Kenzy Ayman, Aly Abou El Einen, Fayrouz Aboelkheir, and Karim El Hammamy performed to their potential to assert the honours within the Squash World Cup in Chennai lately.
The Egyptian stars gave ample proof of their very good expertise and the extent of dominance on the Squash World Cup held in Chennai lately.
A lot earlier than the beginning of the occasion, it was clear Egypt would win as the highest seed, and it did it in grand type. The win over Malaysia within the closing confirmed the African powerhouse had the capability to bounce again when the chances had been in opposition to it.
The staff’s sport plan, technique, and execution had been spectacular all through the mixed-team competitors, which occurred after a niche of 12 years.
Although the timing of the occasion on the finish of the season prevented the cream of Egypt gamers from participating, three of the 4 had been within the prime 50 and the opposite was ranked 56th.
Failing to come back good
However disappointment was in retailer for Indians followers when the host misplaced tamely to Malaysia 3-0 within the semifinals. A lot was anticipated from the second seed after it had put it throughout Japan 3-1 within 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, did not 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. Within the essential ties in opposition to Japan (within the group section) and Malaysia within 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 possibilities on the Asian Video games in Hangzhou.
The host, nonetheless, didn’t decrease its guard on the organisational entrance. The setting, meticulous preparations, and scientific execution of the World Cup left everybody, together with Zena Wooldridge, president of the World Squash Federation (WSF), immensely glad. The WSF, SRFI, and the Authorities of Tamil Nadu deserve full credit score for pulling off a grand present.
“I believe you’ll agree we’ve witnessed an impressive week of squash in Chennai. The brand new format has produced some thrilling squash and I hope you’ve loved the entire expertise and hospitality right here in Chennai,” mentioned Woolridge on the closing ceremony.
Similar to the wonderful hospitality of the host, Egypt’s efficiency was appreciated by those that watched its gamers placed on a scientific exhibition of squash on the Categorical 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 within the summit conflict in opposition to Malaysia, or when Fayrouz went all the way down to a proficient Aira Azman of Malaysia within the second match within the group section, the others fought tooth and nail to steadiness it out by successful robust matches.
“Bloody hell!” remarked a Malaysian PSA official after watching Eleinen enjoying catch-up for 10 rallies after which successful the purpose with a cracking backhand winner in opposition to Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsurue within the semifinals.
When Egypt final gained the title in Chennai in 2011, it had in its ranks the world’s prime gamers equivalent 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 very best of different nations, and extra importantly, has a bench power that’s rock strong.
Taking part in its coronary heart out
Fourth-seeded Malaysia deserves all of the plaudits that got here its method. It performed its coronary heart out and was confidence personified within 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 staff pushed past its potential and produced its best-ever present within the World Cup.
Darren and Aira, and to a lesser extent Ying had been the celebrities for Malaysia. Aira was stupendous in opposition to Joshna within the second match of the semifinals. Although the Indian fought onerous, Aira had the ultimate chuckle.
Darren, whose play was common until then, raised his sport in opposition to India within the semifinals. Within 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 cover his feelings after the large win over the Nineteenth-ranked Indian. “I do know the followers needed an India win right this moment however I’m so completely satisfied to see so many individuals come out and assist our sport. It’s wonderful, thanks a lot.
“Saurav’s somebody I’ve seemed as much as without end. He’s one of many biggest Asian and Indian gamers. I noticed he was struggling a bit [with a knee issue] and I mentioned ‘I’ve an opportunity right this moment’. However hats off to him, he fought to the tip regardless that he was hurting. You guys should be happy with 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 larger ranked Fayrouz within the Group-A match was a lesson in courtroom craft.
Fayrouz, one of many brightest abilities to emerge from Egypt, discovered the going troublesome in opposition to Aira because the latter had the audacity to go for winners from troublesome angles and her deception throughout the courtroom gave no likelihood to the Egyptian.
Malaysia has a vivid future and it ought to fancy fairly a number of medals in singles on the Asian Video games if the shape on the World Cup is any indication.
India must introspect. Underneath strain at house, its gamers crumbled. Abhay is actually a greater participant than what the World Cup confirmed, whereas Joshna, whose rankings has gone all the way down to 72, and Saurav should rectify their errors and are available again stronger for the forthcoming occasions.
Egypt’s coach Mohamed Elkeiy mentioned it proper: “We weren’t underneath strain. It was India that was underneath strain.”
The World Cup was a joyous spectacle to behold however one that won’t have left nice recollections for Indian squash followers.