World Junior Champion not surprised at her senior success because of her hard work
By ALEX WAN – Squash Mad Asian Bureau Editor

It has taken her five attempts and three finals to get there, but after playing second fiddle for two consecutive times, Hania El Hammamy can now proudly claim her title of World Junior Champion.

The 19-year old was looking very focussed and dominant for most of the event in her last World Junior event. She dropped just one game in the semis against compatriot Farida Mohamed en route to her title, before leading Egypt to their ninth world junior team title.

The 19-year old world number 15 had already been a force to be reckoned with on the senior tour, having been into the top 50 since 2016 and is also the only top-25 player who was born in the current millennium.

This year, she also won back-to-back titles, twice upstaging the event top seeds at the Edinburgh Sports Club Open and after that, at the PSA Challenger 30 Bahl & Gaynor Cincinnati Cup for her biggest career title to date.

We managed to catch up very quickly with Hania during the World Junior Championships in Kuala Lumpur for a chat.

It’s taken you five World Junior events and three finals. Tell us how you feel now that you’ve finally won the title?

It feels great to finish off my junior career with the world title that I’ve always wanted to win. It took me some time to do it, but it’s never too late. Every time, I learned something from each final until I got here this time.

How important is this title to you?

I grew up watching all the top girls play, like Raneem El Weilily and Nour El Sherbini, and I’ve always wanted to be like them. So when I look at their junior career, they’ve won many junior tournaments like this one. In fact, they’ve won this more than once, so I’m glad I managed to at least win this once.

You beat your good friend Jana Shiha in the final. Can you describe how that felt?

We’ve played so many times before and the last time, it was the British Junior Open. But this time, it’s completely different because it’s the World Juniors final. I definitely didn’t want to lose and at the same time, she’s my good friend, and I wanted to have a good match against her in our last junior match. I’m just glad I managed to win today.

Even though you haven’t won the world juniors, you have been doing very well on the PSA World Tour and now ranked 15th in the world. Is this something beyond your expectations?

No, not really. I’ve been working so hard and I think I’m doing the best that I can in training just so that I can be closer to the top. I also came into this event knowing I’m the world number 15, so that gave me a lot of confidence this time to stay positive.

After this, you will be playing only the senior events. What is it you think you’ll miss from junior squash?

Junior events are more fun. I will definitely miss the team events and even though the women (seniors) have team events, I don’t know if it’ll be the same. I will also not have my parents with me (as much) on the senior tour, so maybe that too.

What do you feel are the major differences between junior and senior squash?

First of all, I will not have to wear anymore eyewear! I feel like on the senior tour, the rallies are longer and they are more physical, which is something I like. I love the feeling of running and making effort to get to every ball. This is not so present in the junior game.

Having been to a quite a few tournaments on tour, which is your favourite venue?

I’d have to say the pyramids in Egypt. I’ve not played on the glass court there yet, but I feel that the whole atmosphere and surroundings there are just perfect. Hopefully I’ll get on it this year.

I also think the glass court at the Grand Central Station in New York they have at the Tournament of Champions is another one of my favourites.

Being a professional squash player, I am sure there are many sacrifices you make as a teenager. Can you tell us a bit of that?

I’ve missed so many parties with my friends, that’s for sure. But I got used to it and I’m fine with it. As you’ve said, I’ve had to make sacrifices just to be where I am today, so I’m completely fine with it. I try to make up by seeing my friends over the weekends to catch up.

How was it being in school and playing on tour at the same time?

Initially, it was quite tough as the school was complaining a lot about me missing classes and exams. I had to keep asking permission to go to every tournament but as time passed, they got used to it.

Squash aside – what do you do for fun?

I like traveling a lot. Within Egypt, I enjoy going to the beaches. I also enjoy goping to the movies with my friends and family.

There are so many good Egyptian players. Who is the single one most important player you look up to?

Raneem El Weilily. She’s the nicest person on the tour, not to mention her squash is amazing. Besides squash, she is also a very talented person and an absolute fighter. She’s just so pure and she’s a very good friend.

So if you were not a squash player – what do you think you would end up doing for work or what would you be studying to become?

I really don’t know because I’ve been into squash for so long. But I’d probably go to university and study law. I like to argue a little bit!

Will you still be studying after this now that you’ve completed high school?

I’ll be studying at the University of Cairo. Since I will be playing on the tour, I’ll be studying something easy like business and definitely not law.

Apart from squash – is there another sport you play or like?

Tennis! In the off season, I play a little tennis, even though I know it’s not very advisable. I definitely like to watch the matches, especially Roger Federer.

Finally – who do you think is a better player – Mohamed El Shorbagy or Ramy Ashour?

I’m so not answering this question! I just think that hard work can beat talent.
 

Pictures courtesy of WSF World Juniors, Steve Cubbins and Regina Ho

Wales second row Cory Hill could "possibly" be out of the World Cup without playing a game, says coach Warren Gatland.

Wales had only two fit locks - Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball - for the 43-12 win against Georgia in Toyota City with back row Aaron Shingler filling in.

Hill is recovering from a stress fracture in a leg, with Adam Beard recovering from appendicitis surgery.

Asked if Hill was out of the tournament, Gatland said: "Possibly."

He added: "In terms of fitness he will go back to the UK if he is not right. We will assess him tomorrow and just see what progress he has made and how his injury is.

"If it is not good news then he will go back. If they think they can get him to recover then he will stay out. We are just going to assess it overnight."

Wales face Australia in Tokyo on Sunday, 29 September, with Beard already ruled unlikely to be fit.

If Hill has to return home, his place is likely to be taken by Ospreys second row Bradley Davies.

Beard, who also plays for Ospreys, did not arrive in Japan until Saturday after having his appendix removed but is not fit for the match against Australia on Sunday, 29 September.

If neither player is fit it could mean captain Jones and Scarlets' Australian-born Ball will have to pack down for the second time in seven days in a match which could decide the eventual winners of Pool D.

Centre Hadleigh Parkes suffered what Gatland described as a "bit of a bone fracture" in his hand in the six-try win against Georgia, but said the New Zealander will be "OK to pad that up and it should not be an issue for him for selection next week".

Ireland are ready to embrace the frenzied atmosphere that will accompany their second World Cup match against hosts Japan, says Cian Healy.

Both sides secured bonus-point victories in their opening fixtures, so a win in Shizuoka will leave them well-placed for a quarter-final berth.

On Saturday, the Ecopa Stadium will be a cauldron of noise with Irish voices attempting to make their voices heard over what will be a raucous home support.

"When it gets to it, [we will] just embrace it and enjoy the game," said prop Healy.

"There are a lot of Irish here as well so it should be good craic at the game."

Irish fans easily outnumbered their Scottish counterparts during Sunday's meeting in Yokohama, and their team delivered a performance to cheer about, scoring four tries in a dominant display as they won 27-3.

Two days earlier in the tournament opener, Japan overcame a shaky start to ease past Russia 30-10, displaying the same entertaining brand of rugby that saw them burst into the consciousness of rugby fans around the world four years ago.

Healy was part of the Irish squad that defeated Japan twice on their last visit to the country in 2017.

The first of those matches, a 50-22 Irish victory, was played at the venue that will hosts Saturday's game.

"They play such a high-tempo game, they've got a lot of good ball players and finishers," Healy said.

"It's going to be tough preparation for it, and I'd say we'd be pushed for speed work in training.

"It is something we have been working on anyway but it's definitely something we'll be nailing down to be able to handle that attack of theirs."

Humidity training paying off

In a second half played amid a swirling downpour, Ireland's ball-handling trumped Scotland's as they navigated the tricky conditions with aplomb.

Much of the pre-match build-up focused on the idea that Yokohama was forecasted to be in for torrential rain, however it appears that the biggest struggle for the players was the unfamiliar humidity.

"It just takes your breath in a different way, it's not like playing in the sun or anything like that," reflected Healy.

"The recovery period when there's a break in play, you can get back to regular pretty quick.

"But those extended periods of play do put a lot of pressure on the lungs.

"We have done a lot of extended periods of training so it's in the head, it's not a shock. We've been to that place already."

Ireland left Yokohama on Monday to their base for the week in Iwata, a city within Japan's Shizuoka prefecture.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Aaron Reutzel dominated the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions race at Hagerstown Speedway on Sunday night, picking up his 15th series victory of the season.

The Clute, Texas, driver and series point leader started on the pole and drove away from fellow front row starter Dale Blaney immediately in his Baughman-Reutzel Motorsports No. 87.

Only two cautions interrupted Reutzel’s march to victory lane. Cautions came out on lap six and 20, respectively, for Lance Dewease and Paul McMahan each having tire troubles.

Reutzel masterfully navigated through traffic, as Blaney, Danny Dietrich, Freddie Rahmer and Gio Scelzi battled each other throughout the top five.

Dietrich solidified his place in second while chasing Reutzel, and then Brian Brown worked his way into fifth past Scelzi in the closing laps. But Reuzel wasn’t going to be denied his second win in three nights.

“Yeah, it was a phenomenal race car,” Reutzel explained. “That’s for sure. I felt like I could go anywhere, and when you got a car that good, you just kind of just sit around and set your own pace and save your stuff which is really a big deal in racing today having a tire out here at the end. Our car has been so good here in the last month, and that’s what we’ve been good at is saving our equipment for the last 10 laps.”

Dietrich held onto finish second while, Rahmer, Dale Blaney and Brown completed the top five.

Dietrich set quick time with a lap time of 16.588 seconds over the 31 entries for the ASCoC portion of the show.

The last time the ASCoC raced at Hagerstown was on July 28, 1983 and the winner that night was Dave Blaney. Blaney was back in competition 36 years later.

In IMCA RaceSaver competition, Drew Ritchey battled Ken Duke, Jr early for several laps before Duke spun going into turn one on lap 14.

Ritchey then had to contend with Ryan Lynn over the remaining laps, but was able to hold on for his first career win at Hagerstown and his seventh win overall in 2019.

The finish:

Feature (30 laps): 1. Aaron Reutzel, 2. Danny Dietrich, 3. Freddie Rahmer, 4. Dale Blaney, 5. Brian Brown, 6. Gio Scelzi, 7. Mike Wagner, 8. Anthony Macri, 9. Cory Eliason, 10. Dylan Cisney, 11. Brock Zearfoss, 12. Logan Wagner, 13. Dave Blaney, 14. James McFadden, 15. Christopher Bell,  16. Kerry  Madsen, 17. Justin Peck, 18. Trey Starks, 19. Skylar Gee, 20. Paul McMahan, 21. Gerard McIntyre, 22. Bradley Howard, 23. George Hobaugh, 24. Anthony Fiore, 25. Lance Dewease

OSWEGO, N.Y. – Jason Simmons Racing has announced a partnership with Seymour Racing and Indy Performance Composites to field a Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals entry for Oswego Speedway International Classic winner Tyler Thompson.

Taking place from Jan. 13-18, 2020, the Chili Bowl Nationals is one of the most recognizable racing events in the country, featuring more than 300 drivers competing for the coveted Golden Driller trophy inside the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla.

At just 17 years old, Thompson has taken the supermodified racing world by storm in recent weeks, not only winning Oswego’s 63rd annual International Classic 200, but also claiming the Midwest Supermodified Series Fall Brawl at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indiana.

A native of Volney, N.Y., Thompson’s versatility has proven impressive at his young age. He combines driving time in supermodifieds with several top runs in DIRTcar’s 358 modified and sportsman ranks, as well as a full season of competition in the Indoor Auto Racing Championship’s TQ Midget division.

“The accomplishments that Tyler (Thompson) has built in a short period of time are certainly impressive and we feel he has the tools to be competitive at the national level,” said team owner Bobby Seymour. “Jeff (West) and I have been talking for a few weeks about making this happen and we are excited to work with Jason (Simmons) and Tyler to put forth a great effort in Tulsa.”

Since 1965, the Seymour family has been a vital asset to open-wheel racing.

Led by National Sprint Car Hall of Famer “Boston” Louie Seymour, Seymour Racing has racked up numerous USAC national championships and more than 100 wins in the USAC Silver Crown, National Sprint Car and National Midget divisions.

Today, Bobby Seymour and his son Matt lead the effort, competing in national events such as the Chili Bowl and regionally with the NEMA Midget circuit.

Seymour Racing fielded two midgets in the 2019 edition of the Chili Bowl Nationals for Tim Buckwalter and Davey Ray. Each driver qualified for preliminary night A-mains against a field of more than 70 entries.

Thompson’s mount for 2020 will be a Spike chassis with Esslinger power, carrying the logos of Seymour Performance Products and Indy Performance Composites. Thompson will compete as part of a three-car effort out of the Seymour Racing stables in January.

“I can’t thank Bobby, Jeff and Jason enough for making this dream a reality,” said Thompson. “Going to Tulsa to compete with some of the best drivers in the world is an honor and being able to do it with an experienced team like Seymour Racing is amazing.

“I look forward to representing upstate New York, Oswego Speedway and DIRTcar in January.”

ASAKA, Japan – Alvaro Bautista will depart Ducati to join the new Honda MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship factory effort next year.

The 34-year-old World Superbike rookie has scored 15 wins this year, but sits second behind Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea in the championship standings because of his inconsistency in the second half of the season.

“I am really happy, because I believe a lot in the new project with HRC,” said Bautista. “They want to come back to the World Superbike championship as a full factory team, so this has motivated me a lot. To join the HRC factory is very important, as they are an important factory and want to win in WorldSBK again. The challenge for next year will be very difficult, but for sure, I will try and use my experience in the World Superbike championship from this season to develop the bike and hopefully, fight for victories.”

Bautista spent nine seasons in MotoGP riding for Suzuki, Honda, Aprilia and Ducati, but failed to win. His switch to World Superbike this season revitalized his career, opening the door for him to join the new Honda World Superbike factory program.

“We are very happy to welcome Alvaro Bautista to our WSBK racing project for next year,” said Honda Racing Corp. President Yoshishige Nomura. “His arrival in the Honda racing family underlines our strong commitment to compete at full force in every motorsport category, fighting to achieve top sporting results and looking for the best technological innovations, in order to offer our fans and customers fun, joy and excellent products.

“Alvaro is a very fast, experienced rider who has already shown his strong racing attitude and competitiveness in his GP years and in his first season in the WSBK Championship. We are confident that he will make a significant contribution to the growth and development of our project in the exciting and challenging Superbike World Championship.”

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – Rain was the winner on Saturday and as a result 34 Raceway will now host the 500th Deery Brothers Summer Series event this Friday, Sept. 27.

The IMCA Late Model tour feature at West Burlington pays $2,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and free for kids 10 and under. Pit passes are $35.

The Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour for IMCA Modifieds and Gangbusters 41 portions of the program were not rescheduled.

The NHL has become a playground for prospects to step in and take on substantial roles with their teams. The 2019-20 rookie class looks unlikely to change that.

Here's a look at the 10 rookies most likely to make big splashes with their respective teams, along with five more who are a little more under-the-radar but could be sleepers in a seemingly deep first-year class.

Impact rookies | Sleepers
Others to watch

IMPACT ROOKIES

1. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

My early Calder Trophy prediction is Makar. It's not just because he was one of the most dominant collegiate defensemen I've seen since I started covering the sport. It's not just because he looked great in his 10-game playoff stint with the Avs, in which he registered six points in his first NHL action. It's largely because I can't think of a better fit between a team and a prospect than Makar and Colorado.

He plays the game at a high pace, thanks to explosive skating and elite hockey sense. He passes well and expertly surveys the ice. And as he showed in his 10 playoff games, he is more than prepared for NHL physicality and speed.

2. Jack Hughes, C, New Jersey Devils