Egypt Score Six In Sheffield For Second Successive Year

For the second year in a row, Egypt claimed six of the eight titles in the Powerplaysports British Junior Open in Sheffield, England.

Both the U19 trophies remained on Egyptian soil - but in different hands. Omar Mosaad, second seed in the men's event, consigned Pakistan's Aamir Atlas Khan to runner-up position for the second successive year. The 18-year-old from Cairo - twice a winner of the British Junior U17 Open title - beat top seed Khan, the 16-year-old nephew of Jansher Khan who has two more attempts at the title, 9-5, 6-9, 9-2, 9-2 in 62 minutes to win the Drysdale Cup for the first time.

In the women's U19 final, firm favourite Raneem El Weleily rounded off her distinguished British Junior Open run in fine style when she beat France's Camille Serme 9-2, 9-1, 6-9, 3-9, 9-1 in 48 minutes. The 18-year-old from Alexandria, who is already ranked 23 in the world, was celebrating her sixth British Junior title, after winning the U13 once and both the U17 and U15 twice! Serme, the 17-year-old European Junior Champion from Creteil, can look forward to a further attempt at the title in 2008.

Egypt also had a clean sweep of the U17 titles, top seed Mohamed El Shorbagy beating compatriot Andrew Wagih, a 3/4 seed, 9-4, 9-3, 9-3 in the men's final, and 3/4 seed Heba Alaa El Torky following her impressive upset over Malaysia's top seed Wee Wern Low in the semi-finals by defeating fellow Egyptian Alia Balbaa, the No2 seed, 9-1, 9-6, 9-1 in the women's final. El Torky, 15, from Alexandria, now boasts four successive wins in Sheffield, following an U13 triumph in 2004 and the U15 trophies in 2005 and 2006! El Shorbagy, also 15, was also the U15 champion twelve months ago.

The U15 titles were shared by Egypt and the USA - Olivia Blatchford crowning a magnificent late run in the event to become only the second American in six years to win a British Junior Open crown. The 13-year-old 5/8 seed started her breakthrough in the quarter-finals, beating Malaysia's No2 seed Yan Xin Tan, before toppling Egypt's 3/4 seed Nour El Tayeb in the semi-finals. In the final, Blatchford recovered from 1/2 down to beat Malaysia's Wee Nee Low, a 5/8 seed, 9-5, 6-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-2.

In the men's U15 final, top seeded Egyptian Amr Khalid Khalifa cruised to a 9-3, 9-5, 9-2 win over Pakistan's 9/16 seed Nousherwan to secure his maiden British Junior title.

After making three final appearances, Pakistan claimed its sole title victory in the Men's U13 event when top seed Nasir Iqbal beat Fadi Tharwat, the No2 seed from Egypt, 9-4, 10-9, 9-5. In an all-Egyptian women's climax, top seed Nour El Sherbeny prevailed when she beat Salma Esmat, a 3/4 seed, 9-0, 9-3, 9-1.

Men's U19 final:
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 9-5, 6-9, 9-2, 9-2 (62m)

Women's U19 final:
[1] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [2] Camille Serme (FRA) 9-2, 9-1, 6-9, 3-9, 9-1 (48m)

Men's U17 final:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [3/4] Andrew Wagih (EGY) 9-4, 9-3, 9-3 (40m)

Women's U17 final:
[3/4] Heba Alaa El Torky (EGY) bt [2] Alia Balbaa (EGY) 9-1, 9-6, 9-1 (22m)

Men's U15 final:
[1] Amr Khalid Khalifa (EGY) bt [9/16] Nousherwan (PAK) 9-3, 9-5, 9-2 (38m)

Women's U15 final:
[5/8] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [5/8] Wee Nee Low (MAS) 9-5, 6-9, 2-9, 9-7, 9-2 (39m)

Men's U13 final:
[1] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [2] Fadi Tharwat (EGY) 9-4, 10-9, 9-5 (41m)

Women's U13 final:
[1] Nour El Sherbeny (EGY) bt [3/4] Salma Esmat (EGY) 9-0, 9-3, 9-1 {21m)