World Cup Squash | Egypt expectedly defends title with thumping result over Malaysia
The Hindu
Expectedly and deservedly, Egypt, the top seed, bagged the SDAT-WSF Squash World Cup at the Express Avenue Mall here on Saturday, with a thumping 4-1 win on points over Malaysia, seeded fourth, in the final. Egypt had won the World Cup when it was last held here in 2011.
Expectedly and deservedly, Egypt, the top seed, bagged the SDAT-WSF Squash World Cup at the Express Avenue Mall here on Saturday, with a thumping 4-1 win on points over Malaysia, seeded fourth, in the final. Egypt had won the World Cup when it was last held here in 2011.
Malaysia was brimming with confidence especially after the upset victory over host India the other day, but the defending champion came roaring back after losing the first match to win the remaining two.
The first tie went in favour of Malaysia with the left-hander Xin Ying Yee, ranked 79 in the world, putting it across Kenzy Ayman, ranked 56, in three straight games.
With a huge backswing, the Malaysian generated a lot of power and speed in her strokes and at times, was cunning with her delicate drops and double boast. Kenzy found it difficult to read Yee’s game properly.
Down a match, it was left to top seed Aly Abou El Einen to level things and he delivered in style, defeating an energetic Darren Pragasam in three straight games. After a sensational game against India’s Saurav Ghosal on Friday, much was expected from the Malaysian, but Abou played a notch higher.
There were a few positives from Darren, especially his backhand drops from the backcourt and his impressive court-craft. Abou, however, remained largely in control of the rallies. The turning point for Egypt emerged in the second game.
At 6-6, Darren hit what looked like a clean backhand down-the-line winner. Abou fell claiming that he was inadvertently hit on the face by Darren’s racquet. The Egyptian took an injury time-out and returned to win the second and third game, the match and the tie.
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Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
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