ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: Top seeds Pakistan on Thursday went storming into the semifinals of the World Junior Squash Championship with a 3-0 hammering of Canada.
The straightforward victory kept Pakistan firmly on course to keep their team title they won in Chennai in 2002 under coach Rehmat Khan.
Rehmat now stands on the brink of what would be a fine double if he is able to inspire his boys to lay their hands on the trophy. But for now his team has to focus on the immediate task of beating Kuwait in Friday's semifinals.
If the home players succeed in doing that, it will be the fourth time Pakistan will have made it to the final of this elite event which they have managed to win only twice.
In Thursday's other quarterfinals, Kuwait defeated Germany 3-0 while Egypt crushed New Zealand by an identical margin to set up a meeting in the semifinals with England who eliminated India 2- 1.
Khalid Atlas gave Pakistan just the start that was required, downing Robin Clarke 9-0, 9-5, 9-5. Then on came Yasir Butt, the former junior British Open champion, who swept past Daniel Sibley 9-3, 9-1, 9-1. Farhan Mahboob later sealed Canada's fate walloping Michael Auer 9-0, 9-3.
Kuwait had to fight hard to overpower Germany as Abdullah KH Al Mezayian and S. Al Khamees, both were extended to four games by Simon Rosner and M. Maierhofer respectively. Ali Al Ramzi, however achieved victory in straight games, his victim being Jens Schoor.
Ramy Ashour, winner of last week's world individual crown, put Egypt on the road to semis with a 9-0, 9-0, 9-5 knockout of New Zealand's Campbell Grayson. Ahmed El Swaify followed up his team- mate's fine effort by brushing aside Michael Bill 9-0, 9-5, 9-3 while Mod Adel put the last nail in the coffin beating Whairoa Moeke 9-4, 9-0.
Joel Hinds and James Wright were the architects of England's victory over India as both of them scored comfortable wins. But Saurav Ghosal prevented a whitewash defeating Chris Simpson 9-2, 9-3, 9-4.
RESULTS (QUARTERFINALS):
Pakistan bt Canada 3-0 (Khalid Atlas bt Robin Clarke 9-0, 9-5, 9-5; Yasir Butt bt Daniel Sibley 9-3, 9-1, 9-1; Farhan Mahboob bt Michael Auer 9-0, 9-3);
Egypt bt New Zealand 3-0 (Ramy Ashour bt Campbell Grayson 9-0, 9-0, 9-5; Ahmed El Swaify bt Michael Bill 9-0, 9-5, 9-3; Mohd Adel bt Whairoa Moeke 9-4, 9-0);
England bt India 2-1 (Joel Hinds bt Sandeep Jangra 9-2, 9-0, 9-5; James Wright bt Vikas Jangra 9-3, 9-4, 9-0; Chris Simpson lost to Saurav Ghosal 2-9, 3-9, 4-9);
Kuwait bt Germany 3-0 (Abdullah KH Al Mezayian bt Simon Rosner 5-9, 9-1, 9- 6, 9-5; S. Al Khamees bt M. Maierhofer 10-9, 9-3, 6-9, 9-6; Ali Al Ramzi bt Jens Schoor 9-10, 9-6, 9-7).
FRIDAY'S SEMIFINALS: Pakistan v Kuwait at 3pm; Egypt v England at 5pm.
