Kenzy Ayman, Aly Abou El Einen, Fayrouz Aboelkheir, and Karim El Hammamy performed to their potential to declare the honours in the Squash World Cup in Chennai just lately.
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R. RAVINDRAN
The Egyptian stars gave ample proof of their very good expertise and the degree of dominance at the Squash World Cup held in Chennai just lately.
Much earlier than the begin of the occasion, it was clear Egypt would win as the prime seed, and it did it in grand model. The win over Malaysia in the closing confirmed the African powerhouse had the capability to bounce again when the odds had been in opposition to it.
The crew’s sport plan, technique, and execution had been spectacular all through the mixed-team competitors, which came about after a niche of 12 years.
Though the timing of the occasion at the finish of the season prevented the cream of Egypt gamers from collaborating, three of the 4 had been in the prime 50 and the different was ranked 56th.
Failing to come good
But disappointment was in retailer for Indians followers when the host misplaced tamely to Malaysia 3-0 in the semifinals. Much was anticipated from the second seed after it had put it throughout Japan 3-1 in the final group-B tie.
The skilled Joshna Chinnappa and Saurav Ghosal, who gave a number of hope with their efficiency in opposition to Japan, failed to rise to the event in opposition to Malaysia.
The 21-year-old Abhay Singh, a rising star ranked World No.62, additionally cracked underneath strain. In the essential ties in opposition to Japan (in the group part) and Malaysia in the knock-outs, he misplaced the opening match, placing strain on his compatriots.
The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) officers, sad with India’s show, is now guarded on the nation’s probabilities at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The host, nonetheless, didn’t decrease its guard on the organisational entrance. The setting, meticulous preparations, and medical execution of the World Cup left everybody, together with Zena Wooldridge, president of the World Squash Federation (WSF), immensely happy. The WSF, SRFI, and the Government of Tamil Nadu deserve full credit score for pulling off a grand present.
“I think you’ll agree we’ve witnessed an outstanding week of squash in Chennai. The new format has produced some exciting squash and I hope you’ve enjoyed the whole experience and hospitality here in Chennai,” stated Woolridge at the closing ceremony.
Just like the glorious hospitality of the host, Egypt’s efficiency was appreciated by those that watched its gamers placed on a medical exhibition of squash at the Express Avenue Mall.
One for all, all for one
The 4 Egyptians — Aly Abou El Eleinen (males’s World No. 21), Hamim El Hammamy (males’s 40), Fayrouz Aboelkheir (girls’s No. 33) and Kenzy Ayman (56) — stood up for one different.
When Kenzy misplaced her first match to Yee Xin Ying in the summit conflict in opposition to Malaysia, or when Fayrouz went down to a gifted Aira Azman of Malaysia in the second match in the group part, the others fought tooth and nail to stability it out by successful robust matches.
“Bloody hell!” remarked a Malaysian PSA official after watching Eleinen taking part in catch-up for 10 rallies and then successful the level with a cracking backhand winner in opposition to Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsurue in the semifinals.
When Egypt final received the title in Chennai in 2011, it had in its ranks the world’s prime gamers akin to Raneem El Wilily, Ramy Ashour, Karim Darwish, and Mohamed Elsherbiny.
With this win, Egypt has proven its second line of gamers is stronger than the better of different international locations, and extra importantly, has a bench power that’s rock stable.
Playing its coronary heart out
Fourth-seeded Malaysia deserves all the plaudits that got here its approach. It performed its coronary heart out and was confidence personified in the closing in opposition to Egypt.
Comprising Darren Pragasam (males, World ranked 141), Hung Sai Ong (males, 149), Aira Azman (girls, 55), and Yee Xin Ying (girls, 79), the crew pushed past its potential and produced its best-ever present in the World Cup.
Darren and Aira, and to a lesser extent Ying had been the stars for Malaysia. Aira was stupendous in opposition to Joshna in the second match of the semifinals. Even although the Indian fought arduous, Aira had the closing snigger.
Darren, whose play was common until then, raised his sport in opposition to India in the semifinals. In the third match in opposition to his idol Saurav Ghosal, he was excellent. His misleading backhand drops and relentless retrievals put the top-ranked Indian in a repair.
The Malaysian couldn’t disguise his feelings after the big win over the Nineteenth-ranked Indian. “I know the fans wanted an India win today but I’m so happy to see so many people come out and support our sport. It’s amazing, thank you so much.
“Saurav’s someone I’ve looked up to forever. He’s one of the greatest Asian and Indian players. I saw he was struggling a bit [with a knee issue] and I said ‘I have a chance today’. But hats off to him, he fought to the end even though he was hurting. You guys must be proud of him.”
The petite Aira has an enormous coronary heart and a bountiful sport. The 18-year-old depends not a lot on energy however on angles and delicate drops. Her win over a a lot increased ranked Fayrouz in the Group-A match was a lesson in court docket craft.
Fayrouz, one in all the brightest skills to emerge from Egypt, discovered the going tough in opposition to Aira as the latter had the audacity to go for winners from tough angles and her deception throughout the court docket gave no likelihood to the Egyptian.
Malaysia has a vibrant future and it ought to fancy fairly a couple of medals in singles at the Asian Games if the type at the World Cup is any indication.
India wants to introspect. Under strain at house, its gamers crumbled. Abhay is actually a greater participant than what the World Cup confirmed, whereas Joshna, whose rankings has gone down to 72, and Saurav should rectify their errors and come again stronger for the forthcoming occasions.
Egypt’s coach Mohamed Elkeiy stated it proper: “We were not under pressure. It was India that was under pressure.”
The World Cup was a joyous spectacle to behold however one that will not have left nice reminiscences for Indian squash followers.
