Rosner Beats Atlas Khan, But Pakistan Advances

[Also: teams competition MEDAL DRAW]

GERMANY FAILST TO BREAK THROUGH

The close Malaysia - Hong Kong quarterfinal . Photo 2006 © e-pics.

Though Germany failed to topple the second seeded Pakistan its No.1 Simon Rosner derived much satisfaction from his straight games win over Aamir Atlas Khan in the quarterfinals of the teams’ event at the 14th Prince world junior men’s squash championships in Palmerston North.

With an eye to his professional career Rosner, ranked 72nd on the world senior list, saw the 9-5 9-5 10-8 win in 44 minutes as an important one, and it helped ease the pain of his quarterfinal loss to Egyptian Tarek Momen in the individual championship when seeded fourth.

Rosner’s next assignment is hopefully playing in a major PSA tournament in Egypt in a few days provided he makes it through qualifying.

It was Rosner’s first victory over the 15-year-old Khan, who prevailed three games to one in their only previous meeting in the British Open under-19 quarterfinals earlier this year.
Khan was seeded second for the individual, and it was his second defeat at the championships after his defeat by Egypt’s Omar Mossad Abozeid in the individual semifinals. Khan was largely out-played by a pumped-up Rosner, who gave him little to feed off.

Hong Kong pushed hard in their quarterfinal . Photo 2006 © e-pics.

“I was really disappointed to lose in the quarterfinals of the individual. I slept a bit in the first two games, and it cost me,” Rosner said.

“I was trying to get a good result. I needed it to get confident, and have belief in myself. I played a controlled game. I didn’t make many mistakes.

“He did not lift his game till near the end of the third game, and was pretty keen for it not to go to a fourth.”

Khan had his first matchball at 8-3 in the third but with Khan frantic to keep the match alive he won five points in a row to level at 8-all. Khan then it a ball down, and when wrong-footed by a Rosner backhand he was down matchball a second time. On this occasion there was no reprieve.

Rosner’s win levelled the tie at one match each after Pakistani No. 2 Yasir Ali Butt started by beating the fresh-faced Florian Silbernagl in straight games. With an exhausted Norman Junge requiring a rest Carsten Schoor played the last game for the sixth seeds Germany, and he was no match for Farhhan Memboob.

Pakistan’s 2-1 victory earned it a semifinal against the fourth seeded Malaysia, who was fully extended by ninth seeds Hong Kong in another 2-1 quarterfinal. Leo Au started for Hong Kong by winning 3-9 9-2 5-9 9-3 10-9 in a 95 minute marathon, and Elvinn Keo and Muhammad Asyraf Azan prevailed for Malaysia, No.1 Keo only after a long match with Max Lee.

Germany now meet Hong Kong in the battle for final positions of fifth to eighth.

EGYPT COASTS AGAIN
The top seeded Egyptians made short work of the hapless Canadians in their quarterfinal, winning 3-0 in about an hour on the all-glass court at Arena Manawatu even with double world individual junior champion, Ramy Ashour, resting.

Holland beat Australia in the 9-12 playoffs. Photo 2006 © e-pics.

The Canadians took the opportunity too to rest its No. 1, Keith Pritchard, an indication it the tie has beyond it no matter who played.

“Andrew (McDougall), and the two Davids (Letourneau and Glass) tried their hardest but it was unfortunately about what we expected,” said Canadian manager Arthur Hough. “Maybe everyone expects this sort of result against Egypt apart from Pakistan, and possibly England.”

Canadian assistant coach Trevor Borland said it was hard for the Canadians to prepare for the championships with the competition at home limited. The five players in New Zealand about the only ones good enough to play, he said.

The only notable thing that occurred came at the end of the tie when the Egyptians and Borland’s team-mates sang “Happy Birthday” to mark Borland reaching 30 on July 26.
While the Egyptians will now meet No.3 seeds England, 3-0 quarterfinal winners over India, in the semifinals, the fifth seeded Canadians strike India to held decide positions fifth to eighth.

HONG KONG - MALAYSIA BARNBURNER
The last quarter final between Hong Kong and Malaysia went right down to the wire in a tie that stretched to over 3 hours. Malaysia were victorious but the plucky Hong Kong team, led by tournament stand-out Leo Au, were close to securing the upset of the tournament. Au’s match with Ivan Yuen went for 97 minutes and finished at 3-9 9-2 5-9 9-3 10-8 to Yuen. Seeded 9th Hong Kong are guaranteed a place in the top 8 and on current form could finish 5th.

The South Africans, originally seeded 15th, and later revised to 10th, justified that with a tight 2-1 scoreline over the 11th seeds Switzerland in the nine to 12 bracket. Jason Cole Niven provided the impetus with a surprise 9-3 9-2 9-3 win against Benjamin Fischer, and Nicolas Mueller levelled the tie in mastering South African Richard Colburn 8-10 9-1 9-3 9-0. It came down Rudi Willemse’s match against Swiss Livio Catenazzi, and the former clawed his way home after 64 minutes, 9-2 4-9 9-4 3-9 9-3.

The 14th seeded United States had a good day in the rugged section playing off for 13th to 18th placings, beating 16th seeds Finland and the No. 13 seeds New Zealand, both 3-0 even without its top player Trevor McGuinness.

Though battling injury Mark Froot stuck at it at No.1, and was superbly supported by Reed Endresen and Todd Harrity. With matches to go against the lower seeded Ireland, Japan and Zimbabwe in the last two days the US might well finish above its seeding.

Coach Chris Smith said he was nervous approaching the New Zealand match, potentially the toughest the US will face in the group. Endresen gave the victors the steadiness it required, being remarkably error-free in beating Josh Thom 9-5 7-9 10-8 9-1 in 70 minutes, and Froot ran hot and cold in holding off New Zealand No.1 Evan Williams 9-6 2-9 9-7 9-5 in 51 minutes to clinch the tie.

The second match was very untidy, and there were some questionable decisions made by the officials. However, the more experienced Froot was the calmer when it mattered most. McGuinness might be fit enough to be considered for the next match.

New Zealand secured their first win in the teams competition today against Zimbabwe who are likely to carry off the wooden spoon.

World Jr Men's Championships. Full match results and scores, Tuesday, Quarterfinals:
EGYPT 3 - CANADA 0:
Omar Mosaad [3] (EGY) beat David Letourneau [17-32] (CAN)    9-0 9-0 9-4 [14mins]
Tarek Momen [5-8] (EGY) beat Andrew McDougall [17-32] (CAN)    9-5 9-1 9-2 [15mins]
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda [5-8] (EGY) beat Dave Glass [17-32] (CAN)    9-4 9-2 - [19mins]

ENGLAND 3 - INDIA 0:
Tom Pashley [17-32] (ENG) beat Sandeep Jangra [9-16] (IND)    10-8 9-2 9-6 [33mins]
Joe Lee [9-16] (ENG) beat Harinder Pal Sandhu [17-32] (IND)    9-2 9-2 8-10 9-5 [71mins]
James Snell [17-32] (ENG) beat Naresh Kumar(IND)    9-3 9-2 - [20mins]

MALAYSIA 2 - HONG KONG !:
Elvinn Keo(MAS) beat Max Lee [9-16] (HKG)    9-6 6-9 10-9 9-0 [60mins]
Leo Au(HKG) beat Ivan Yuen(MAS)    3-9 9-2 5-9 9-3 10-8 [95mins]
Muhd Asyraf Azan beat Fungji Yang (HKG) 9-2 9-6 9-7 [27mins]

PAKISTAN 2 - GERMANY 1:
Simon Rosner [4] (GER) beat Aamir Atlas Khan [2] (PAK)    9-5 9-4 10-8 [44mins]
Yasir Butt [5-8] (PAK) beat Florian Silbernagl(GER)    9-4 9-4 9-2 [20mins]
Farhan Mehboob [5-8] (PAK) beat Carsten Schoor(GER)    9-2 9-1 9-6 [31mins}

NINTH TO TWELFTH ROUND ROBIN:

NETHERLANDS 3 - AUSTRALIA 0
Tom Hoevenaars [17-32] (NED) beat Zac Alexander(AUS)    10-8 9-3 9-4 [42mins]
Bastiaan Meulenbelt(NED) beat Matt Reece [17-32] (AUS)    9-5 9-6 9-7 [37mins]
Sander Kock [17-32] (NED) beat Rex Hedrick(AUS)    5-9 9-6 10-8 9-0 [54mins]

SOUTH AFRICA 2 - SWITZERLAND 1
Nicolas Mueller [9-16] (SUI) beat Richard Colburn(RSA)    8-10 9-1 9-3 9-0 [34mins]
Jason Cole Niven(RSA) beat Benjamin Fischer(SUI)    9-3 9-2 9-3 [40mins]
Rudi Willemse(RSA) beat Livio Catenazzi(SUI)    9-2 4-9 9-4 3-9 9-3 [64mins]

IRELAND 3 - JAPAN 0
Rory Byrne [17-32] (IRL) beat Yuuta Fukui(JPN)    5-9 4-9 9-6 9-7 9-0 [45mins]
Conor O'Hare(IRL) beat Bumpei Kawano(JPN)    9-6 10-9 9-2 [48mins]
Shinnosuke Tsukue(JPN) beat Chris O'Kane(IRL)    9-2 9-0 9-5 [17mins]

THIRTEENTH TO EIGHTEENTH ROUND ROBIN:
USA 3 - FINLAND 0
Mark Froot(USA) beat Pyry Poikolainen [17-32] (FIN)    2-9 9-7 9-2 0-9 10-8 [40mins]
Reed Endresen(USA) beat Petteri Siren(FIN)    9-1 9-0 9-2 [21mins]
Todd Harrity(USA) beat Aatos Mannroos(FIN)    9-0 9-3 9-1 [24mins]

NEW ZEALAND 3 - ZIMBABWE 0
Evan Williams [9-16] (NZL) beat Deepesh Patel(ZIM)    9-1 9-4 9-5 [26mins]
Josh Thom(NZL) beat Ahmed Hassan(ZIM)    9-3 9-5 9-4 [24mins]
Lui Syder(NZL) beat Ainsley Gannaway(ZIM)    9-4 9-0 9-3 [17mins]

IRELAND 3 - FINLAND 0
Rory Byrne [17-32] (IRL) beat Karri Salonen(FIN)    9-2 9-2 9-3 [16mins]
Conor O'Hare(IRL) beat Petteri Siren(FIN)    9-1 9-1 9-2 [23mins]
Chris O'Kane(IRL) beat Aatos Mannroos(FIN)    9-6 9-4 9-4 [26mins]

USA 3 - NEW ZEALAND 0
Mark Froot(USA) beat Evan Williams [9-16] (NZL)    9-6 2-9 9-7 9-5 [51mins]
Reed Endresen(USA) beat Josh Thom(NZL)    9-5 7-9 10-8 9-1 [70mins]
Todd Harrity(USA) beat Lui Syder(NZL)    9-2 9-2 9-6 [28mins]

JAPAN 3 - ZIMBABWE 0
Yuuta Fukui(JPN) beat Deepesh Patel(ZIM)    9-2 9-2 9-1 [23mins]
Bumpei Kawano(JPN) beat Ahmed Hassan(ZIM)    9-2 9-1 9-0 [22mins]
Shinnosuke Tsukue(JPN) beat Zardeen Wazir(ZIM)    9-0 9-1 9-3 [18mins]