Sports Bulletin Report
Nancy (France):-Upcoming Dutch squash lad, Rowan Damming and Egyptian girl Amina Orfi have won the title of the World Juniors’ Squash Championships 2022 after thrashing their opponents in the finals on Wednesday at Nancy, France. Top seed Pakistani Mohammad Hamza got bronze medal.
Orfi comes back again to claim the title
Coming from two games down for the second day in a row, second seed Amina Orfi denied compatriot Salma El Tayeb to win an hour long five game battle and become the 2022 World Junior Champion.
After an even opening to the match with Orfi leading the first 8-7, Salma’s more varied game took control as she took the lead 11-9, raced through the second 11-1 and at 5-2 in the third the title looked to be hers to lose.
Although Salma didn’t look to be tiring, the momentum switched dramatically as Amina’s relentless hard hitting style began to dominate. She powered through to take the third 11-6, the fourth 11-3 and from 5-5 in the fifth put in a winning burst to take the title 11-7 in exactly an hour.
At fourteen Amina is the youngest winner since Nour El Sherbini who won the 2009 edition at the age of 13.
“I feel so happy, I didn’t know what to expect as I didn’t play a single U19 tournament this year, I was playing completely new competitors.
“I never like to lose and when I got to 2/0 down, I knew I didn’t play my best in the first two games, so I gave my all because it was my last match!
“I’m grateful to my dad, today he managed to stay calm, even if sometimes he gets angry, and he was a great help. I want to dedicate this title to my mum and my sister in Cairo, they were so tense I’m sure, even if they were not the one playing!
“Also, my coach back in Cairo, and also the national team coach, who helped us getting prepared in the first three days here.”
Damming is the first Dutch champion
The men’s final was the first all-European one for 20 years as England’s Finnlay Withington and Netherlands’ Rowan Damming locked horns in a repeat of their European U19 final this April. That title went to Withington, but today there was no stopping Damming as the 17-year-old Dutchman prevailed in straight games.
After an even first few points Damming raced away to take the lead 11-4, then got the better of a tight finish to a close second game, doubling his advantage 12-10. Withington looked to be struggling physically towards the end of that game, and it was the Dutchman who maintained the momentum as he went 9-4 up in the third.
Withington pulled a few points back, but from 9-8 Damming took the final two points to clinch the title and become the first ever Dutch World Junior Champion.
“It feels amazing! I’m just so happy to win this title, I don’t know what to say! I watched some videos and changed some thing, particularly making less errors on the backhand and I thought that was the difference in today’s match.”
