Wagih & Bell Win Czech Junior Open Tiles

23 Jan 2008

England's Victoria Bell and Egyptian Andrew Wagih Shoukry claimed the titles in the Czech Junior U19 Open after victories over lower-seeded opponents in the finals of the European Squash Federation Junior Circuit event in Prague.

Second seed Wagih Shoukry was expected to reach the final - but his opponent, compatriot Ahmed Hawas, made his surprise bid for the title as the 12th seed, after upsetting fourth seed Tomas Toth, then the event favourite Petr Martin, in previous rounds.

Hawas, 18, from Cairo, took the opening game in the final, but 17-year-old Wagih Shoukry stormed back to win the match 5-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-0 to claim his maiden ESF junior title.

Victoria Bell was seeded to win the women's title - but the 18-year-old from Carlisle in Cumbria faced surprise opponent Cigany Sierveld in the final after the Dutch third seed upset second-seeded compatriot Melissa Meulenbelt in the semis.

But it was Bell's day in the final as the England junior international cruised to a 9-2, 9-3, 9-1 victory to win the Grand Prix title for the first time.

Men's Final:
[2] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [12] Ahmed Hawas (EGY) 5-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-0

Women's Final:
[1] Victoria Bell (ENG) bt [3] Cigany Sierveld (NED) 9-2, 9-3, 9-1