India bowed out fighting to top seeded and defending champions Egypt in the semi finals of the world junior squash championships in Doha today.
According to a communique from national coach Cyrus Poncha double individual champion Marwan El Shorbagy got Egypt off to a good start in the first match. But it was not an easy win.
Indian number one Mahesh Mangonkar took the first game and almost the second too. It wasn’t until the latter part of the fifth game that Shorbagy started to look at ease. He won 9/11, 12/10, 11/5, 6/11, 11/5 in 72 minutes In the second string match Egypt were able to field Mohamed Abouelghar, the world’s number two junior.
Again though it was the Indian camp who were happier at the start as Abhishek Pradhan took the first game, and made the second tough for his opponent. Win it he did and thereafter Abouelghar had the match under control as to win 10/12, 11/6, 11/8, 11/5 in 33 minutes.
The results(semi finals): Marwan El Shorbagy bt Mahesh Mangaonkar 9/11, 12/10, 11/5, 6/11, 11/5 Mohamed Abouelghar bt Abhishek Pradhan 10/12, 11/6, 11/8, 11/5 Mazen Hesham bt Vrishab Koitan 11/9, 11/4 (21m) (dead rubber) India will now pay the loser of England and Pakistan match for the bronze medal. India’s best result in this competition was 4th in 2008. UNI