Republic of Korea Win Historic Maiden Asian Junior Team Title

Republic of Korea made national sporting history when their men's team won the South China Group Asian Junior Team Championships for the first time, while Hong Kong finally ended Malaysia's decade of dominance by claiming the women's title for the first time in 14 years.

Prior to Sunday's conclusion at Hong Kong Squash Centre, Republic of Korea had never reached the final of the Asian Junior Team Championships, which have been held biennially since 1983.

The top seeds, who stunned the squash world with a swashbuckling run to the final of the World Junior Team Championships last year, showed no signs of nerves in their final against Malaysia, who were hunting the title for the first time since 2015.

In an epic first string battle, Jooyoung Na - who reached the final of the World Junior Individual Championships last year - finally overcame rival Harith Danial after fighting back from 1/2 down to record an 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 victory in 63 minutes.

Jeonguk Ryu's clash with Nickhileswar Moganasundharam was no less epic, with Ryu twice coming from behind as he ensured a 2/0 victory for Republic of Korea with a 68-minute 6-11, 13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 win.

In the women's event, the hosts ended a heartbreaking run of five consecutive final defeats by overcoming fierce rivals Malaysia.

Malaysia had been Hong Kong's bogeyman for a decade with the 10-time champions beating the hosts in the final of the last four events, part of a barren run of five consecutive second place finishes for Hong Kong beginning with defeat to India in 2013 in Seoul.

This time, though, it was sweet revenge for the hosts as Ena Kwong swatted aside Anrie Goh 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 and Tsz Ching Armona Cheung recovered from a rocky start to dispatch Harleein Tan 3-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

Completing the medals in the men's event were No.6 seeds Pakistan, who beat No.5 seeds Japan in the quarter-finals but lost out to Republic of Korea in the semis, and No.4 seeds India, who upset hosts Hong Kong, China in the quarter-final before losing out Malaysia in the semis.

Completing the medals in the women's event were No.3 seeds India and No.5 seeds Singapore, with India finishing second in Pool B after comprehensive wins over China, Macau and Mongolia before losing out to the hosts in the semi-finals, and Singapore coming second in Pool A after wins over No.4 seeds Republic of Korea as well as Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei before eventually exiting to Malaysia in the last four.

Report courtesy of World Squash