Cairo, Egypt – The Indian boys’ squash team has delivered a stellar performance at the World Squash Junior Championships in Cairo, Egypt, stunning third-seeded South Korea with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday to reach the semifinals. This historic achievement marks only the third time the Indian boys’ team has reached this stage in the championships, following their successes in 2008 and 2012, thereby guaranteeing themselves at least a bronze medal.
Thrilling Quarterfinal Victory Against South Korea
The quarterfinal tie against South Korea was a nail-biting affair that showcased the resilience and talent of the young Indian squad.
In the opening rubber, Yusha Nafees set a strong tone for India, comprehensively defeating Jeong Uk Ryu with a dominant 3-0 scoreline (11-5, 11-5, 11-9). However, the Korean side fought back, with Joo Young Na leveling the tie by securing a decisive 3-0 victory (11-4, 11-4, 11-4) over India’s Sandhesh Pr.
The fate of the match then rested on the shoulders of K. S. Arihant in the decider. Arihant rose to the occasion, overcoming Jonghyeok Lee in a hard-fought four-game battle, winning 3-1 (11-7, 11-13, 11-8, 11-4) to seal the memorable victory for India.
The Indian boys’ team will now face the USA in the semifinals, vying for a spot in the championship final.
Indian Girls’ Team Falls to Top Seed Egypt
Later on Wednesday, the Indian girls’ team faced a formidable challenge in their quarterfinal clash, suffering a 3-0 defeat against the top-seeded host nation, Egypt.
In the opening match of the quarterfinal, Nadien Elhammamy defeated Anika Dubey 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-5). Unnati Tripathi then faced Amina Orfi, losing 3-0 (11-1, 11-3, 11-0), before Sohayla Hazem sealed the comprehensive victory for Egypt by brushing past Navya Sundararajan 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-3). Despite the loss, the girls’ team’s journey to the quarterfinals against such strong opposition highlights their competitive spirit.
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