Egypt & Pakistan Contest World Junior Final Again
Two-time World Junior Champions Ramy Ashour takes a break from the team event to sign autographs for adoring fans.
Favourites Egypt and second seeds Pakistan will meet in the final of the Prince Men's World Junior Team Squash Championship for the second successive time after both teams achieved straight forward wins in today's (Thursday) semi-finals in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Egypt crushed third seeded England 3-0, with re-crowned world individual champion Ramy Ashour setting the standard with a 9-4, 9-0, 9-2 defeat of Tom Pashley.
Ashour was in high spirits after the match saying that he felt fully fit and comfortable despite 11 days of competition—and was looking forward to tomorrow's final. “The team is very close and we are all trying to stay focused for tomorrow and support each other," said the world No20.
Pakistan also won 3-0 against fourth seeds Malaysia, with all three matches secured in straight games. Malaysian number one Elvinn Keo came close to taking a game from Aamir Atlas Khan—the second seed in the individual event—but was ultimately beaten 9-4, 10-8, 9-1.
American Mark Froot extends his winning ways at the Junior Worlds by leading the US Team to wins over New Zealand and Findland in the 13/18 playoff. Next up is Ireland on Friday.
Egypt will be looking to avenge their defeat by Pakistan in the 2004 final - hoping to win the title for the first time since their maiden success the last time the event was held in New Zealand, in 1994.
Meanwhile, India and Germany will do battle in the play-off for fifth place after contrasting wins today. India, the seventh seeds, squeezed past fifth seeds Canada 2-1, with Harinder Pal Sandhu scoring the crucial victory in a five-game marathon against David Letourneau. Sixth seeds Germany made much lighter work in its clash against Hong Kong, strolling to a 3-0 victory.
For the latest information, check the website www.2006worldjuniors.co.nz or www.worldsquash.org
