A crucial win for New Zealand on day three of the Women's World Team Squash Championships in Palmerston North.
The fifth seeded Kiwis have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead over fourth seed Malaysia, which sees them finish top of Group D. It means the home team will avoid playing one of the top three seeds in the quarterfinals.
Commonwealth Games star Joelle King was first on court, taking on world number 16 Low Wee Wern. The pressure was on the 22-year-old New Zealander to win the opening match, with world number one Nicol David expected to beat Jaclyn Hawkes in the final match of the tie. King duly delivered, edging home 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9.
The onus then fell on Shelley Kitchen to seal the tie with a victory over world number 21 Delia Arnold. Kitchen, who turns 31 tomorrow, started the celebrations early with a stunning 11-4, 11-7, 11-4 victory.
David then completed the expected victory over Hawkes, winning 11-3, 1-5, 11-5.
Meanwhile, there was also an upset in Pool A, with ninth seeded USA grabbing a spot in the last eight with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands. Latasha Khan and Amanda Sobhy picked up the all important wins for the States, while Vanessa Atkinson picked up a consolation victory for the Netherlands with a thrilling five game victory over Natalie Grainger.
The US join England in the quarters, after the top seeds finished pool play with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Austria.
Earlier in the day, Australian Sarah Fit-Gerald also celebrated a birthday. The five times world champion turned 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. However, Ireland also goes through to the last eight, having won its opening two ties.
Egypt is the other major semi-final contender, and made short work of Mexico today. Raneem El Weleily completed the fastest victory of the tournament to date, beating Graciela Lopez Perez in just 15 minutes.
Full results...(Draw to be confirmed later tonight)
Pool A
(1) England def (16) Austria 3-0
2. Laura Massaro def 2. Sandra Polak 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 (18 minutes) 4. Sarah Kippax def 4. Sabrina Rehman 11-2, 11-4, 11-2 (16 minutes) 1. Jenny Duncalf def 1. Birgit Coufal 11-6, 11-2, 11-1 (17 minutes)
(9) USA def (8) Netherlands 2-1
2. Latasha Khan def 2. Annelize Naude 15-13, 11-7, 11-7 (47 minutes) 3. Amanda Sobhy def 3. Orla Noom 6-11, 11-1, 11-5, 12-10 (34 minutes) 1. Natalie Grainger lost to 1. Vanessa Atkinson 12-10, 11-7, 4-11, 3-11, 12-10 (30 minutes)
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 3-0
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)
Pool D
(5) New Zealand def (4) Malaysia 2-1
2. Joelle King def 2. Low Wee Wern 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9 (56 minutes) 3. Shelley Kitchen def 3. Delia Arnold 11-4, 11-7, 11-4 (33 minutes) 1. Jaclyn Hawkes lost to 1. Nicol David 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (27 minutes)
Gary Denvir
Media Manager
Women's World Team Squash Championships
027 273 9446
