August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 6: Favourites Egypt and second-seeded Pakistan stormed into the semi-finals of the World Junior Team Squash Championship in Zurich after thrashing their quarter-final opponents respectively.

Pakistan won all of their three ties in the last-eight stage against seventh-seeded Germany to secure berth in the semis. Pakistan team’s spearhead Aamir Atlas Khan earned the lead by thrashing Florian Silbernagl 9-3, 9-2, 9-3 in 18 minutes.

Compatriot Waqar Mehboob sealed the victory for his side by overcoming Raphael Kandra in straight sets, recording a formidable 9-7, 9-3, 9-2 triumph in 37 minutes while Mohammad Shoaib Hassan zapped Norman Junge 9-5, 9-1 in just 17 minutes to register an immaculate 3-0 quarter-final victory for Pakistan.

In the semi-finals, Pakistan will face fifth seeded traditional rivals India who gate-crashed the semis after a stunning 2-1 quarter-final victory over fourth seeded France.

Top seeds Egypt, led by the new world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy, despatched tenth seed Canada 3-0.

Defending champions Egypt take on third seeds England in a repeat of the 2006 semi-final. Former champions England fought back from a match down to beat Malaysia, the No 6 seeds by 2-1.

Quarter-finals:

Egypt (1) bt Canada (10) 3-0 (Mohamed El Shorbagy bt Nicholas Sachvie 9-3, 9-3, 9-4; Andrew Wagih Shoukry bt Andrew Schnell 9-3, 9-4, 3-9, 9-4; Amr Khalifa bt Fred Reid 9-1, 6-9, 9-6).

England (3) bt (6) Malaysia 2-1 (Joe Lee lost to Ivan Yuen 9-2, 5-9, 6-9, 1-9; Adrian Waller bt Jo Wen Ng 9-3, 9-4, 9-4; Alex Ingham bt Kah Wah Cheong 9-1, 9-2, 9-1).

India (5) bt France (4) 2-1 (Vikram Malhotra lost to Gregoire Marche 9-1, 4-9, 0-9, 1-9; Aditya Jagtap bt Lucas Vauzelle 9-6, 9-2, 9-5; Ravi Dixit bt Antoine Petrucci 8-10, 2-9, 9-7, 9-1, 9-2).

Pakistan (2) bt (Germany (7) 3-0 (Aamir Atlas Khan bt Florian Silbernagl 9-3, 9-2, 9-3; Waqar Mehboob bt Raphael Kandra 9-7, 9-3, 9-2; Mohd Shoaib Hassan bt Norman Junge 9-5, 9-1).—Agencies