A belated happy birthday to Engy Kheirallah - it looks like she and Karim enjoyed the cake !!

Quarter-Finals:

England 3-0 Ireland
  Laura Lengthorn-Massaro 3-0 Tanya Owens        11/3, 11/4, 11/5
  Jenny Duncalf 3-1 Madeline Perry                         9/11, 11/5, 11/9, 12/10
  Alison Waters 2-0 Aisling Blake                             11/6, 11/4
Malaysia 2-0 Australia
   Delia Arnold 3-2 Lisa Camilleri                             11/6, 11/7, 9/11, 5/11, 11/2
   Nicol David 3-1 Kasey Brown                               11/2, 8/11, 11/1, 11/8
New Zealand 3-0 Hong Kong
   Joelle King 3-0 Liu Tiz Ling                                  11/2, 11/4, 11/3
  Shelley Kitchen 3-1 Annie Au                              11/7, 9/11, 11/4, 11/5
  Jaclyn Hawkes 2-0 Joey Chan                              11/5, 11/2
Egypt 3-0 Netherlands
   Raneem El Weleily 3-0 Orla Noom                       11/8, 11/2, 11/8
   Omneya Abdel Kawy 3-1 Vanessa Atkinson          11/8, 12/10, 6/11, 11/7
   Engy Kheirallah 2-0 Annelize Naude                     13/11, 11/6
 
Top seeds ease into semis

Defending champions England were the first team into the semi-finals as they despatched Ireland in the opening quarter-final match, making this their 15th consecutive time in the last four. After Laura Lengthorn-Massaro gave England the lead Jenny Duncalf sealed the win with a hard-fought four-game victory over the in-form Madeline Perry. England now meet New Zealand, who beat Hong Kong 3/0.

Malaysia overcame 2002 ans 2004 champions Australia with Delia Arnbold winning a tense opener against Lisa Camilleri. Nicol David then put the Malaysians into the bottom semi-final where they will meet hosts Egypt.

Hosts Egypt Through To
World Semi-Finals In Cairo
Roundup from Howard Harding

In the final quarter-final tie of the Women's World Team Squash Championship on an all-glass court in the grounds of the National Stadium in Cairo, hosts Egypt, the second seeds, beat fifth seeds Netherlands to set up a semi-final clash with fourth seeds Malaysia.

The other semi-final will pitch third seeds New Zealand against title holders England after the favourites reached the last four for the 15th successive time since 1981 by beating Ireland, the sixth seeds.

Newly-promoted world top 20 teenager Raneem El Weleily put the hosts ahead after beating Dutch third string Orla Noom 11-8, 11-2, 11-8. Roared on by the packed partisan crowd, Egyptian number one Omneya Abdel Kawy clinched the place in the semi-finals by beating former world number one Vanessa Atkinson 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7.

Engy Kheirallah, who celebrates her 27th birthday on semi-finals day, made it maximum points for her country in the best-of-three dead rubber after a 13-11, 11-6 win over by the Dutch second string Annelize Naude.

Malaysia had earlier reserved their place in the semi-finals with a 2/1 win over eight times champions Australia. But the first match had the significantly Malaysian-biased crowd on the edge of their seats as third string Delia Arnold squandered a 2/0 lead when Australian Lisa Camilleri - ranked just one place lower in the world - battled back to draw level.

But the 22-year-old event newcomer from Selangor quickly restored her momentum to mark up a crucial 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-2 win in 55 minutes to put the fourth seeds ahead.

World number one Nicol David looked to be coasting to a predicted win as she took the first game against her Australian counterpart Kasey Brown for the loss of just two points. But New South Wales-born Brown fought back - and levelled the match.

David, who hasn't lost a world team championship match since 2004, reasserted her authority to win 11-2, 8-11, 11-1, 11-7. Seventh seeds Australia earned a consolation point when Donna Urquhart beat Malaysia's Sharon Wee 11-4, 11-7.

"I think Kasey had difficulty seeing the ball in the first game, which made it quite easy for me," said 25-year-old David, from Penang, afterwards. "But she came back into the game in the second, and I dropped back a bit - and after a fairly straightforward third game I had to work hard in the fourth to close it out.

"But we had fantastic support from the crowd - there are a lot of Malaysians studying at the medical school here in Cairo. And, even though they are in the middle of exams, they came along to give us great support," added David.

Hong Kong's breakthrough run came to the end today at the hands of third seeds New Zealand. The ninth seeds, who upset eighth-seeded France to ensure their highest finish since 1985, quickly went behind when fourth string Kiwi Joelle King beat Tsz Ling Liu 11-2, 11-4, 11-3.

Despite a brave fight by Annie Au, the 19-year-old leading the Hong Kong attack for the first time, Shelley Kitchen put New Zealand into the semi-finals following her 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5 victory over the teenager. Jaclyn Hawkes made it three out of three for New Zealand after beating Joey Chan 11-5, 11-2.

Earlier in the day, Japan pulled off a major upset in the play-offs for the 9th-16th places. Seeded 15, Japan beat 11th seeds USA 2/1 to ensure a top 12 finish - their best ever success in the event.

Kozue Onizawa put the underdogs into the lead - the 32-year-old world No243 from Ibaraki battling for 42 minutes to beat 15-year-old world championship debutante Olivia Blatchford - ranked more than 100 places higher - 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5.

Chinatsu Matsui, the world No69 from Kawasaki, showed impressive fighting spirit as she took on Natalie Grainger, the US team number one who is ranked four in the world. The plucky 31-year-old left-hander responded to almost everything that the experienced Grainger could throw at her - and recovered from a game down to level the match and reach three game-balls in the third.

But Grainger eventually clinched the game, and the fourth to even the tie with a 2-11, 11-7, 12-14, 9-11 victory after 43 minutes.

Japan still had firepower, however, and Misaki Kobayashi used it to fine effect - the 18-year-old from Tokyo overcoming USA first-timer Claire Rein-Weston 11-9, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7 to claim a historic victory for her country.

"This is a very special result for us," said Japan team manager Hitoshi Ushiogi. "We made our breakthrough on the world stage last December in the Men's World Team Championship, when we beat Austria - our first ever win over a European country. And now we've beaten the USA!

"The new scoring system is really beneficial for us. Our players have the technique, but perhaps not the fitness of our rivals - so shorter games suit us.

"We've only had funding for our players for the past two years from our national Olympic committee, so this has been a big help for the development of squash in our country.

"I am sure that this latest success will help us get even more funding - so our participation in the World Championships here in Cairo has been a great success."

Natalie Grainger, not only the US team's number one, but also the team coach, was not too downbeat about her team's performance: "We brought a pretty inexperienced team with us - including Olivia who is only 15. But our aim was to finish third in our Pool, and that's what we achieved.

"But you have to admire Japan - they played good squash, with good technique, and were a very level-headed squad. It's nice to see a new nation emerging," added the former world number one.
 

"We always have tight matches, we train a lot together in Halifax and know each other's games pretty well.

"It's my first time as England number one, and it's tough. I want to try and take the pressure off the team. "I would say there's even more pressure playing in this event than playing for yourself - you're playing for your country and for your team-mates. We take it very seriously and want to do really well for each other. The Worlds is pretty special - hopefully we'll rise to the challenge and keep the trophy we won last time."

"The team is pretty tight - we all really get on well with each other. In fact Ali, Laura and I won the world junior team title together in Penang in 2001. And Tania, who's a little bit older and wiser, makes a great captain!"

Jenny Duncalf

"I knew Annelize would be tough - but I knew I could beat her if I kept my focus. I feel so good - I've done it for myself, for my country, for my team-mates and for my coach.

"I really wanted to win - it's been a very good day for me. It's good to have the support of my team-mates and the crowd. I hope the other girls will go on and do it for the team."



"There's a lot of pressure playing for your country - with all your team-mates looking on. It's so different from playing on the Tour when you're on your own. I try not to think about it and just get on with the game. Sharon's win took the pressure off a bit."

"I find there's much less pressure when you're playing matches where rankings points aren't at stake - and tonight I was determined to keep my focus right from the outset.

"It's the first time I've beaten Natalie - and she's playing well at the moment - so I'm really pleased.

"This event has had a jinx on me - in three previous world team championships I've been taken ill on the eve of the event. So when I arrived here, I kept my fingers crossed that I would be OK this time - and things are certainly going well for me so far!"

   to Howard Harding

In the four-team Pool D Malaysia and Netherlands, the fourth and fifth seeds, both won to set up the group decider tomorrow, although the Dutch were pushed all the way by South Africa as part-timer Siyole Lusaseni beat Annelize Naude 3/1 leaving it to Vanessa Atkinson to pull out the victory for the Dutch.

Looking Ahead ...

It's hard to bet against England winning pool A, but the France v Hong Kong clash should be a thriller. Seeded eight and nine, but both missing their number ones, a quarter-final place is up for grabs.

Pool B looks settled, with Egypt and Australia going through, and they meet tomorrow to decide top place.

Pool C is similarly placed as New Zealand and Ireland play off to earn a favourable quarter-final draw, and the same is true in Pool D with - on paper - the closest match of all between Malaysia and Netherlands to decide top spot.

Watch LIVE

Thanks to Mahmoud Khalifa for the photos

Watch LIVE

19-Nov-08:
England top Cairo seedings

Defending champions England are seeded to retain the title in next month's Women's World Team Championships in Egypt.

2006, Canada

2004, Holland

Andrew Dent reports

New South Wales’ Donna Urquhart and Queensland’s Lisa Camilleri will make their Australian senior debuts after being selected for the Women’s World Teams’ Championship in Cairo from November 30–December 6.

Urquhart, 21, and Camilleri, 25, have been included after a string of successes over the past year during which time they have taken their world rankings to 29 and 38 respectively.

They join New South Wales’ Kasey Brown (world No.13) and Victorian Amelia Pittock (40) in a new look Australian team capable of causing some major upsets.

Urquhart, from Yamba, broke through for her first professional wins in late 2007 when she took out consecutive tournaments in Malaysia.

She is no stranger to Cairo, having played there for the Australian team in the 2003 World Junior Women’s Championships.

“I’m really looking forward to it this time.

“I think we can do quite well and surprise some people. It’s a young team so I suppose it’s a bit of a changing of the guard in some respects.

“But it’s a pretty good group of girls and I’m sure we’ll do our best.”

Camilleri has been in stunning form in 2008, winning five tournaments so far this year, the latest two weeks ago in Pakistan.

She has been spending time at the Australian Institute of Sport as a member of the 2010 Commonwealth Games training squad and that work has paid off with her recent results.

Brown, 23, and Pittock, 25, both played for Australia at the last Women’s World Teams’ Championships, in Canada in 2006.

They have both won twice this year – Brown in Montreal and Hong Kong and Pittock in Washington and Adelaide.

Brown was also runner-up at the 2008 Australian Open where she lost a thrilling five-game final to Hong Kong’s Annie Au.

The team will be coached by Australian squash great Michelle Martin.
 

Aussie Team


Kasey Brown
Taree NSW
Age: 23
World Ranking: 13
Career Titles: 9
Career Highlights: Australian Open 2006, Australia Junior Champion 2003 2004, Atwater Cup (Canada) 2008

Donna Urquhart Yamba NSW
Age: 21
World Ranking: 29
Career Titles: 2
Career Highlights: Australian Junior Champion 2005, NSC Star (Malaysia) 2007

Lisa Camilleri
Tully, Queensland
Age: 25
World Ranking: 38
Career titles: 6
Career Highlights: Top End Open 2008, City of Perth International 2007, POF Wah Cantt Open (Pakistan) 2008

Amelia Pittock Dromana, Victoria
Age: 25
World Ranking: 40
Career Titles: 5
Career Highlights: Australian Junior Champion 2002, Capitol Hill Open (USA) 2008, South Australian Open 2007 2008, Queensland Open 2003

25-Aug-08:
Kiwi team named

A high profile endorsement of the New Zealand team named for the Women's World Team Squash Championships in Egypt later this year.
 
The four strong line-up has been announced, with world number seven Shelley Kitchen joined by 19th ranked Jaclyn Hawkes, Louise Crome (#22) and rising teenage star Joelle King (#55)
 
They will be accompanied by squash legend Dame Susan Devoy, who is the team manager and coach Anthony Ricketts, the former world number three.
 
Dame Susan says it has been a long time since she was playing at the top level, so she is flattered to be asked to manage the team.  She says she is impressed with the four players, having seen them in action at the International Festival of Squash in Mount Maunganui earlier this month. 

"They are all extremely professional in the way they conduct themselves both on and off the court and are a great flagship for New Zealand on the world stage".
 
"No New Zealand squash team has ever won the world title or been nominated for the Halberg awards, and these players have a great opportunity to set the record straight".
 
"I have spoken to the players about the challenge ahead and reinforced what a positive impact success would be to the game in New Zealand."

2006, Canada

2004, Holland

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