WJC Day 6 Wrap - Orfi, Khan claim Junior World Championships

Amina Orfi was a dominant force and Hamza Khan claimed his first crown when the 2023 WSF World Junior Squash Championships finals were contested at Melbourne Sports Centres today.

Sixteen-year-old Orfi was all class as she won her second title in the space of 12 months.

Malaysia’s Aira Azman put up a fight in the first game and held an 8-7 advantage before the number one seed reeled off four straight points to take a 1–0 lead.

That run of points gave the Egyptian defending champion the impetus to kick on, dropping just six more points as she romped to a 3-1 (11-8, 11-5, 11-1) win.

Remarkably, Orfi still still has two more years in the junior ranks and is on track to win an unprecedented four Junior World Championships.

“I feel so happy to have won this title for a second time,” said Orfi. “For me this is more important because it’s more difficult to be able to retain your title again and I’m so happy I managed to do that.”

The men’s final was a torrid and physical affair from the outset with Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria edging ahead after winning the first game 12-10.

The second went point for point and Zakaria was on the brink of taking a two game lead at 10-9 before Khan won a 95-shot rally which went for almost three minutes to square the ledger.

The Pakistan teenager went on to win the game 14-12 after claiming 10 of the last 14 points.

After the first two games went for a monumental 48 minutes, Khan rode the momentum into the third game in a seven-minute takedown to be just 11 points away from the title.

While Zakaria showed glimpses of his best form, Khan was riding high and used wits, guile and skill to win 3-1 in 70 minutes.

Khan was Pakistan’s first World Junior Championship finalist since 2008 and became the nation’s first winner since Jansher Khan in 1986.

AUSSIES IN ACTION
Oscar Curtis has finished 18th at the Junior World Championships after going down today to Colombia’s Juan Irisarri.

The West Australian jumped out of the blocks to claim the opening game, however the South American hit back to take a 2-1 lead.

Curtis was able to force the match into a decider however Irisarri was too strong, winning 3-2 (9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8).

In the only all-Australian match of the week, Connor Hayes was able to topple his Victorian counterpart Harvey Allan 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-6) in the battle for 69th position while while Ken Lamb finishes in 77th position after taking down Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Hsin-Lun 3-1 (9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6).

TEAMS STILL TO COME
The Women’s Team event gets underway on Monday with Australia drawn in Pool B against Malaysia and New Zealand.

The hosts have day one of before meeting Malaysia on Tuesday and the Kiwis on Thursday.

All matches taking place on the glass court are being streamed for free on WorldSquash.TV.

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

Click here for draws and results from the singles event.

Click here for the draw for the Women’s Team event.

Click here for tournament photos.

2023 WSF World Junior Squash Championships
Melbourne Sports Centres VIC
Day 6 - Sunday 23 July 2023

WOMEN’S FINAL
[1] Amina Orfi [1] d  [3/4] Aira Azman (MAS) 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-1)

MEN’S FINAL
[3/4] Mohammad Hamza Khan (PAK) d [3/4] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY) 3-1 (10-12, 14-12, 11-3, 11-6)

AUSTRALIAN TEAM
Men’s 17th/18th Place Playoff
Juan Irisarri (COL) d Oscar Curtis (WA) 3-2 (9- 11, 11-3, 11- 7, 6- 11, 11-8).

Men’s 69th/70th Place Playoff
Connor Hayes (VIC) d Harvey Allan (VIC) 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-6)

Men’s 77th/78th Place Playoff
Ken Lamb (NSW) d Tsai Hsin-Lun 3-1 (9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6)