Jr Women's World 2001 on SquashTalk



SquashTalk>World Junior Women's Championship> USA Ambitions

World Jr Women's Reports Participants Teams USA Team Reports Photos-1 Photos-2 Individual Event Draw/Results Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Quarter-finals Semis Finals Plate Classic Plate Consol Plate Team Event: Draw/Results Pool Draws Day One Day Two Day Three Quarter-finals Semis Finals 1999 EVENT History		*2001 World Junior Women's Championships:* *USA aims to surprise*

		Ron Beck, Squashtalk Editor. [also: USA team profile] All content © 2001 Squashtalk

		by Ron Beck, 13 July 2001 All content © 2001 Squashtalk THE SEASONED USA WOMEN AIM HIGH This time two years ago, three of this year's four members of the USA Junior Women's team were in Antwerp contesting the 1999 Junior Women's Worlds. The USA team was seeded #10 in 1999 and finished fifth --- by anyone's measure a great step forward for American squash. While Malaysia returns the defending champion, Nicol David, who tries for an uprecedented second title, America is the only team that can boast 3/4 of its team returning. Michelle Quibell, Ali Pearson, and Amy Gross are all returning this year --- only Harvard standout Louisa Hall is too old for the event this year --- and she's been replaced on the roster by experienced international competitor Kate Rapisarda. This is both good news and bad news for the American girls. This year the Americans will be highly visible --- with British Open U17 champion Michelle Quibell and an overall #4 seeding, everyone will be gunning for the Americans. Even their travel plans are news now -- the American's woes with their travel connections made the Malaysian newspapers yesterday. MEMORIES OF A "DUMPED MATCH" Last time around the American's drew Egypt (the eventual winners) in the quarterfinal match. The American Squash Magazine, made much of a seeming controversy, quoting in their magazine instructions from the American coach, Benoit Desombre, to conserve energy during the Egyptian match for the ensuing contests that would determine positions five through eight. In reality, the American's had little chance against the Egyptian juggernaut in '99. Desombre's strategy worked, with the fresher Americans charging through to a surprising #5 finish. But it left the Americans wondering if they could have reached higher. Now they are back, and with a high seeding to match, much more experience, confidence, and determination. OPPORTUNITY FOR A REMATCH? If the current team seeding hold up (final team seedings will be determined based on play in the individual event through the quarterfinals), the USA team will be positioned to meet either Malaysia or Egypt in the semi finals. The USA girls will be rooting for a meeting with Egypt, giving them an opportunity to re-live their experience from two years ago. They will be hoping their added experience, depth, and training regimen will put them in the league with the elite teams. PRELMINARY TEAM SEEDINGS: The fourteen countries competing in the team event, in seeding order, are: 1 Malaysia, 2 Egypt, 3 England, 4 USA, 5 Australia, 6 Germany, 7 Switzerland, 8 Canada, 9 Netherlands, 10 India, 11 New Zealand, 12 Hong Kong, 13 Ireland, 14 Singapore.

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