WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Women's World Junior Squash Championships, Cairo, Egypt

4th round:
[1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [9/16] Kyla Grigg (CAN) 9-2, 9-0, 9-0 (16m)
[5/8] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [9/16] Charlie de Rycke (BEL) 10-9, 10-9, 4-9, 9-5 (53m)
[5/8] Sara Badr (EGY) bt [9/16] Peta Hughes (AUS) 9-5, 4-9, 1-9, 9-3, 9-1 (57m)
[9/16] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [3/4] Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 9-4, 9-2, 4-9, 9-5 (37m)
[3/4] Amnah El Trabolsy (EGY) bt [9/16] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 9-2, 9-6, 10-8 (21m)
Hend Osama (EGY) bt Vaidehi Reddy (IND) 9-6, 7-9, 1-9, 9-6, 9-7 (67m)
[9/16] Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt Miranda Ranieri (CAN) 10-8, 9-5, 8-10, 6-9, 9-1 (58m)
[9/16] Nehal Yehia (EGY) bt [2] Kasey Brown (AUS) 2-9, 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 (33m)

Egyptians Storm Into World Junior Quarters In Cairo

Egypt's long-awaited opportunity to show the world its junior women's squash talent on home soil reaped the best possible advantage in Cairo today (Tuesday) when six Egyptians stormed through to the last eight of the Women's World Junior Squash Championships at the Cairo Stadium.

The biggest upset of the day was achieved by 9/16 seed Nehal Yehia who overcame Australia's No2 seed Kasey Brown in four games.  Brown, who had been unwell the day before but struggled through to the last sixteen after a lengthy five-game victory, took the opening game - but then offered little further resistance as Yehia raced to a 2-9 9-1 9-0 9-1 victory in 33 minutes. 

Yehia now meets fellow 9/16 seed Lauren Siddall, the lone English representative in the quarter-finals, who ended unseeded Canadian Miranda Ranieri's great run with a 10-8 9-5 8-10 6-9 9-1 victory in 58 minutes.

Egypt's other surprise quarter-finalist was 9/16 seed Raneem El Weleily who upset England's 3/4 seed Suzie Pierrepont 9-4 9-2 4-9 9-5 in 37 minutes.  The Egyptian was less nervous than her opponent and played wonderful short balls, often wrong-footing the reigning European Junior Champion.

El Weleily now faces compatriot Sara Badr, a 5/8 seed who won a close and at times ill-tempered match against Australia's 9/16 seed Peta Hughes 9-5 4-9 1-9 9-3 9-1 in 57 minutes.

Hot favourite Omneya Abdel Kawy, the world No12 who celebrated her 18th birthday in her hometown Cairo on the eve of the tournament, took just 16 minutes to dismiss Canada's Kyla Grigg 9-2 9-0 9-0.   Kawy faces the only other non-Egyptian in the last eight - India's 5/8 seed Joshna Chinappa who needed to be at her very best to overcome 9/16 seed Charlie de Rycke.  The 16-year-old Belgian was unable to convert game balls in both the first two games and after 53 minutes went down 10-9 10-9 4-9 9-5 to Chinappa.

"With six Egyptian players in the quarter finals, this is the moment I've been waiting for for 10 years," said leading Egyptian official Dr Samiha Aboulmagd.  "Now all of Egypt can watch their girls on top.  This is great for ladies squash in Egypt and it is certain to increase the number of lady players.  Now the ring is complete," added Aboulmagd.

Official website:  www.worldjuniorwomenssquash.com/