Sobhy Set To Defend World Title On Home Soil

For the first time in history, hosts USA can expect to have two players in the semi-finals of the Women's World Junior Individual Squash Championship, according to the draw for the next month's event published today by the World Squash Federation (WSF).

New York-based Amanda Sobhy became the first US player to win a world singles title at the 2010 championship - but the 17-year-old defending champion will be the No2 seed at the 2011 championship which will take place at Harvard University in Boston from 20-25 July.

Egypt's Nour El Tayeb has been named as top seed. The 18-year-old from Cairo finished as runner-up both in the 2009 and 2010 championships - but is now ranked 17 in the world and has beaten Sobhy, ranked three places lower, twice since losing to the younger left-hander in last year's final in Germany.

But there will also be high US hopes from Olivia Blatchford, the 18-year-old from New York who is seeded to reach the semi-finals. One of a handful of players competing in the event for the fourth successive year, Blatchford reached the quarter-finals in 2010 before losing to El Tayeb.

There will also be great expectations in Egypt for the other 3/4 seed Nour El Sherbini. The 15-year-old from Alexandria became the youngest world champion of all-time when she clinched the 2009 World Junior title in India against expectations - at the age of 13!

The Individual Championship is immediately followed by the Team event from 26-30 July.

2nd round draw:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v Alyssa Mehta (CAN)
Elvira Bedjai (FRA) v Celine Yeap (MAS)
[9/16] Anaka Alankamony (IND) v Olivia Fiechter (USA)
Katie Smith (ENG) v Alix Younger (CAN)
[5/8] Tamika Saxby (AUS) v Sophie Lemom (ENG)
Mireya Lucia Espinosa Proano (ECU) v Haley Mendez (USA)
[9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) v Maria Jose Guarderas (ECU)
Julia Lecoq (FRA) v Vanessa Raj (MAS)
[3/4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) v winner of (Lakshya Ragavendran (IND) v Risa Sugimoto (JPN))
Ka-Yi Lee (HKG) v winner of (Fiona Murphy (WAL) v Jennifer Brown (AUS))
[9/16] Melissa Alves (FRA) v winner of (Challen Stowell (AUS) v Julie Lee (RSA))
Caroline Sayegh (GER) v winner of (Nicole Gordillo Bravo (ECU) v Keisha Jeffrey (GUY))
[5/8] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v winner of (Laura Lagerweij (NED) v Kayla Jeffrey (GUY))
Sabrina Sobhy (USA) v winner of (Annika Wiese (GER) v Alexandra Fuller (RSA))
[9/16] Megan Craig (NZL) v winner of (Victoria Temple-Murray (ENG) v Tessa ter Sluis (NED))
Elani Landman (RSA) v winner of (Marie Stephan (FRA) v Maria Elena Ubina (USA))
Danielle Letourneau (CAN) v winner of (Lume Landman (RSA) v Abbie Palmer (NZL))
[9/16] Tesni Evans (WAL) v winner of (Samantha Ward (ENG) v Nele Gilis (BEL))
Ilona Lagerweij (NED) v winner of (Abbey Foster (CAN) v Chloe Pearson (ENG))
[5/8] Nouran El Torky (EGY) v winner of (Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Laura Kutsch (GER))
Sue Ann Yong (MAS) v winner of (Jennifer Haley (WAL) v Nikki van der Heijden (NED))
[9/16] Ho Ka Po (HKG) v winner of (Jessica Turnbull (AUS) v Mary Fung-A-Fat (GUY))
Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) v winner of (Rebecca Barnett (NZL) v Choi Uen Shan (HKG))
[3/4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Hannah Davies (WAL)
Ankita Sharma (IND) v Mariam Ibrahim Metwally (EGY)
[9/16] Selena Shaikh (AUS) v Rachel Arnold (MAS)
Danielle Fourie (NZL) v Bethany Brazier (AUS)
[5/8] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) v Paulina Perez Gonzalez (MEX)
Steffi Rosner (GER) v Ashley Khalil (GUY)
[9/16] Tan Yan Xin (MAS) v Michelle Gemmell (CAN)
Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) v Saumya Karki (IND)
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v Mikaela Albuja Sanchez (ECU)