Women's World Teams Main Draw Day One: England, Egypt Through, India Hangs In
from WSF Media
photos courtesy Squash365
November 14, 2012 - Two points away from a shock defeat in today’s WSF Women’s World Team Championship last 16 round in Nimes, second string Joey Chan reeled off six points in a row to steer fourth seeds Hong Kong to a 2/1 win over South Africa, the 14th seeds – and into the quarter-finals of the World Squash Federation event being staged in France for the first time.
The championship boasts a record entry of 26 nations and is being staged simultaneously at both the eight-court Club des Costières and La Parnasse Arena where, for the first time ever, action is taking place simultaneously on three all-glass show courts.
With only two world-ranked players in their squad – one outside the top 100 – South Africa could have been thought to be straightforward opponents for Hong Kong, the young side seeded to make the semi-finals with four players inside the world top 60.
But Milnay Louw, a 24-year-old from Cape Town ranked 118 in the world, immediately startled the Hong Kong camp by defeating Liu Tsz-Ling, ranked more than 80 places higher, 12-10, 12-10, 11-5 in 31 minutes.
Shortly afterwards, the experienced Annie Au, the world No9 with ten Tour titles to her name, found herself two games down to the South African number one Siyoli Waters, a Cape Town 29-year-old ranked 47 in the world.
But left-hander Au dug deep to win 11-13, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3 and leave matters in the hands of her 24-year-old team-mate Joey Chan, the world No18.
But unranked Diana Haynes had clearly not read the script. The 30-year-old from Johannesburg led 2/1 in games, then reached 9-5 in the decider – just two points away from victory.
Spurred on by her vociferous compatriots, Chan cut away the deficit until reaching match-ball at 10-9 – which she duly converted to record a dramatic 11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 win.
“It was bad enough when we dropped the first match, but when Annie then went 2/0 down, I thought ‘we’re finished’,” admitted Hong Kong coach Faheem Khan.
“After Annie won, I thought we’d be fine, but Diana was really handy and pushed Joey at the front of the court.
“South Africa played really well – and I must say that I think we were lucky to get through,” added the former world No22.
Au admitted that their opponents put them under pressure: “They had a lot of confidence and had nothing to lose. They were very good.
“But it’s a new team for us – and we are quite young,” added the 23-year-old. “We’re happy to get through and look forward to meeting Australia tomorrow.”
The top three seeds had little trouble securing their places in the last eight. Third seeds Malaysia, led by world number oneNicol David, beat Czech Republic, the 13th seeds, 2/0 – and second seeds Egypt despatched Mexico over three games lasting less than an hour of playing time.
In the final tie of the day, favourites England crushed British neighbours Wales. Yet to drop a game in the championship, England’s Sarah Kippax, Laura Massaro and Alison Waters extended the record and can now look forward to meetingIreland for a place in the semi-finals.
In the play-offs for places 17-26, event first-timers Republic of Korea celebrated their first wins in the tournament by beating Austria 2/1 and China 3/0 – thereby making certain of a final placing within the top 19.
Last Sixteen
[1] England 3-0 Wales
Sarah Kippax 3-0 Fiona Murphy 11-7, 11-5, 11-5
Laura Massaro 3-0 Tesni Evans 11-7, 11-6, 11-6
Alison Waters 2-0Deon Saffery 11-2, 11-7
[7] Ireland 3-0 France
Laura Mylotte 3-2 Maud Duplomb 7-11, 11-8, 13-15, 11-8, 11-4 (53m)
Madeline Perry 3-2 Camille Serme 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5 (68m)
Aisling Blake 2-0 Coline Aumard 11-4, 11-9 (17m)
[3] Malaysia 2-0 Czech Rep
Delia Arnold 3-0 Kristyna Alexova 11-1, 11-3, 11-5
Nicol David 3-0 Lucie Fialova 11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Low Wee Wern v Olga Ertlova
New-Zealand 2-1 Canada
Kylie Lindsay 2-3 Susannah King 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 11-7, 12-14 (54m)
Joelle King 3-1 Samantha Cornett 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3 (35m)
Jaclyn Hawkes 3-0 Alexandra Norman 11-5, 13-11, 11-9 (33m)
[4] Hong Kong 2-1 South Africa
Liu Tsz-Ling 0-3 Milnay Loouw 10-12, 10-12, 5-11
Annie Au 3-2 Siyoli Waters 10-12, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3
Joey Chan 3-2 Diana Haynes 11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9
Usa 0-3 Australia
Melody Francis 3-2 Maria Ubina 11-4, 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 (35m)
Rachael Grinham 3-0 Sabrina Sobhy 11-2, 13-11, 11-3 (27m)
Donna Urquhart 2-1 Olivia Fiechter 11-6, 10-12, 11-8 (25m)
India 2-1 Netherlands
Anaka Alankamony 3-0 Milou vd Heijden 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (30m)
Dipika Pallikal 0-3 Natalie Grinham 8-11, 4-11, 3-11 (20m)
Joshana Chinappa 3-2 Orla Noom 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3 (51m)
[2] Egypt 3-0 Mexico
Nour El Tayeb 3-0 Monserrat Castella 11-8, 11-3, 11-3
Raneem El Weleily 3-0 Karla Urrutia 11-5, 11-6, 11-8
Omneya Abdel Kawy 2-0 Nayelly Hernandez 11-6, 11-2
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