Champions Elias & Mohamed On Course For World Title Defence by Howard Harding July 29, 2015
- Defending champions Diego Elias and Habiba Mohamed are just one step
away from retaining their titles in the WSF World Junior Individual
Squash Championships - but their victories in today's semi-finals at
the Squashtime Centre in Eindhoven in the Netherlands could hardly have
been more contrasting.
Top seed Elias, whose success in last year's championship in Namibia
made him Peru's first world squash champion, cruised through his match
against Malaysian Eain Yow Ng in just 20 minutes.
The 18-year-old world No.43 from Lima crushed Ng 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 in his fifth successive straight games win in the event.
"I enjoyed that, apart from the running," the 17-year-old Malaysian
(pictured above, left, with Elias) told the event website
www.wsfworldjuniors.com later. "I've played a few of the top guys in
PSA events now, but I've never been put under pressure like that!"
Elias will now face surprise opponent Youssef Soliman after the 3/4
seed emerged victorious following a four-game victory over fellow
Egyptian Saadeldin Abouaish in 72 minutes.
"Reaching the final is a big thing for me," said the delighted
18-year-old from Cairo (pictured above, foreground, with Abouaish)
after his 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 triumph. "It's hard to play someone
you know so well, I tried to change my game but he played well and made
it very tough at the end.
"I hope I play well in the final and that it's a good match."
Egyptian Habiba Mohamed went into her women's semi-final clash with
Salma Hany Ibrahim boasting an unbeaten record against her fellow
Alexandrian. Showing little evidence of the toll the previous two
five-game matches must have taken, underdog Ibrahim took the opening
game, then the third after the top seed struck back in the second.
The defending champion levelled again - but Ibrahim refused to give up,
leading various times in the decider before earning four match balls at
10-6.
However, a determined Mohamed fought back to draw level at 10-all, then
won the next rally to earn her own first match-ball before putting the
ball into the tin to hand back the advantage to her opponent. At her
next match-winning opportunity, the title-holder fired in a winning
boast from deep to keep alive her hopes of retaining the trophy.
"I'm happy to win of course, but I don't feel like I played well,"
admitted Mohamed (pictured above celebrating her victory) after the
10-12, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 13-11 victory after 83 minutes. "All credit
to Salma, she played so well and made it a really tough match. She had
a lot of strokes which I didn't agree with, but I had a chat with the
referees afterwards who explained what was happening - I'd like to
thank them for doing a tough job.
"At 6-10 in the fifth I was telling myself that I was the number one and I want to stay there, I won't lose, I just won't lose!
"Now I'll need to get some rest before the next match. I'll do my best - and I won't give up!"
In a repeat of last year's women's final, Mohamed will play Nouran
Gohar after the second seed also survived a close encounter with a
fellow Egyptian, beating 3/4 seed Mariam Metwally 5-11, 11-7, 11-8,
11-7 in just under an hour.
"I just didn't find my game at the start," admitted the relieved Gohar,
the world No.15 from Cairo (pictured above in celebratory action),
afterwards. "She was playing really well and there wasn't much I could
do. For the next three games I felt I was in control, but then at 10-2
she started attacking everything again, going crazy and coming back at
me.
"I was so relieved at the end, I thought it would be a let but I was so
glad when I head the referee say no let, it was getting close!
"I haven't played Habiba since last year's final, so I haven't thought
about a plan yet, maybe I need to now! I hope it will be a good final,
a clean match and that the crowd enjoy it."
RESULTS: WSF World Junior Squash Championships, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Men's semi-finals: [1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [5/8] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 11-4, 11-1, 11-2 (20m) [3/4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [5/8] Saadeldin Abouaish (EGY) 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 (72m)
