CHENNAI: Egypt justified their billing as top seeds in the 2011 JSW SDAT WSF World Cup by beating second seeds England in the final of the World Squash Federation mixed team championship to win the $50,000 top prize at the Express Avenue Mall for the first time.
The event, in its first of three years in Chennai, reached its climax on an all-glass showcourt sited in the central atrium of the Express Avenue Mall, the largest shopping complex in southern India in which crowds on four floors were able to witness the world-class action.
The final between two of the world’s greatest squash nations saw Cairo-based Ramy Ashour and Englishman James Willstrop, ranked two and four in the world, fight it out. Ashour, a former world No 1, extended his career-long head-to-head record against Willstrop to 12/4, winning 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 in 37 minutes.
Despite having to withdraw midway through her semi-final match on Saturday with a groin niggle, Jenny Duncalf was determined to justify her team selection against Egypt’s Raneem El Weleily. The world No 2 dropped the first game, but battled back to draw level against El Weleily as the England camp hoped for a third string decider. But as Duncalf’s injury began to take its toll, so the lower-ranked Egyptian increased her determination to win — doing so in convincing fashion by an 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-1 margin.
Earlier, Australia collected the bronze medal after beating Malaysia 2/1. Cameron Pilley put the third seeds into the lead with a 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 win over Muhd Asyraf Azan. Malaysia’s world No 1 Nicol David beat Grinham 8-11, 3-11, 5-11 to level the tie. In the decider, Aaron Frankcomb beat Kamran Khan 11-6, 11-6, 11-3.