[3] Amanda Sobhy (Usa) bt [4] Nour El Tayeb (Egy)
        3/11, 11/7, 11/6, 11/7 (37m)

Amanda Sobhy celebrated the perfect 17th birthday by beating Egyptian rival Nour El Tayeb in the final of the Women’s World Junior Squash Championship to become the first US winner of the prestigious event in its 16th year, at the ACR Sportcenter in Cologne, Germany.

It was Sobhy’s first victory over the Egyptian in four meetings on the junior international circuit since January 2008. The victory not only ends Egypt’s seven-year stranglehold on the title since 2003, but also consigned Cairo-based El Tayeb to a runner-up finish for the second year in a row.

"There was a period of time before the tournament when I didn't believe that I could win this, however, as the tournament became closer I started believing in myself more. I told myself that I could win the world junior open, and that was what I was aiming for.

"I knew that when playing Sherbini I had to come out strong from the first point and show everyone that my win against her last year was no accident, and that I can beat her again. When I won, it felt like the finals. I couldn't help but cry from joy again like last year.

"Winning the Worlds is by far the best accomplishment I have ever achieved in my career so far, and the amount of publicity and recognition I get from it makes me feel like I'm up there with the big names.

"I don't have any specific goals right now for I have just achieved mine, so I'm in search of a new goal. I'm still always looking forward to improving my WISPA ranking and results.

"There's a long list of people who I would like to thank. These are the people who are a big part of my squash life whether they are trainers, coaches, or just friends.

"To start I would like to thank my entire family: mom, dad, Omar, Sabrina, the USA team and my coach Jack who was there for everyone of my matches supporting me, and lastly the entire "team sobhy" as I would like to call it: Joe, Theo, Natalie, Rodney, Eric, Jamal, Shaun, Jackie, and the rest of my family and friends back home who constantly support what I do.

"Right now, as World Champion, I'm very sore and could use a nice vacation!"

Draw & Results

Finals Gallery

Team USA Blog

Semi-Finals
Quarter-Finals
Round Two
Round One
Previews

Playoff Finals, 29-Jun:

3-4        Dipika Pallikal (Ind) bt Nour El Sherbini (Egy)           4/11, 11/4, 11/8, 8/11, 11/8
5-6:       Kanzy El Dafrawy (Egy) bt Nouran El Torky (Egy)              11/8, 11/7, 3/11, 11/1
7-8:       Olivia Blatchford (Usa) bt Anaka Alankamony (Ind)                  11/4, 11/3, 12/10
9-10:     Salma Hany (Egy) bt Catalina Pelaez (Col)                    11/2, 18/16, 10/12, 11/5

11-12:   Tamika Saxby (Aus) bt Farah Abdel Meguid (Egy)                            w/o
13-14:   Julia Lecoq (Fra) bt Melissa Alves (Fra)                      8/11, 11/9, 11/8, 1/11, 11/4
15-16:   Cyrielle Peltier (Fra) bt Yathreb Adel (Egy)                                      w/o
17-18:   Anwesha Reddy (Ind) bt Aparajitha Balamurukan (Ind)                11/4, 11/7, 11/5
19-20:   Ashley Tidman (Fra) bt Katie Tutrone (Usa)                                11/4, 11/7, 12/10
21-22:   Franziska Hennes (Ger) bt Haley Mendez (Usa)                    11/8, 11/6, 3/11, 11/6
23-24:   Tessa ter Sluis (Ned) bt Nanna Frederiksen (Den)                11/4, 7/11, 11/4, 11/6
25-26:   Elvira Bedjai (Fra)  bt Caroline Sayegh (Ger)                                11/5, 115, 11/3
27-28:   Maria Elena Ubina (Usa) bt Sandra Polak (Aut)                             11/9, 11/4, 11/9
29-30:   Oxane Ah-Hu (Fra) bt Amalie Bornaes (Den)                               11/5, 11/6, 11/7
31-32:   Sharva Guruge (Sri) bt Nikki van der Heijden (Ned)                             w/o


Playoffs Day Three, 28-Jun:

5-8       Nouran El Torky (Egy) bt Anaka Alankamony (Ind)                   11/9, 11/6, 11/7
5-8       Kanzy El Dafrawy (Egy) bt Olivia Blatchford (Usa)            11/7, 8/11, 11/7, 11/5
9-12     Catalina Pelaez (Col) bt Tamika Saxby (Aus)          11/6, 11/9, 4/11, 8/11, 15/13
9-12     Salma Hany (Egy) bt Farah Abdel Meguid (Egy)       11/9, 9/11, 4/11, 13/11, 11/9

13-16   Melissa Alves (Fra) bt Cyrielle Peltier (Fra)                        9/11, 11/7, 11/6, 11/8
13-16   Julia Lecoq (Fra) bt Yathreb Adel (Egy)                                     w/o
17-20   Aparajitha Balamurukan (Ind) bt Ashley Tidman (Fra)        11/6, 8/11, 11/5, 11/9
17-20   Anwesha Reddy (Ind) bt Katie Tutrone (Usa)                              11/4, 11/7, 11/3

21-24   Haley Mendez (Usa) bt Tessa ter Sluis (Ned)                    11/4, 11/13, 11/7, 11/5
21-24   Franziska Hennes (Ger) bt Nanna Frederiksen (Den)                  11/8, 11/3, 11/4
25-28   Maria Elena Ubina (Usa) bt Elvira Bedjai (Fra)          11/9, 12/14, 11/8, 7/11, 11/7
25-28   Caroline Sayegh (Ger) bt Sandra Polak (Aut)                             11/8, 11/4, 11/8

29-32   Amalie Bornaes (Den) bt Nikki van der Heijden (Ned)                w/o
29-32   Oxane Ah-Hu (Fra) bt Sharya Guruge (Sri)                        4/11, 11/8, 11/9, 11/3

Playoffs Day Two, 27-Jun:
 
9-16 playoffs
Tamika Saxby (Aus) bt Julia Lecoq (Fra)                                  11/4, 11/8, 11/7
Catalina Pelaez (Col) bt Yathreb Adel (Egy)                                       w/o
Farah Abdel Meguid (Egy) bt Melissa Alves (Fra)                      12/10, 11/8, 11/6
Salma Hany (Egy) bt Cyrielle Peltier (Fra)                                11/5, 11/4, 11/9

17-24 playoffs
Anwesha Reddy (Ind) bt Haley Mendez (Usa)                            11/2, 12/10, 11/5
Ashley Tidman (Fra) bt Nanna Frederiksen (Den)                        11/2, 11/6, 11/2
Aparajitha Balamurukan (Ind) bt Franziska Hennes (Ger)  12/10, 6/11, 11/8, 11/7
Katie Tutrone (Usa) bt Tessa ter Sluis (Ned)            11/7, 11/9, 10/12, 8/11, 11/9

25-32 playoffs
Caroline Sayegh (Ger) bt Oxane Ah-Hu (Fra)                            11/4, 11/3, 11/2
Maria Elena Ubina (Usa) bt Nikki van der Heijden (Ned)                       w/o
Elvira Bedjai (Fra) bt Amalie Bornaes (Den)                              11/4, 11/6, 11/4
Sandra Polak (Aut) bt Sharya Guruge (Sri)                                11/7, 11/3, 11/9

Playoffs Day One, 26-Jun:

Haley Mendez (Usa) bt Caroline Sayegh (Ger)                     11/8, 9/11, 11/3, 11/6
Anwesha Reddy (Ind) bt Oxane Ah-Hu (Fra)                                 11/5, 11/3, 11/7
Ashley Tidman (Fra) bt Maria Elena Ubina (Usa)                12/10, 11/7, 10/12, 11/6
Nanna Frederiksen (Den) bt Nikki van der Heijden (Ned)    12/10, 6/11, 13/11, 11/9
Franziska Hennes (Ger) bt Elvira Bedjai (Fra)                     10/12, 11/9, 11/7, 11/4
Aparajitha Blamurukan (Ind) bt Amalie Bornaes (Den)                  11/1, 11/4, 11/2
 Katie Tutrone (Usa) bt Sandra Polak (Aut)                  11/9, 4/11, 11/5, 9/11, 11/6
Tessa ter Sluis (Ned) v Sharya Guruge (Sri)            11/4, 11/8, 7/11, 10/12, 14/12

[3] Amanda Sobhy (Usa) bt [1] Nour El Sherbini (Egy)
          12/10, 14/12, 11/9 (38m)

The in-form Amanda Sobhy dethroned the defending champion and top seed in the first semi-final, repeating her straight games win over Nour El Sherbini just days after the Egyptian, then just 13, had won the title in Chennai (Dream team shaken by the States).

Ranked #36 in the world after becoming the youngest player ever to win four WISPA titles, Sobhy, who turns seventeen tomorrow, again got the better of three close games to become the first American to reach the world junior final in sixteen editions of the event.

At 9-10 in the third Sherbini served to the left-handed American's forehand, and the ball was slotted neatly for a crosscourt nick ["it reminded me of Dittmar vs Jahangir in the 89 Singer World Open in Malaysia," said a jubilant US coach Jack Wyant] to seal a famous victory.

The winner immediately broke down in tears, and when asked what it felt like to beat Sherbini for the second time, she replied “Same as last time, the happiest time of my life!”

[4] Nour El Tayeb (Egy) bt [2] Dipika Pallikal (Ind)
       15/13, 11/9, 11/9 (40m)

The second semi-final featured another upset, and another re-run of a major match from last year's event.

In Chennai Dipika Pallikal was the top seed, but Nour El Tayeb destroyed home hopes in the semi-final (Tayeb terminates Indian dream), and tonight the Egyptian did it again, like Sobhy getting the better of three very close games to advance to her second consecutive final.

Cyrus on the semis   
Cyrus Poncha, Indian National Coach

Dipika Pallikal was once again not able to go past a determined Nour El Tayeb in the semi finals at the World Junior Individual Squash Championship in Cologne, Germany. Every game was close with both players using the front of the court more often than required. Dipika seemed in control of all three games but Nour won the 'big points' and moved a step away from winning the title.

In the final, fourth seeded Nour will play third seeded Amanda Sobhy who upset the reigning world champion Nour El Sherbini. Both matches were similar as Sherbini seemed to always have the lead but a spirited effort from Amanda saw her through in straight games.

Playoff Semis

Prior to the evening's semi-finals, the playoff semis progressed throughout the day at the ACR centre in Cologne.

The 9/12 matches were both hotly contested, with Catalina Pelaez and Salma Hany both winning thrillers - Pelaez saw a two game lead disappear but managed to win the decider 15/13 against Tamika Saxby, while Hany won a tight five-game encounter against fellow-Egyptian Farah Abdel Meguid.

Meanwhile in the 5/8 matches it was double success for Egypt with Kanzy El Dafrawy and Nouran El Torky setting up a fifth-place meeting with wins over Olivia Blatchford and Anaka Alankamony.
  

Semis Gallery

Team USA Blog

"I am extremely happy that I won, and especially pleased to win in three with the final coming up tomorrow.

"I'm also glad that my family is here to support me, perhaps we can have a very nice birthday celebration tomorrow!"

2009 Event

Draw & Results

Quarters Gallery

Team USA Blog

Photos by Tony Maher   www.TonyFoto.de

The second round of the World Juniors in Cologne saw the top eight seeds all progress to the quarter-finals, with four Egyptians joined by two Americans and two Indians - a record for both nations - in the last eight of this first annual championship.

Defending champion Nour El Sherbini beat France's Julia Lecoq in straight games, but seventh-seeded Nouran El Torky was taken the full distance, twice coming from behind before seeing off Australia's Tamika Saxby.

 

There was more American success as Olivia Blatchford beat Melissa Alves in straight games. She'll meet fourth seed Nour El Tayeb after last year's finalist beat fellow-Egyptian Farah Abdel Meguid in four games.

A good day for the seeding committee was wrapped up by wins for Kanzy El Dafrawy and Dipika Pallikal. Egypt's El Dafrawy put out the last of the French challengers, Cyrielle Peltier, while second seed Pallikal avenged her BJO defeat at the hands of Salma Hany, both in straight games.

Day Two Gallery

Team USA Blog

Follow on Facebook

25-Jun-2010:
Seeds sail through on day one
Photos by Tony Maher   www.TonyFoto.de

The first annual edition of the Women's World Juniors is under way in Cologne, with sixteen first round matches on the opening day.

It was generally plain sailing for the sixteen seeded players, with all but two winning in straight games - although seventh seed Nouran El Torky needed extra points in two of her games to fend off the challenge of France's Elvira Bedjai.

Home player Franziska Hennes and India's Aparitha Balamurukan came closest to surprise results, taking Tamika Saxby and Julia Lecoq the full distance before losing out in the deciders.

Egyptians advance into last sixteen

Six countries are represented in the last sixteen, and six of the matches have Egyptian interest, with defending champion Nour El Sherbini leading the way, while second seed Dipika Pallikal is joined by compatriot Anaka Alankamony.

Pallikal faces a rematch with Salma Hany, who stunned the Indian world number 40 in January's British Junior Open, while El Sherbini faces Julia Lecoq, one of three French girls in the last sixteen.



Amanda Sobhy and Olivia Blatchford, seeded three and six, should be off court tomorrow in time to cheer on the USA against Ghana, but all of the other main draw competitors will have to ignore the football (NOT soccer) or choose someone else to support ...

Day One Gallery

Team USA Blog

Follow on Facebook

Cyrus on day one

Dipika Pallikal and Anaka Alankamony moved into the round of 16 at the World Junior Women's Individual Squash Championships in Cologne, Germany.

Dipika disposed of Katie Tutrone from the USA with ease while Anaka had to work for her straight sets victory against Ashley Tidman from France.

Dipika is up against Salmy Hany from Egypt tomorrow, who defeated Dipika early this year at the British Junior Open. Anaka is slotted to play Columbian Catalina Pealez in her next round.

It was a mixed day for the Indian contingent as Aparajitha Balamurukan & Anwesha Reddy lost to higher ranked opponents.

Aparajitha after losing the first game showed her grit and won the next two games being aggressive and working very hard. Aparajitha fought till the end but her higher ranked French opponent Julia Lecoq leveled the game in the fourth and kept moving Aparajitha to all corners, at the end Lecoq was more consistent and won the match in the fifth game.

Anwesha gave it her best but it was not good enough against 9/16 seed Farah Abdel Megiud from Egypt, going down in straight games.


Indian National Coach

The Egyptians arrive

Follow on Facebook

Growing Up

Now in its 16th edition after first being staged in 1981, the World Juniors has produced a number of champions who have gone on to become world number ones and World Open champions – including Australia's Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Rachael Grinham, England's Cassie Jackman, and Malaysia's two-time winner Nicol David.

2009 Event

Follow on Facebook