Squash Update: Egyptian Khalifa Snatches World Junior Squash Championship from Compatriot Farag
Amr Khaled Khalifa lasted till the end in the Men’s World Junior Squash Championship in a glass squash court at El Condado Shopping Mall, in the naturally beautiful capital Quito, Ecuador.
Khaled Khalifa makes the third incessant Egyptian to have won the title in the World Squash Federation 17 year old history. Khalifa had to fight a ferocious battle with Ali Farang, an 18-year-old fellow countryman in order to claim the championship. Although Khalifa had an encounter with Farang three years earlier in the final of British Junior U15 Open, it was Farang who took the initial leap in the game. The underdog reached the final without dropping out a single game and mounted pressure on 17-year-old Khalifa by succeeding in the first game. Ali Farang excelled Amr Khaled Khalifa by 11-8. This mounted pressure on former British Junior U15 Open Champ, as he struggled hard to gain momentum in the match. This is the fifth time the trophy has been grabbed by Egypt since 2004.
Khalifa’s hard work did not play its toll in the semis and he was taken over by yet another countryman, Marwan Al Shorbagy. The defeat gave rise to the speculation of Khaled losing the championship. The two teenagers from Cairo displayed their utmost potential, making it one of the memorable sagas of Men’s Junior Squash Championship.
Ali Farang secured his place in the final by defeating 18-year-old Pakistani player, Farhan Zaman. The only Pakistani to make it to the semi-finals defended Egypt from claiming an all-Egyptian semi-final for the 20th time in the World Squash Federation Event. However, Zaman was unable to retain his supremacy over Farang and his story shortly came to an end. Egyptian squash sensation wiped off Pakistanis hopes in straight sets of 11-2, 11-4, and 11-8 in the quarter. The match only lasted for 23 minutes.
Farang’s performance had been remarkable throughout the series. He defeated eighth seed Charles Sharpes, an English Player. The second seed Ali Farang gave a breathtaking performance by scoring 11-8, 11-7, and 11-4. Khalid Khalifa, the 92nd ranked player advanced to the quarter final by giving an impressive performance throughout the play. He dismissed Indian Aditya Jagtap to secure his place for the semi. The six seed player Jagtap had to encounter a discouraging defeat from Khalifa, who scored 11-5, 11-2 and 11-2. The finalist and the Junior Squash Champion Khalifa also battled hard against 17-year-old player, Al Shorbagy from Alexandria, to finally make it to the final. Shorbagy, brother to former squash champion, had his hopes high for the semi.
After the first set Khalifa exerted his supremacy over his fellow citizen by gaining two point advances over Farang. However, this wasn’t what Khalifa was looking for. He applied his winning strategy but couldn’t go that far with the combat put forth by Farang. To add to the disappointment of Khalifa and his fans, he encountered a tie-break in the third set. The fourth set was extremely crucial for both players. Khalifa went to all lengths to retain his prestige over his fellow citizen. However, three years of hard work had brought significant improvements in Farang’s playing strategies. He no longer looked as vulnerable as in the British Junior U-15 Open.
Khalifa lost three points to Farang initially by scoring 8-11. However, he continued on with his stride and reigned over the game by marking 11-9, 12-10 and 11-7. Finally, the match was concluded after an hour long fierce confrontation between the teenagers from Cairo. The country managed to get hold of the Gold, Silver and Bronze medal in the tournament. With Khalifa winning the championship, Egypt’s grip over the title is spanned over to six years.
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