Contrasting World Semis Unfold In Windhoek

Whilst the women's last four line-up will be all-Egyptian for the second year in a row, the semi-finalists in the Men's WSF World Junior Squash Championship will represent four different nations for the first time in 14 years after an eventful quarter-final day in the World Squash Federation event at the Wanderers Sports Club in the Namibia capital Windhoek.

Top seed Nour El Sherbini brushed aside England's Lily Taylor 11-2, 11-3, 11-3 in just 18 minutes to reach the women's semi-finals for an unprecedented sixth year in a row!

"I am quite happy I made it to the semi-finals of the competition and the fact that I have improved with each game has given me more confidence to face the next opponent," said the 18-year-old from Alexandria who is bidding to win an historic fourth title.

"The competition normally gets tougher through the rounds, but I'm ready and so far I'm really glad that I have made it thus far."

El Sherbini will now face surprise opponent Habiba Mohamed Ahmed, a 5/8 seed who outplayed fellow Egyptian Salma Hany Ibrahim, a 3/4 seed, 12-10, 11-3, 11-5.

The other women's match is the semi predicted by the draw: Second seed Nouran Gohar battled for 31 minutes to overcome US hope Sabrina Sobhy and will now face 3/4 seed Mariam Metwally.

Last year's runner-up ended English interest in the 2014 championship when she beat Georgina Kennedy, a 9/12 seed, 11-7, 11-2, 11-9.

Men's top seed Diego Elias is also aiming for a championship record - to become the first Peruvian to win the title. The 17-year-old from Lima despatched Egyptian Mohamed Elgawarhy 11-6, 11-4, 11-6 to earn his first appearance in the event's last four.

"I'm happy with my progress so far," said Elias later. "I know it's going to get tougher, but I am in good shape and hope to make it to the final."

When asked about his prospects in the next round, Elias added: "There is no player here that can be written-off. The best thing is to be prepared for anything as one never knows how it will turn out in the end. But for now, I will take it one game at a time."

Elias will now face Kush Kumar, the first Indian ever to make the world junior semi-finals. The Indian Squash Academy trainee from Chennai, a 3/4 seed, beat England's George Parker 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.

The other men's semi will be a surprise Pakistan/Egypt affair. Egyptian Omar Elatmas pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the day when he recovered from two games down to beat Pakistan's 3/4 seed Tayyab Aslam 7-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 in an 111-minute marathon.

18-year-old Etmas will take on Pakistan's Syed Ali Mujtaba Shah Bokhari after the 9/12 seed also came through a five-game marathon when he defeated Egypt's Youssef Soliman, a 13/16 seed, 11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 in 79 minutes.

Men's semi-final line-up:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) v [3/4] Kush Kumar (IND)
[9/12] Syed Ali Mujtaba Shah Bokhari (PAK) v [9/12] Omar Elatmas (EGY)

Women's semi-final line-up:
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [5/8] Habiba Mohamed Ahmed (EGY)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [3/4] Mariam Metwally (EGY)