KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — Favourites Malaysia faced a major upset in the World Junior Squash Team Championships at Bielsko-Biala, Poland when they lost 1-2 to South Africa in the Pool F match.
The loss also denied Malaysia, the tournament’s seventh seeded team, a place in the last 12 of the biennial World Squash Federation event, for the first time since 1984.
The 17th seeded South Africa claimed the first point when Ong Sai Hung lost 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 11-6, 7-11 to Richard-John Kuhn after an intense 52-minute battle, according to the tournament’s website, www.wsfworldjuniors.org.
Callan Mackenzie Hall added another point for the ‘underdog’ squad after defeating Mohd Farez Izwan 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 before Marcus Sim Wei Jie claimed a point for Malaysia by thrashing Adam Shean 11-1, 11-2, 11-9.
Malaysia started the campaign well when trouncing Spain 3-0 in the opening match on Friday, before losing 1-2 to the United States (US) yesterday.
First-placed US and second-placed South Africa advanced to the knockout round, while third-placed Malaysia and fourth-placed Spain were shown the exit.
South Africa will next face Australia for a place in the quarter-finals, while US will challenge Jordan. — Bernama
