EGYPT TENTH TITLE, and EIGTH IN A ROW!!

PHOTOS

It’s 10th for EGYPT!

Final

[1] Egypt 2-0 [2] Malaysia
Amina Orfi3-0 Aira Azman  11-7, 11-8, 11-2 (34m)
Zeina Zein 3-1 Sehveetrraa Kumar 11-3, 11-5, 2-11, 11-0 (27m)
Nadien El Hammamy w/d Thanusaa Uthrian

Egypt have won their tenth WSF Women’s World Junior Team Championship title and their eighth in succession after a 2-0 win against No.2 seeds Malaysia at Melbourne Sports Centres.

Malaysia came into today’s tie with revenge on their minds, having lost to Egypt in the final of the last two editions of the tournament, with their first-string Aira Azman also losing to Egyptian first-string Amina Orfi in the final of the individual championship earlier this week.

The No.2 seed’s chances were boosted by news ahead of the tie that Egypt was without two players due to illness, meaning the defending champions were represented by their No.1 Amina Orfi, No.3 Zeina Zein and No.5 Nadien El Hammamy.

Zein, up first due to the 2-1-3 string order today, picked up the gauntlet almost flawlessly from original second string Fayrouz Aboelkheir as she put in a brilliant performance to settle any Egyptian nerves. After taking a 2-0 lead against Sehveetrraa Kumar, the Egyptian was pegged back in game three 11-2.

The 18-year-old soon found the perfect response, however, delivering a stunning 11-0 win in game four to give her side the lead.

In the second match, Orfi was at her clinical best as she kept Azman at arm’s length throughout.

The 16-year-old kept her cool and took advantage of Azman’s errors in the first two games to take a 2-0 lead, before putting the Malaysian to the sword with an 11-2 win in game three.

Afterwards, Egypt’s coach, former World No.4 Omneya Abdel Kawy, said:

“To be honest I was really nervous because we had some issues before the tie. The whole team wasn’t 100 percent well. With Nour [Megahed] having a fever yesterday we had to remove her and Fayrouz wasn’t well today. So we had to take a technical and a safety decision.

“Amina wasn’t too well, either, she was really stiff and we were so worried that she couldn’t play her best. Thank goodness Zeina played really, really well. She played amazing squash and she took the pressure away.

“Amina had to push and kept going. She’s so strong mentally. I can’t say anything else! She kept pushing herself day in, day out and wanted to play every match even when her back was so stiff and that gave me the confidence that even if she can’t play her best, she will play, do her best and win it!

“It’s so special to win a tenth title. It’s our aim to keep winning titles through every generation and keep the factory going!

Standings, 2023 WSF Women’s World Junior Team Championship
1 – [1] Egypt
2 – [2] Malaysia
3 – [3] USA and [5] England
5 – [4] Hong Kong, China
6 – [7] Canada
7 – [8] Australia
8 – [6] India
9 – [9] New Zealand
10 – [10] Scotland
11 – [12] Singapore
12 – [11] South Africa
13 – [13] Ireland
14 – [14] Chinese Taipei

Semis

Egypt 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.

Afterwards, Egypt coach and former World No.4 Omneya Abdel Kawy said:

“It’s really amazing [to reach a tenth consecutive final].  This is my first world championship as a coach and it’s great to win 2-0 to take off the pressure of a third match.

“My girls played really well and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

Quarters

Day Two

Pools :

Pool A :  [1] Egypt, [7] Canada, [10] Scotland
Pool B :  [2] Malaysia, [8] Australia, [9] New Zealand
Pool C :  [3] USA, [5] England, [11] South Africa, [14] Taipei
Pool D :  [4] Hong Kong, [6] India, [12] Singapore, [13] Ireland