Kobayashi Delights Home Fans With WSA Victory by Elliot Selby September 2, 2013
- Misaki Kobayashi showed further evidence of why she is fast becoming
Japan's greatest ever player by winning the Pro Squash in Japan event
yesterday.
Kobayashi looked in
great form all event and facing tough opposition in the semi final and
final, she stepped up her game to claim her fifth WSA title and first
since March 2012.
In the semi final
Kobayashi faced Hong Kong's Tong Tsz-Wing, who recently broke into the
world's top 50. After controlling the first two games, Kobayashi stayed
strong to close out the third game on a tie break. In the other semi
final, 17 year old Salma Hany Ibrahim Ahmed continued her good form by
upsetting second seed Liu Tsz-Ling in four games. It was second
straight final for Hany Ibrahim Ahmed after winning her third WSA title
the week before in Malaysia.
In their first meeting
it was the 23 year old Kobayashi who took control of the match and
although Hany Ibrahim Ahmed made the second and third games tough, the
home favourite was not going to be denied.
The title makes a
welcome return to form for Kobayashi after being upset in the quarter
final of the Hampton Squash Week event a few weeks ago.
Final
[1] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt [4] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY)
