For the second time in 24 hours, Egyptian favourite Saadeldin Abouaish survived a five-game marathon in the VDC Dental-Care WSF World Junior Squash Championships before claiming his place in the men's semi-finals of the World Squash Federation event in the Polish city of Bielsko-Biała.
The match against Benjamin Aubert, a 5/8 seed from France (both pictured above), was the first and last of the quarter-final session at Enjoy Squash - which was poised at 6-4 to Abouaish when Egyptian's racket clipped the Frenchman's face, and play was stopped for treatment. After a while it was decided to continue with the other matches and resume when Aubert had recovered.
On resumption, Abouaish quickly closed out the first game before losing a close second - which involved another clash on the head and another blood injury break for Aubert!
At 1/2 down for the second day in a row after Aubert took the third, the Cairo-based 18-year-old raced through the fourth to set up a decider. Aubert fought back from 0-4 down to level at six-all, but Abouaish ultimately prevailed 11-5, 12-14, 6-11, 11-2, 11-9 after 80 minutes to reach the semi-finals for the second successive year.
"I've never played a match like that before," said the exuberant Egyptian. "So many stoppages, so long, and such a tough match. I'm relieved to come from two-one down again, I'm sure it was great entertainment - but not great to play in!"
Abouaish will now take on 3/4 seed Israr Ahmed for a place in his first final. Ahmed, also 18 and from Lahore, kept Pakistan's hopes alive after defeating Egyptian giant-killer Marwan Tarek Abdelhamid, the 9/16 seed who upset Jordan's 5/8 seed Mohammad Al Sarraj to reach the last eight.
"I'm really happy to be in the semis," said Ahmed after his 72-minute 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5 victory over the 16-year-old. "That was a tough match, he's a very good young player and I had to work very hard to win."
Hopes of Japanese interest in the semi-finals for the first time ever were dashed when Egypt's Youssef Ibrahim Abdallah beat Yokohama-based Ryunosuke Tsukue 11-7, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8.
"It took me a while to get used to the conditions - it's very hot and bouncy today - and to his hard-hitting style," said the 3/4 seed from Cairo. "But I was playing well by the end."
Abdallah now faces Eain Yow Ng, the No.2 seed from Malaysia who reached the semis for the second time in a row after defeating India's Velavan Senthilkumar 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5.
There will also be Malaysian interest in the women's last four after Sivasangari Subramaniam denied the event an all-Egyptian semi-final line-up for the first time in four years! The 17-year-old from Kedah twice came from behind to record a 6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7 victory over 5/8 seed Amina Yousry.
"We played in Pakistan last year and I lost 11-9 in the fifth, so I knew it was going to be tough and this one could have gone either way," said the jubilant 3/4 seed pictured above. "Really, really happy to make the semis."
Subramaniam progresses to meet top seed Nouran Gohar, the world No.5 from Egypt who crushed New Zealander Eleanor Epke 11-1, 11-1, 11-3.
Gohar's predicted opponent in the final also came through in straight games. Second seed Hania El Hammamy denied English interest in the last four when she beat Amelia Henley 11-7, 11-7, 11-7.
"I expected it to be tough and it was," said the 15-year-old from Cairo (pictured above in world action) who is ranked 43 in the world. "I had to really fight to win this match."
El Hammamy now faces compatriot Rowan Reda Araby, an 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8 winner over Malaysian Andrea Lee.
RESULTS: VDC Dental-Care WSF World Junior Squash Championships, Bielsko-Biała, Poland
Men's semi-final line-up:
[1] Saadeldin Abouaish (EGY) v [3/4] Israr Ahmed (PAK)
[2] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [3/4] Youssef Ibrahim Abdallah (EGY)
Women's semi-final line-up:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [3/4] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)
[2] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v [3/4] Rowan Reda Araby (EGY)
Men's quarter-finals:
[1] Saadeldin Abouaish (EGY) bt [5/8] Benjamin Aubert (FRA) 11-5, 12-14, 6-11, 11-2, 11-9 (80m)
[3/4] Israr Ahmed (PAK) bt [9/16] Marwan Tarek Abdelhamid (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5 (72m)
[3/4] Youssef Ibrahim Abdallah (EGY) bt [5/8] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) 11-7, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8 (40m)
[2] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt [9/16] Velavan Senthilkumar (IND) 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 (44m)
Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [5/8] Eleanor Epke (NZL) 11-1, 11-1, 11-3 (16m)
[3/4] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [5/8] Amina Yousry (EGY) 6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7 (61m)
[3/4] Rowan Reda Araby (EGY) bt [5/8] Andrea Lee (MAS) 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8 (48m)
[2] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [5/8] Amelia Henley (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (32m)
