Khalifa Crowned World Junior Champion In Quito
2 Aug 2010
Amr Khaled Khalifa outlasted fellow countryman Ali Farag in the final of the Men's World Junior Squash Championship on an all-glass court at El Condado Shopping Mall in the Ecuador capital Quito to become the third successive Egyptian winner of the World Squash Federation event in its 17th year.
While Farag, the 18-year-old second seed, reached the final without dropping a game, favourite Khalifa was taken the full distance in the semi-finals for the first time by compatriot Marwan El Shorbagy, a 9/16 seed.
And it was underdog Farag who claimed the initial advantage, winning the first game 11-8.
But in the battle between the two teenagers from Cairo, 17-year-old Khalifa began to exert his authority on the opponent whom he had last beaten on the international stage in the quarter-finals of the British Junior U15 Open more than three years ago.
Favourite Khalifa took the second game by a two-point margin, then survived a tie-break third before confirming his advantage in the fourth to claim his title-winning 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7 in exactly one hour.
Khalifa extends Egypt's grip on the title to six years after Ramy Ashour, the current world No2, won the trophy in 2004 & 2006, and Mohamed El Shorbagy, now ranked 13, in 2008 & 2009.
And the country secured a clean sweep of the 2010 medals when Marwan El Shorbagy beat Pakistan's Farhan Zaman, also a 9/16 seed, 15-17, 11-6, 12-10, 14-12 in the bronze medal play-off.
Egypt were confirmed as favourites for the Men's World Junior Team Championship which will now follow. The teams will initially compete in eight pools, as follows, with confirmed seedings as indicated:
Pool A: [1] EGYPT; [16] SOUTH KOREA; [17/24] IRELAND
Pool B: [2] PAKISTAN; [15] COLOMBIA; [17/24] JAPAN
Pool C: [3] ENGLAND; [14] NETHERLANDS; [17/24] KUWAIT
Pool D: [4] INDIA; [13] WALES; [17/24] ECUADOR
Pool E: [5] CANADA; [12] SOUTH AFRICA; [17/24] VENEZUELA
Pool F: [6] MEXICO; [11] NEW ZEALAND; [17/24] GUATEMALA
Pool G: [7] FRANCE; [10] AUSTRALIA; [17/24] BRAZIL
Pool H: [8] USA; [9] GERMANY; [17/24] CAYMAN ISLANDS
Official event website: www.mundialjunior2010.squashecuador.com/
Final:
[1] Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) bt [2] Ali Farag (EGY) 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7 (60m)
Third place play-off:
[9/16] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [9/16] Farhan Zaman (PAK) 15-17, 11-6, 12-10, 14-12