Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin Report Cairo (Egypt): Although Egypt have won their fifth WSF Women’s World Team Championship title last week, they were far from the only team to record an impressive achievement at the tournament, which successfully returned after four years away due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Madinaty Sporting Club, Japan were one of a number of teams that impressed, with the Asian nation finishing 10th, one place higher than their previous best. While every member of the Japan team made a valuable contribution, one name stood out repeatedly: Satomi Watanabe. The World No.33 had been making a name for herself on the PSA World Tour recently, with excellent showings at the New Zealand Open and Hong Kong Open, but in Cairo that talent was on full display to the watching world. In a commendable personal achievement, the Japan No.1 won every single one of the six matches she played, with Melissa Alves, Aifa Azman, Emilia Soini, Donna Lobban, Cindy Merlo and Alexandra Fuller all falling to the 23-year-old. In recognition of her form in Egypt, Watanabe was awarded the Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the tournament at the championship closing ceremony. Speaking on the recognition, Watanabe said: “I’m really happy to be awarded! It means a lot for me and I could never have done it alone, so I really appreciate my teammates and those who supported me.” The Yokohama native admits that, although she and her team are proud of what they achieved, they are unapologetic in their ambitions and are setting their sights on improvement in 2023. “It’s always a good experience to play in the Women’s World Teams and I think this was the closest chance the team has had to make it into the top eight. I’m gutted not to make it through but there are so many positives to take for me and the team. We’re all really looking forward to playing again in two years!” Watanabe said. At just 23 years of age, Watanabe will no doubt have plenty of opportunities to help Japan build on their achievement in Egypt. Expect plenty more to come from Japan’s breakout star.

Faisal ISLAMABAD: A 12-member Pakistan squad including nine players and three officials will leave for England on December 30 to participate in the upcoming British Open Juniors’ Squash Championship, which is scheduled to be held from January 4 to 8, 2023 in Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK). According to an official of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), 12 members squad including 8 boys, 3 officials, and 1 girl will visit the UK. Mahnoor Ali will take part in the Girl’s Under-11 discipline for the first time in the history of the British Juniors Squash Championship. Eight boys will represent their country in four different age group categories competitions including Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19. In 2020, Mohammad Hamza Khan lifted the gold medal for Pakistan in the Under-15 discipline after an 8-year gap. Pakistan claimed only one British Juniors title in 2003 when Pakistan won three gold medals in Under-13, Under-17, and Under-19. In 2003, Rehmat Khan was the mentor of Pakistani squash lads, who clinched the British Juniors title with three top positions. Aamir Atlas Khan, Yasir Butt, and Safeer-Ullah Khan won the finals of Under-13, Under-15, and Under-19 respectively. Names of players: Under-11: Mahnoor Ali Under-13: Nauman Khan, Ahmed Rayyan Khalil Under-15: Mubeen Khan, Azan Ali khan Under-17: Huraira Khan, Abdullah Nawaz Under-19: Mohammad Hamza Khan, Noor Zaman Khan Officials: Farhan Zaman (coach), Zafaryab Khan (manager), Wasim Ahmed (physical trainer)

Sports Bulletin Report Cairo (Egypt): Defending champions Egypt retained their of the WSF Women's World Team Championship title after thrashing the United States of America (USA) 2-0 in the final at the Madinaty Sporting Club, Cairo. Top seed hosts were represented by World No.1 Nouran Gohar, World No.2 Nour El Sherbini, World No.3 Hania El Hammamy and World No.6 Nour El Tayeb had reached their sixth final without dropping a match, with Nouran Gohar's 3-1 win over Aifa Azman yesterday representing the only game dropped by the top seeds. The USA, represented by World No.5 Amanda Sobhy, World No.10 Olivia Fiechter, World No.15 - and younger sister to Amanda - Sabrina Sobhy, and World No.20 Olivia Clyne had already made history by reaching the final, with fifth being the No.2 seeds previous best ever finish. In a brilliant opening match, the best contest of the tournament, Gohar was pushed to the very brink by Sobhy. The World No.1 had looked in complete control when she took a 7-0 lead in the first game, only for Sobhy to dig in brilliantly. In front of a raucous crowd, Sobhy began to pull points back. Although it was too late to rescue the first game, which Gohar took 11-7, the American levelled the scores with a well-deserved 11-5 win in the second. The 29-year-old then took a hard-fought and feisty third game 12-10, putting Egypt behind for the first time in the tournament. Now, though, it was Gohar's turn to show her mettle. After falling behind in the fourth game, 'the Terminator' saved two match balls to level the tie with a 13-11 win. Roared on by 1,500 fans and with her opponent beginning to wilt, Gohar pressed her advantage in the decider, firing past Sobhy time and again to hand Egypt a crucial one-match lead with an 11-8 victory in the fifth. In the second match of the tie, El Sherbini quickly snuffed out any hopes of a repeat of the tension that had accompanied the first tie. The 'Warrior Princess', the defending individual as well as team world champion, wasted no time in going after Fiechter, with the American going down 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 in 21 minutes to keep the trophy in Egyptian hands. Results (final): Egypt beat USA 2-0 Nouran Gohar beat Amanda Sobhy (3-2) 11-7, 5-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-8 (56m) Nour El Sherbini beat Olivia Fiechter (3-0) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (21m) Hania El Hammamy v Sabrina Sobhy (w/d) Women's World Team Championship (final standings): 1- Egypt, 2- USA, 3- England & Malaysia, 5- Hong Kong, 6- France, 7- Canada, 8- Scotland, 9- South Africa, 10-Japan, 11- Australia, 12- Switzerland, 13- Germany, 14- Wales, 15- Finland, 16- Chinese Taipei, 17- Ukraine.

Sports Bulletin Report Cairo (Egypt): Scotland, Canada, Malaysia and France have won their matches of the World Women’s Team Event Squash Champion after thrashing their rival teams Germany, Wales, Finland, and Chinese Taipei respectively at Madinaty Sporting Club Cairo, Egypt on Sunday. Canada beat Wales by 2-1 while the rest of the three matches ended in straight matches. Results (Women’s Squash Team Event): SCOTLAND beat GERMANY (3-0): Alison Thomson 3-0 Sharon Sinclair 11-6, 11-5, 12-10 (26m) Georgia Adderley 3-1 Katerina Tycova 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 (35m) Lisa Aitken 3-2 Saskia Beinhard 4-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-13, 11-8 (50m) CANADA beat WALES (2-1): Nikole Todd 3-0 Stacey Gooding 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 (18m) Nicole Bunyan 2-3 Lowri Roberts 12-10, 11-5, 6-11, 7-11, 8-11 (44m) Hollie Naughton 3-1 Emily Whitlock 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7 (42m) MALAYSIA beat FINLAND (3-0): Chan Yiwen 3-0 Maarit Ekholm   11-3, 11-2, 11-1 (33m) Rachel Arnold 3-0 Riina Koskinen 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (19m) Aifa Azman 3-0 Emilia Soini 11-9, 11-4, 11-7 (27m) FRANCE beat CHINESE TAIPEI (3-0): Enora Villard 3-0 Yi-Chun Wu 11-1, 11-0, 11-1 (14m) Coline Aumard 3-0 Taipei Wang Yuan 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (20m) Melissa Alves 3-0 Lee Yi-Hsuan 11-0, 11-8, 11-3 (17m)  

Sports Bulletin Report Cairo (Egypt): Hosts Egypt and Malaysia snatched victories on the opening day of the World Women’s Team Event Championship that rolled into action at the Madinaty Sporting Club Cairo Egypt on Saturday. Besides defending champions, Egypt, France, England, the United States of America (USA), and Malaysia also won their open-day matches of the World Women’s Team Championship 2022. Results (Day-1): Pool A: [1] EGYPT beat SWITZERLAND (3-0) Nouran Gohar 3-0 Cindy Merlo: 11-4, 11-2, 11-3 (18m) Nour El Tayeb 3-0 Ambre Allinckx: 11-1, 11-2, 11-2 (20m) Hania Hammamy 3-0 Nadia Pfister: 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (24m) Pool B:  [2] USA beat AUSTRALIA (3-0) Amanda Sobhy 3-0 Jess Turnbull: 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (21m) Olivia Blatchford Clyne 3-0 Sarah Cardwell: 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (22m) Olivia Fiechter 3-0 Alex Haydon: 11-4, 11-2, 11-8 (22m) Pool C:  [3] ENGLAND beat SOUTH AFRICA (3-0) Jasmine Hutton 3-2 Alexandra Fuller: 13-11, 7-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4 (44m) Julianne Courtice 3-0 Cheyna Wood: 11-0, 11-3, 11-1 (16m) Lucy Turmel 3-0 Lizelle Muller: 11-1, 11-7, 11-7 (11m) Pool D: [4] FRANCE beat JAPAN (2-1) Melissa Alves 1-3 Satomi Watanabe: 4-11, 11-8, 10-12, 5-11 (42m) Coline Aumard 3-1 Risa Sugimoto: 11-4, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6 (40m) Camille Serme 3-0 Akari Midorikawa: 11-4, 11-2, 11-3 (19m) Pool D: [5/6] MALAYSIA beat CHINESE TAIPEI (3-0) Rachel Arnold 3-0 Lee Yi-Hsuan: 11-4, 11-1, 1-2 (15m) Yee Xin Ying 3-0 Wei-Ting Huang: 11-5, 11-4, 11-1 (14m) Chan Yiwen 3-0 Wang Yuan: 11-1, 11-2, 11-5 (13m)  

Framboise Gommendy It’s less than one week before the women’s Australian team takes to the court at the Madinaty Sport Club, Cairo, Egypt, for the 2022 WSF Women’s World Team Squash Championships. Between 10 to 18 December 2022, the Australian quartet of Donna Lobban, Jess Turnbull, Sarah Cardwell and Alex Haydon will compete alongside 16 other teams in the premier international squash tournament in the women’s game. The biennial event has not been held since 2018 due to COVID-19 and returns with the traditional format of four-player squads from each country battling it out in best-of-three-match clashes. The Australian team placed ninth in 2018, when the Championships were held in Dalian, China. National champion Jess Turnbull is the only new face in the Australian team for 2022 as Lobban, Cardwell and Haydon were on the squad that competed in China. Australia's Jessica Turnbull Despite having already donned the green and gold at two World Doubles Championships, a Commonwealth Games and the recent Nations Cup, Turnbull is making her Women’s World Team Championships debut, continuing on a journey that is seeing her emerge as the leader of the next group of Australian women. “I think this season has prepared me quite well,” Turnbull said. “I have had a few of what I consider to be breakthrough wins recently, so it has boosted my confidence for sure. Having that experience behind me, now for big events, I won't be so shellshocked walking on,” Turnbull said. “I'm honoured to get the opportunity to wear the green and gold again. Nothing better than representing Australia.” Donna Lobban in action at the Commonwealth Games While Turnbull is making her debut at the event,Sarah Cardwell is competing for the fourth time and Donna Lobban is taking to the court at the Women’s World Team Championships for the sixth time. It will be a full circle moment for Lobban, who played in the World Junior event in Cairo, 2003 and also made her senior women’s team debut in Egypt, in 2008. “It’s crazy to think, I remember my first time playing for the Australian senior team in 2008 and it was such an exciting thing to be a part of and something I had been dreaming about,” Lobban said. “Playing for Australia means the world to me and is always a huge honour and probably the most exciting thing about what I get to do playing squash.” “My preparation has been so far so good. I have probably taken a step back from playing as many PSA tournaments as I usually would, however I’ve still had a lot of competitive opportunities, like the Australian Open, French league matches and PSL matches in the UK. “I’m feeling good, my body is feeling good and probably because I haven't been killing myself as usually on the tour. So I’m feeling fit and ready for it.” Australia coach Stewart Boswell believes competing in the environment of a Women's World Team Championship can help the development of young players such as Alex Haydon. Coach Stewart Boswell added that the Australian team is looking forward to competing at the event again, with the three-match format being quite different from that of PSA tournaments. “There’s always an added element of excitement and unpredictability that comes with playing in a team event,” Boswell said. “The main focus for the team will be on each player individually performing at their best, whoever they’re playing. Hopefully in doing so we can pick up some wins, make it difficult for some of the top teams and finish higher than our seeding for the event.” Completing the lineup is Alex Haydon who, at just 21 years old, is the youngest member of the team. Boswell said it’s fantastic that young athletes have the opportunity to compete for the country on the international stage and get to test themselves against the world's best. Despite her young age, Haydon is already competing in her second Women’s World Team Championships. “Being in this type of environment and experiencing the pressure and the buzz of playing for their teammates and Australia can only help them improve as players. Hopefully it also gives them further motivation to strive for future success at the very top level,” Boswell said. (Thanks to Framboise Gommendy)

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The rising squash player, Huzaifa Ibrahim has said that he would produce sparkling performance in the upcoming US Open Squash Championship 2022, which will be held from December 17 to 20, 2022 at Arlen Specter Center in Pennsylvania, United States of America (USA). While talking to this reporter over his mobile from the USA, he further said that he had won the recently concluded Under-19 Singles fixture of the Frank-Millet Junior Squash Championships 2022 in Allston Massachusetts, USA. “I am toiling hard on the court to do well in the next tournament, as my mentor Mohammad Mohsin Khan is also working with me and ready to show impressive performance in the US Open Juniors’ Squash Championship, “he added. “Mohsin Khan trained me from the beginning when I was just 8. He told me how to grip a squash racket. I hope under his control I will learn more squash and enhance my game skills to reach on top in the international squash circuit. Mohsin Khan also coached top national lads including Faraz Khan from USA. My coach and I are focusing on the US Juniors’ Open 2022, as we worked hard during the training sessions, “he replied. “Playing away from home is always a challenge and especially playing against an opponent in his own town, however, we hope for positive results. I want to move ahead internationally and raise the national green flag in the international squash courts. I am determined to make a big mark in the squash circuit, “he concluded.

Sports Bulletin Report CAIRO: The squad list for the 2022 WSF Women’s World Team Squash Championship has been announced, with teams from all over the globe selecting some of the world’s best players to battle it out in Madinaty Sport Club, Cairo, Egypt. The championship, which will be played from December 10 to 16, 2022 and is set to feature 17 teams, is a biennial international tournament which sees four-player squads from each country compete in best-of-three-match clashes. For hosts and defending champions Egypt, World No.1 Nouran Gohar leads a devastatingly strong team that boasts four of the world’s top six players. The 25-year-old, who won the 2016 and 2018 World Team Championships, is joined by three-time champion and World No.2 Nour El Sherbini, World No.3 and Women’s World Team Championship debutant Hania El Hammamy, and two-time champion and World No.6 Nour El Tayeb. The USA, who will be hoping to improve on fifth-place finishes in 2018, 2016, and 2014, will travel with what is arguably the strongest ever US Team assembled, with World No.4 Amanda Sobhy, World No.11 Olivia Fiechter, World No.18 – and younger sister to Amanda – Sabrina Sobhy, and World No.20 Olivia Clyne selected. England, seven-time winners and runners up in the last edition, will go in with confidence after winning the most recent European Team Championships. World No.8 Sarah-Jane Perry leads the team, with World No.9 and 2022 Commonwealth Games singles gold medallist Georgina Kennedy, World No.27 Jasmine Hutton and World No.30 Lucy Turmel completing the lineup. Squad of participating countries: Australia: (Donna Lobban, Jessica Turnbull, Alexandra Haydon, Sarah Cardwell) Canada: (Hollie Naughton, Danielle Letourneau, Nicole Bunyan, Nikole Todd) Chinese Taipei: (Yi-Hsuan Lee, Yuan Wang, Wei-Ting Huang, Yi-Chun Wu) Egypt: (Nouran Gohar, Nour El Sherbini, Hania El Hammamy, Nour El Tayeb) England: (Sarah-Jane Perry, Georgina Kennedy, Jasmine Hutton, Lucy Turmel) Finland: (Emilia Soini, Emilia Korhonen, Riina Koskinen, Maarit Ekholm-Mangaonkar) France: (Mélissa Alves, Camille Serme, Coline Aumard, Énora Villard) Germany: (Saskia Beinhard, Sharon Sinclair, Katerina Tycova, Maya Weishar) Hong Kong, China: (Tze Lok Ho, Sin Yuk Chan, Ka Yi Lee, Tsz Wing Tong) Japan: (Satomi Watanabe, Akari Midorikawa, Risa Sugimoto, Erisa Sano Herring) Malaysia: (Aifa Azman, Rachel Arnold, Chan Yiwen, Yee Xin Ying) Scotland: (Lisa Aitken, Georgia Adderley, Alison Thomson, Katriona Allen) South Africa: (Alexandra Fuller, Lizelle Muller, Cheyna Wood, Hayley Ward) Switzerland: (Cindy Merlo, Nadia Pfister, Celine Walser, Ambre Allinckx) Ukraine: (Anastasiia Kostiukova, Milena Velychko, Anastasiia Krykun, Daria Vlasenko) USA: (Amanda Sobhy, Olivia Fiechter, Sabrina Sobhy, Olivia Clyne) Wales (Tesni Evans, Emily Whitlock, Lowri Roberts, Stacey Gooding)

Sports Bulletin Report Cairo (Egypt): As many as 18 countries will take part in the World Squash Federation (WSF) Women’s World Team Squash Championship, which will be held from December 10 to 16 this year 2022 at Cairo’s Madinaty Sports Club Egypt. It is important to mention here that this premier international squash tournament in the women’s game was postponed in 2018 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Women’s World Team Squash Championships is a biennial international tournament which sees four-player squads from each country face it out in best-of-three-match clashes. Besides hosts and defending champions Egypt, Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia, Scotland, South Africa, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States of America (USA), Wales will fight for top honour in the 7-day international squash showpiece. Hosts and defending champions Egypt will go in as strong favourites. Three of the four players who won the Dalian 2018 tournament still play at the highest level, with Nouran Gohar ranked World No.1, Nour El Sherbini ranked World No.2 and Nour El Tayeb ranked World No.6. 22-year-old Hania El Hammamy is expected to add to the reigning champions’ already considerable firepower, with the World No.3 beginning the 2022/23 PSA World Tour season with a win at the Platinum-level CIB Egyptian Open. Joining Egypt as a fancied team will be England, beaten finalists in 2018 and winners of this year’s European Team Championship. Since the 2-0 defeat to Egypt in China, England have added a number of young and dangerous players to the squad, including Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Georgina Kennedy, who took the squash world by storm last year as she rose from World No.185 in May 2021 to World No.8 in July 2022. Also, tipped as a team to watch is the USA. Team USA’s best-ever finish was fifth in 2018, 2016, and 2014, but this year will have a number of the game’s top players to choose from, including World No.4 Amanda Sobhy, World No.11 Olivia Fiechter, World No.18 – and younger sister of Amanda – Sabrina Sobhy, and World No.20 Olivia Clyne. In an exciting addition, Chinese Taipei and Ukraine will make their World Team Championship debut, while former World No.2 Camille Serme – who retired from the PSA World Tour in June 2022 – is set to make a competitive return to the sport for the France team..  

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: Pakistan embarrassed back-to-back two defeats in the ongoing 21st Asian Squash Team Championship for Men & Women at Cheongju International Squash Stadium, Korea, as India and Kuwait outclassed Pakistan in straight games 3-0. No one Pakistan lad even could win a single game in six matches. Pakistan team lost to India by 0-3 in the morning session. Abhay Singh beat Farhan Mehboob 11-5, 11-8, 11-8, Ramit Tandon beat Mohammad Hamza Khan 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 and Saurav Ghosal beat Noor Zaman 11-5, 11-6, 11-3. In their 4th match, Pakistan lost to Kuwait by 0-3. Ali Alramezi beat Mohammad Hamza Khan 11-5, 11-9, 12-10, Abdullah Almezayen beat Ahsan Ayaz 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 and Ammar Altamimi beat Noor Zaman 11-3, 11-2, 11-0.