After remaining empty-handed in the World Junior individual squash championship, Pakistan are confident of defending the team title as the event begins on Sunday.

Pakistan, who took a confident start, ended the individual championship with a frustrating performance when second seed Aamir Atlas failed to reach the final.

Aamir is, however, confident that his team-mates will repeat the performance they gave two years ago in Islamabad.

“No doubt the competition offers tough opponents like Egypt but we have tendency to win, making it third title in a row,” Aamir told a website on Saturday.

Pakistan are second seed behind Egypt for the team championship.

Both teams are at top of the list of 19 nations taking part in the event which concludes July 28.

Egypt, led by the current World Junior champion, Ramy Ashour, have been runners-up in all the events except in 1994 when they won the title.

Third seeds England, who are four-time champions since 1990, will be hoping to better their third-place finish in the last championship in 2004.

The Netherlands and Hong Kong, seeded eight and 10th, are also expected to score their best-ever victories, while 18th seed Japan will be making their debut.

Hosts New Zealand, who are seeded 12th, have a young side led by Wellington Evan Williams.

Pool A: Egypt, the Netherlands, Australia, Finland, Ireland.

Pool B: Pakistan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Japan.

Pool C: England, Canada, Switzerland, USA, Zimbabwe.

Pool D: India, Germany, New Zealand, Kuwait.—PPI