Clyne Comeback Clinches World Final Place For GB

Alan Clyne mounted a sensational comeback in the second match against Malaysia in the semi-finals of the 6th World University Team Championships to clinch an unexpected place for Great Britain in the final against hosts Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo.

Emma Beddoes - a Nottingham University student two days short of her 23rd birthday - beat Malaysian Lim Yoke Wah 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 in the opening match to put GB ahead.

Then Clyne, a 22-year-old Scot from Edinburgh, fought back from two games and match-ball at 6-10 down to beat higher-ranked Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 13-15, 10-12, 13-11, 11-7, 11-2.

The stunning victory ensured the title-holders a second successive place in the final - but squad number three Joel Hinds made it 3/0 by beating Nafiizwan's brother Nafzahizam Adnan 11-3, 8-11, 11-6 in the best-of-three match.

Favourites Egypt brushed aside Canada 3 0 in the other semi to reach the final for the first time.

Semi-finals:
[1] EGYPT bt [4] CANADA 3-0
Raneem El Weleily bt Stephanie Edmison 11-4, 11-4, 11-9
Ramy Ashour bt Colin West 11-3, 11-4, 11-5
Tarek Momen bt Graeme Schnell 11-8, 11-8
[3] GREAT BRITAIN bt [2] MALAYSIA 3-0
Emma Beddoes bt Lim Yoke Wah 11-7, 11-9, 11-7
Alan Clyne bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 13-15, 10-12, 13-11, 11-7, 11-2
Joel Hinds bt Nafzahizam Adnan 11-3, 8-11, 11-6

5th - 8th place play-offs:
AUSTRIA bt AUSTRALIA 2/1
SWITZERLAND bt USA 2/1

9th - 12th place play-offs:
GERMANY bt CZECH REPUBLIC 2/1
CZECH REPUBLIC bt SOUTH AFRICA 2/ 1
GERMANY bt SOUTH AFRICA 2/1