U-21 World Cup squash: Egypt down fighting India

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Chennai has yet again proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Egyptians as the top seeds clinched the inaugural edition of the U-21 squash World Cup here at the Express Avenue Mall on Sunday.

Egypt, who had claimed the senior world championship at the same venue last year, overcame India in front of thousands of vociferous shoppers for a 2-1 result in a keenly-contested final.

As they had announced before, the Egyptians dedicated the triumph to the victims of a riot that killed 74 football fans recently back home. The young guns of India, seeded fourth, startlingly exceeded all expectations by stretching the favourites who have two reigning world junior champions in their ranks.

The huge responsibility of anchoring India once again fell on the shoulders of young Ramit Tandon, who was the star of India’s entry into summit clash, after Dipika dramatically came back from the jaws of defeat to win 11-7, 4-11, 8-11, 14-12, 11-5 in an enthralling second rubber that lasted one hour and 14 minutes.

Ramit, world No.333, started confidently matching his experienced opponent Karim Abdel Gawad in the opening game. But the world No. 43 raised his game to lead 2-0. Ramit, however, delayed Egypt’s coronation by taking the third game 11-6 and played his heart out in the fourth before Karim wrapped up the match 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8.

El Sherbini had four match balls in the fourth game (10-6), but the tide changed in favour of Dipika after a controversial stroke point. The referee ruled that Sherbini had obstructed her opponent. A frustrated Sherbini sent two consecutive shots straight into the tin and Dipika hit a beautiful crosscourt as parity was restored at 10. The Egyptian girl had another match ball at 12-11, but she squandered it again. Dipika won the thrilling game at 14-12, thanks to another brace of stroke points.

Earlier, Ravi had his share of chances in the first rubber, but he was guilty of fluffing them all. In the second game, the Delhi boy raced to a 7-5 lead only to gift the next six points to his opponent. Ravi, however, raised some hopes when he took the fourth game at 11-7 after leading 10-4.

Second-seeded England avenged their league defeat at the hands of France by winning the bronze medal play-off. Charles Sharpes had to dig deep to beat Lucas Serme 14-12, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 in the longest match of the tournament (78 minutes), while Emily Whitlock breezed past Cyrielle Peltier 11-5, 11-7, 11-7.

Results: Final: Egypt bt India 2-1 (Marwan El Shorbagy bt Ravi Dixit 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7; Nour El Sherbini lost to Dipika Pallikal 7-11, 11-4, 11-8, 12-14, 5-11; Karim Abdel Gawad bt Ramit Tandon 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8). 3rd place play-off : England bt France 2-0 (Charles Sharpes bt Lucas Serme 14-12, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6; Emily Whitlock bt Cyrielle Peltier 11-5, 11-7, 11-7).