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Doha - Title favourites and top seeds Egypt overwhelmed India 3-0, but not before surviving a tough fight in the semi-finals of the World Junior squash team championship here Tuesday.
Egypt now take on second seeded Pakistan who prevailed over third ranked England 2-0 in the other semi-final.
Bidding for a 10th final in 11 editions of the championship, Egypt were off to a good start as double individual champion Marwan El Shorbagy beat Indian number one Mahesh Mangonkar 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5 win in 72 minutes.
Mangonkar took the first game, and almost the second too, and it wasn’t until the latter part of the fifth game that Shorbagy started to look completely at ease as he completed a hard-fought win.
In the second match, Egypt were able to field Mohamed Abouelghar, the world’s number two junior, who contested the last two World junior finals with Shorbagy.
Again, though it was the Indian camp that was happier at the start as Abhishek Pradhan took the first game, before Abouelghar came back strongly to take the next three for a 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 win in 33 minutes.
In the dead rubber, Mazen Hesham defeated Vrishab Koitan 11-9, 11-4 in 21 minutes to provide Egypt a flattering 3-0 result.
“It was a great heart from our players. They went out there and showed we are nearly there. Mahesh was outstanding, and played to the game plan, unfortunately, in the fifth, he couldn’t keep the consistency.
“But he did play very well, and we are very proud of him.And the same for Abhishek, he gave Abouelgar a good run, and played some outstanding winners, very proud of him too,” said Indian coach Cyrus Poncha.
Egypt team coach Amir Waghih expressed happiness at his players’ perrformance.
“We are so happy to be in the final. India played a really good match, They woke up my players who didn’t have much fight up to then.
“So, tomorrow, a final, logically against Pakistan, but anything can happen. It will be a tough match, and I’m grateful they had to work hard today,” said Waghih
