Egypt beat England to win World Junior squash team title

Yet for all this, it must be said, England did not give the honours on a platter. In their own cool and calculated way, the English boys tried their skills in the forecourt even while matching the rival’s flashy drives on both flanks. But as Marwan Tarek, the man who gave the lead with his win over Nicholas Wall, showed the Egyptians had enough of everything to meet the task. If it was the stooping and streching efforts needed at the forecourt or the quick dash to the back wall, the Egyptians be it Marwan or the next in line Omar El Torkey showed their adeptness. Marwan for sure was stretched to the limit in the first game and a sample of Wall’s fight was the way he saved two game balls to restore parity at 10-10. But if that was expected to be a sign of things to come, then it was not to be as Marwan grabbed that game on extra points. Things were lot easier from there for Marwan as Wall tended to give in after initial resistance.

Marwan said he was happy that he could contribute to Egypt’s triumph. “After losing the singles final I was keen do well here,” he said while Coach Ahmed Mohamed Motany said “We were eagerly looking for this win. After losing the title two years ago to Pakistan, winning here was our main goal. I am happy the boys did it,” he added. 

Teams Czech Republic and USA were placed third and earned the bronze medal. Host India finished 11th overall.

RESULT: Final: Egypt (1) bt England (3) 2-0 (Marwan Tarek bt Nicholas Wall 1210, 11-6, 11-7; Omar El Torkey bt Samuel Todd 13-11, 11-4,11-4)

Tragedy struck the world junior championship on the final day when the manager cum coach of the South African team Graham Prior collapsed in a heap even as he was moving to board the team bus along with his players from the Indian Squash Academy. He had apparently suffered a severe heart attack. Brior was immediately rushed to a private hospital nearby where the doctors pronounced him dead. He was 67. The SRFI was in touch with the South African embassy and was giving all possible assistance to ensure quick clearance of all formalities before the body is airlifted back home.