WJC Day 5 Preview - Semi-Final Day plus Aussie men on court

The 2023 WSF World Junior Squash Championships enter the semi-finals stage today with the best young players on the planet ready to do battle in Melbourne.

MEN’S SEMI-FINALS
Egyptian 5/8 seed Salman Khalil provided one of the biggest shocks of the week on Friday as he stunned English top seed Jonah Bryant in straight games to reach the semi-final in Melbourne.

Following USA’s Hollis Robertson’s victory over second seed and defending champion Rowan Damming (NED) on Wednesday, it leaves Khalil’s semi-final opponent - compatriot Mohamed Zakaria - as the joint highest seed in the tournament.

The 3/4 seed overcame Colombia’s Juan Jose Torres 3-0 on Friday to guarantee an Egyptian in the men’s final.

Pakistan’s Hamza Khan, the other 3/4 seed, will face 9/16 seed Melvil Scianimanico in the other semi-final after the Frenchman defeated Robertson in a tense five-game battle.

WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS
In the women’s draw top seed Amina Orfi will face 3/4 seed Malak Khafagy in an all-Egyptian semi-final with Orfi still not dropping a game in the tournament.

The other semi-final will be contested by Egyptian No.2 seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Malaysian 3/4 seed Aira Azman.

Aboelkheir came through a physical encounter with American Caroline Fouts on Friday while Azman dismantled the game of France’s Lauren Baltayan in just 21 minutes.

AUSSIES IN ACTION
Five men from the host nation remain in action on Saturday with all still vying for their highest possible ranking.

Oscar Curtis can finish as high as 17th in the men’s draw, but will need to overcome Malaysia’s Harith Danial Jefri to make it into that playoff on Sunday. Regardless of the weekend’s results, the West Australian is guaranteed of a top 20 finish.

Dylan Classen will be the second-ranked Australian in the tournament and is assured a top 40 result. He can make the 37th/38th playoff tomorrow should he get past India’s Sharan Punjabi in today’s encounter.

Victorians Connor Hayes and Harvey Allan are both in the 69th/72nd bracket and could even faceoff tomorrow should they mirror each other’s results today, while NSW’s Ken Lamb can finish in the top 77 with victories over the weekend.

Action at Melbourne Squash Centres begins at 11am AEST today with the first Australians on court at 12:30pm and semi-final action starting at 2pm AEST. Tickets must be purchased for entry to this weekend’s games.

All semi-final matches taking place on the glass court are being streamed for free on WorldSquash.TV and the Olympic Channel.

Highlights from Day Four will be available from around 10:30am AEST on Saturday morning on 7plus.

Click here for draws and results.

Click here for tournament photos.

2023 WSF World Junior Squash Championships
Melbourne Sports Centres VIC
Day 5 - Saturday 22 July 2023

WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS - GLASS COURT (times are approximate)
2:00pm [3/4] Aira Azman (MAS) v [2] Fayrouz Abouelkheir (EGY)
3:30pm [1] Amina Orfi (EGY) v [3/4] Malak Khafagy (EGY)

MEN’S SEMI-FINALS - GLASS COURT (times are approximate)
2:45pm [3/4] Mohammad Hamza Khan (PAK) v [9/16] Melvil Scianimanico (FRA)
4:15pm [5/8] Salman Khalil (EGY) v [3/4] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY)

AUSTRALIAN TEAM (times are approximate)
Men’s 17th/20th Place Draw
2:45pm Oscar Curtis (WA) v Harith Danial Jefri (MAS) - Court 4

Men’s 37th/40th Place Draw
2:00pm Dylan Classen (WA) v Sharan Punjabi (IND) - Court 5

Men’s 69th/72nd Place Draw
12:30pm Harvey Allan (VIC) v Aryan Pratap Singh (IND) - Court 5
12:30pm Connor Hayes (VIC) v Nevindu Lakman (SRI) - Court 6

Men’s 77th/80th Place Draw
12:30pm Ken Lamb (NSW) v Yasser Al Abbas (KSA) - Court 9