Wednesday - December 4, 2002

Michael Callaway, Head Coach for the Prince U.S. Junior Men’s Team, reports on day two of the action from the Cements Squash Academy in Chennai, India:

Michael Gilman in First Round Action at Chennai against Zimbabwe's McElwain P hoto © 2002 Albert Gordon

Michael Gilman played British Open Under 17 champion, Safeerullah Khan and lost the first game 9-0 playing too tentatively. However in the second, Mike was far quicker onto the ball and was able to control much of the game, though in the end the Pakistani’s ability to retrieve, and his speed to the frontcourt, forced Gilman into unforced errors.

In the third, a tiring Gilman was not able to keep up the quality of play and made too many errors to keep the pressure on the young Pakistani.

Julian Illingworth playing his first match of the tournament looking slightly nervous in the first few rallies, but he quickly settled into waiting for his opponent, Jethro Binns of Wales, to play the lose shot - generally on his backhand - which Julian either won with an easy winner or a stroke.
The second game saw Illingworth grow in confidence, taking an 8-1 lead with a number of outright winners before a lapse in concentration allowed his opponent to gain some respectability in the game.

In the third, the Welsh player had no answer to Illingworth’s shot making ability and became increasingly frustrated with his poor width and length, which failed to put pressure on his opponent. Illingworth now faces the much tougher prospect of Moustafa Essam, the number three seed from Egypt.

Christopher Gordon, looking to become the second American into the third round, was hampered by an ankle injury midway through the first game against his Hungarian opponent, Mark Krajesak.

Nick Chirls (l) goes down in 3 games to Hong Kong's Lau Photo © 2002 Albert Gordon

This completely rattled the young American into trying to shoot his way out of trouble, but unfortunately the Hungarian was too good of a retriever and was able to pick up Gordon’s short shots, which the immobile American was unable to cover. The team hopes that the in jury is minor and that Gordon will be fit to play in the team event.

Nicholas Chirls, playing the ‘tall player from Hong Kong’, led in both of the first two games but was unable to capitalize on his leads, eventually allowing his opponent back into the game with unforced errors or poor shot selections.