie Holland by 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 in just 37 minutes to give Pakistan the confidence boost they required in the high-profile match-up.

Syed Hamzah Bukhari then completed a masterful victory for Pakistan with another one-sided show against Tim Ford before winning it by 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 as Pakistan joined Egypt in the title clash at the World Junior Squash 2012.