WJC Team Event - Egypt, Malaysia to contest final; hosts eye off 7th

Malaysia and Egypt will meet in the final of the WSF Women’s World Team Championship for the third time in succession after beating USA and England, respectively, today.

Despite the 2-0 scoreline for No.2 seeds Malaysia, their tie against No.3 seeds USA was anything but straightforward.

With string order 3-1-2 today, it was up to Thanusaa Uthrian to lead the team against Emma Trauber.

After edging the first two games 11-9 and 11-8, Uthrian went from looking like she was breezing towards victory at 6-1 up in game three to suddenly being all at sea as Trauber incredibly won nine consecutive points to earn three game balls at 10-6.

To her credit, Uthrian fought back and, in an exciting exchange, saved eight game balls before eventually converting her first match ball at 15-14 to give Malaysia the lead.

The second match, between first strings Aira Azman and Caroline Fouts, picked up where the first left off, with no shortage of drama in a tight battle as Azman fought back from 0-2 down to beat Fouts 3-2 to send Malaysia through.

Egypt, meanwhile, made short work of five-time champions England in the second semi-final.

Egypt, winners of the last seven titles, were dominant from the outset, with Zeina Zein firing the top seeds into the lead with a brutal 15-minute 11-4, 11-0, 11-2 win against Meha Shah.

In the second match, English first string Asia Harris was able to offer more resistance, with the 18-year-old looking in good touch as she took the game to Amina Orfi.

Orfi, who six days ago won her second consecutive individual championship, was still able to keep her nose ahead throughout, though, showing her class in a hard-fought 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 win.

That win for Egypt means they have now made ten consecutive WSF Women’s World Junior Team Championship finals.

Hong Kong will meet Canada in the playoff for fifth after victories over Australia and India.

Ena Kwong was able to give Hong Kong an early lead after accounting for Victoria’s Amelie Guziak 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-6).

That result put co-captain Madison Lyon in a do-or-due battle with Sze Wing Wai. After dropping the first two games, the Queenslander hit back to win the fourth but couldn’t maintain the momentum, going down 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4).

Ka Huen Leung was able to win the dead rubber against WA’s Erin Classen to give Hong Kong a clean sweep of the results.

The final takes place tomorrow, Saturday 29 July, at 2:00pm AEST at Melbourne Sports Centres.

Today’s highlights will be available at around 10:30am AEST on Friday on 7plus.

Click here for draws and results.

Click here for tournament photos.

2023 WSF World Junior Squash Championships
Melbourne Sports Centres VIC
Saturday 29 July 2023

WOMEN’S TEAM FINAL
2:00pm Egypt v Malaysia - Glass Court

WOMEN’S TEAM 5TH-6TH PLAYOFF
11:00am Hong Kong v Canada - Glass Court

WOMEN’S TEAM 7TH-8TH PLAYOFF
11:00am Australia v India - Court 9

WOMEN’S TEAM 9TH-10TH PLAYOFF
11:00am Scotland v New Zealand - Court 6

WOMEN’S TEAM 11TH-12TH PLAYOFF
11:00am Singapore v South Africa - Court 4

WOMEN’S TEAM 13TH-14TH PLAYOFF
Ireland d Chinese Taipei 3-0