17th Women's World Teams
Squash Championships 2010
Palmerston North, New Zealand
28th November - 4 December 2010
Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald has celebrated her birthday in style at the Women's World Team Squash Championships in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
The five times world champion turns 42 today, but age proved no barrier as she crushed Ireland's Zoe Barr 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 in the final round of pool play. It was the first of three comfortable wins for the second seeded Aussies, with teammates Donna Urquhart and Rachael Grinham also winning in straight games.
Likewise third seeded Egypt made short work of Mexico today. The defending champions warmed up for the quarterfinals with a 3-0 demolition of the Central Americans. Raneem El Weleily completed the fastest victory of the tournament to date, beating Graciela Lopez Perez in just 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, France has secured a spot in the quarterfinals after a thrilling victory over South Africa. A monumental match between Maud Duplomb and Milnay Louw was the highlight of the tie, with Duplomb twice fighting back from the death to claim victory. The French number four clawed her way back from two games down to level the scores at 2-all, and then recovered from 107 down in the fifth to win 12-10.
However, it was a bad day for Japan, who lost 3-0 to India. The 15th seeds could also be a player down for their remaining ties, with Yuki Sakai retiring with a hip injury midway through her match against Joshna Chinappa. Japan is the only team without a reserve.
Results
Pool B
(2) Australia def (7) Ireland 3-0
3. Sarah Fitz-Gerald def 3. Laura Mylotte 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (19 minutes) 4. Donna Urquhart def 4. Zoe Barr 11-7, 11-7, 11-3 (24 minutes) 1. Rachael Grinham def 2. Aisling Blake 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (24 minutes)
(10) India def (15) Japan 3-0
2. Joshna Chinappa def 2. Miwa Maekawa 11-3, 11-3 retired (12 minutes) 3. Anaka Alankamony def Yuki Sakai 15-13,11-13, 11-6, 11-5 (37 minutes) 1. Dipika Pallikal def Misaki Kobayashi 11-3, 3-11, 11-8, 11-8 (29 minutes)
Pool C
(3) Egypt def (14) Mexico 3-0
3. Engy Kheirallah def 3. Nayelly Hernandez 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 (20 minutes) 4. Nour El Tayeb def 4. Imelda Salazar Martinez 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 (24 minutes) 2. Raneem El Weleily def 2. Graciela Lopez Perez 11-6, 11-2, 11-4 (15 minutes)
(6) France def (11) South Africa
2. Isabelle Stoehr def 2. Siyoli Waters 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (34 minutes) 4. Maud Duplomb def 3. Milnay Louw 8-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 (48 minutes) 1. Camille Serme def 1. Tenille Swartz 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 (23 minutes)
Gary Denvir
Media Manager
Women's World Team Squash Championships
027 273 9446
