I Dig Sports
BALTIMORE -- The Bronx Bombers are doing their best bombing in Baltimore.
In the city where Francis Scott Key penned "The Star-Spangled Banner," the New York Yankees went deep five times against the Orioles in Wednesday's 14-2 win at Camden Yards. That gave them 52 homers against Baltimore and broke the record for most by a team against a single opponent in one major league season.
The record-breaking 49th homer came in the top of the fifth inning, when Gio Urshela sent a 97 mph sinker from reliever Miguel Castro over the left-center-field fence for a two-run shot.
Urshela also homered in the sixth. Catcher Kyle Higashioka went deep in the fourth and ninth innings, and left fielder Cameron Maybin launched a 436-foot solo blast in the ninth.
Higashioka's fourth-inning homer off starter John Means tied the MLB record held by the 1956 Yankees, who hit 48 homers against the Kansas City Athletics. The Yankees have 11 players with multihomer games against Baltimore this season, breaking the record of 10 set by San Francisco against the Dodgers in 1958.
"We have guys up and down the lineup who can hit the ball, so it is no surprise to see what we did,'' Higashioka said. "It was nice to be a part of it.''
The Yankees finished 10-0 at Camden Yards. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it's the 14th time in MLB history that a team has gone 10-0 or better on the road against an opponent and the first time since the 2002 Red Sox went 10-0 at the Rays.
They have four games remaining against the Orioles this season, all next week in New York.
"Everyone has a lot of confidence, I think, in one another," manager Aaron Boone said. "That's the sense you get because we've proven throughout the year they can get it done throughout the lineup. Whether it's been the bottom of the order, the middle, the top, it seems like it's come from a lot of different places. They take a lot of pride in making it difficult on the pitchers and passing the baton and they have a lot of confidence in the guys in front of them and behind them."
On Monday, the Yankees set a record by hitting their 32nd home run at Camden this season. That was the highest total by a visiting team at any stadium in one season, breaking the record of 29 held by the 1957 Braves (at Cincinnati's former Crosley Field).
They've only added to it since. Leading the barrage for New York is infielder Gleyber Torres, who has launched 10 of his 23 homers this season against the Birds. Nine of catcher Gary Sanchez's 24 home runs have been at Baltimore's expense, and more than half of outfielder Clint Frazier's 11 dingers (six) have come against the O's.
The Yankees slugged 17 home runs in their three-game sweep of the Orioles, hitting five on Monday and six on Tuesday. According to ESPN Stats & Information, they're the second team in MLB history to hit five or more homers in three straight games, joining the 1977 Red Sox, who did so against the Yankees at Fenway Park.
Going yard against Baltimore is nothing new. Orioles hurlers have surrendered 234 home runs, most in the majors and 34 more than the next-closest club (Seattle). They are on pace to finish the season with 332 homers allowed, which would shatter the record of 258 currently held by the 2016 Cincinnati Reds.
The Yankees have hit 203 home runs this season, second in baseball behind the Minnesota Twins (224).
Overall, MLB home run numbers have spiked this season. Through Tuesday's games, 3.6% of all plate appearances had resulted in a home run, up from 3.0% last season. In 2017, MLB hitters collectively posted a 3.3% home run rate that was the highest in league history.
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BALTIMORE -- Orioles slugger Chris Davis had to be restrained during a clash in the dugout with manager Brandon Hyde in Wednesday night's 14-2 loss to the New York Yankees.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Davis was lifted for pinch hitter Jace Peterson. Shortly afterward, the MASN broadcast showed a clip of Davis getting into a heated exchange with Hyde, an interaction between the top and bottom halves of the inning.
"It was just a disagreement that we had in the dugout," Hyde said. "What was said and what we talked about, I'm not going to get into. We're going to keep it in house, and it's private. It's something that happens sometimes and frustration boils over a little bit when we're not playing our best baseball the last couple of games. Unfortunately, I'm embarrassed it was caught on camera and people had to see it, but sometimes those things happen."
Hyde said he took the veteran first baseman out of the game.
"We had words and I took him out of the game," the manager said. "Me and Chris have a good relationship and these things happen in competitive environments and it's something that'll pass and we'll get through it, but it's unfortunate that it happened in the dugout."
Although the exact nature of Wednesday's incident is unclear, it appeared as though Hyde, whose team was losing 6-1 at the time, said something to Davis before heading down into the tunnel toward the home clubhouse.
The 33-year-old first baseman quickly became agitated and moved toward his skipper, but was restrained by veteran outfielder Mark Trumbo and hitting coach Don Long.
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Hyde: Incident with Davis 'just a disagreement'
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde comments on his clash with Chris Davis during the team's loss to the Yankees.
"There was obviously a little bit of a disagreement," Trumbo said. "I think this game was particularly tough. Almost nothing went our way. So I think that everybody was pretty frustrated, and those things, they tend to happen. Hopefully they don't happen in front of everybody, but in this case, it kind of did. Not ideal, but not that big a deal. This stuff happens. It rarely gets talked about because you don't see it all the time, but tensions are always high in the big leagues. Tonight, just a little bit too much, I think."
The Orioles' loss Wednesday gave the Yankees a three-game sweep. Baltimore pitchers gave up five home runs in the finale, and surrendered a total of 16 homers during the three-game series. The Orioles have now served up 52 long balls to the Yankees this year, setting a major league record for most home runs allowed to one opponent in a season.
Before getting swept by their division rivals, the last-place Orioles had played better recently, posting a 17-16 record over their previous 33 games. Including the sweep, the O's are now 2-13 against New York, and have lost all 10 of their matchups at Camden Yards this season.
Davis, who signed a seven-year, $161 million free-agent contract with the Orioles in January 2016, has struggled mightily at the plate. Entering play Wednesday, the former home run champ was hitting .183 and had struck out 110 times in 246 at-bats.
Earlier this year, he set a major league record by going hitless in 54 consecutive at-bats, a streak that dated to September of last season.
As his struggles have continued, the left-handed swinger has been used more and more sparingly against southpaw starters. He was in the lineup against Yankees left-hander James Paxton on Wednesday, just his 12th start against a lefty this season. In his only plate appearance before getting pulled, he struck out swinging.
Peterson, who replaced Davis, is also a left-handed hitter.
Hyde is in his first season as a big league manager. The 45-year-old former Cubs bench coach has guided the Orioles to a 38-76 record, the second-worst mark in the majors behind the Detroit Tigers (33-78).
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Rogers Cup: Rafael Nadal beats Dan Evans in Montreal
Published in
Tennis
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 14:00
British number two Dan Evans pushed Spanish great Rafael Nadal in their first meeting before going down in straight sets at the Rogers Cup.
Evans, 29, lost 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 in a second-round match disrupted by rain in Montreal.
Qualifier Evans could not convert two set points before losing the tight opener, Nadal upping his game at the start of the second to take control.
Top seed and champion Nadal faces Guido Pella in the last 16.
Frenchman Richard Gasquet upset Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 7-6 (7-4) while Croatian 14th seed Marin Cilic was a 6-3 6-4 winner over Australia's John Millman and Wimbledon semi-finalist Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain beat Argentina's Diego Schwartzman 6-2 7-5.
Nadal overcomes slow start to progress
Eighteen-time Grand Slam winner Nadal - playing his first match since losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon semi-finals last month - struggled to cope with the Briton's aggressive and accurate approach play in an entertaining first set.
Evans has moved to the cusp of the world's top 50 after an impressive year which has seen him rise from 190th to 53rd, proving again in Montreal against Nadal he has the ability to cause problems for the top players.
The Briton made the ideal start by breaking 33-year-old Nadal's serve in the first game of the match and holding to love in the next, before the world number two fought back to 3-3 and go on to claim two set points at 5-4.
Evans boldly employed serve and volley tactics to save both and, after a rain delay lasting almost half an hour, dominated the early part of the tie-break to earn two set points.
But Nadal responded with a forehand winner and a smart second serve to save both, carrying on his momentum to claim the opener.
Nadal had lost only one of his previous 75 matches after winning the first set - against Nick Kyrgios in Acapulco this year - and it looked ominous when he broke Evans in the first game of the second set.
A second, lengthier rain delay disrupted the Spaniard as he allowed Evans to break back in the first game after the resumption, but a break of the Briton's next service game proved decisive as Nadal wrapped up victory.
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First gold for Puerto Rico, day belongs to Diaz sisters
Published in
Table Tennis
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 07:11
The no.2 seeds, at the final hurdle, Adriana and Melanie Diaz accounted for the top seeded United States partnership of Wu Yue and Lily Zhang (7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8) to seal the title and bring unbridled joy to their faithful supporters.
Success contrary to status; in the men’s doubles final it was the reverse scenario. Hugo Calderano and Gustavo Tsuboi justified their billing at the top of the order; they overcame the next in line, Argentina’s Gaston Alto and Horacio Cifuentes (11-6, 12-14, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 12-10).
Gold for Adriana and Melanie Diaz; moreover, in the women’s singles event they are assured of further medals. Adriana Diaz progressed as expected, the no.2 seed, she accounted for Venezuela’s Neridee Niño, the no.29 seed (11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9), prior to recording a quarter-final success in opposition to Colombia’s Paula Medina, the no.8 seed (11-7, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6).
Rather differently, the advance of Melanie Diaz was slightly against the odds; she seized the opportunity afforded. The no.6 seed, after overcoming the Dominican Republic’s Eva Brito, the no.13 seed (11-7, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6), she ended the fortunes of Mexico’s Yadira Silva, the no.16 seed in a tension packed contest decided by the minimal margin (8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 12-10).
Significantly, Yadira Silva was a player in form; one round earlier she had beaten Canada’s Zhang Mo, the top seed and winner in 2011 in Guadalajara (10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8).
At the semi-final stage Melanie Diaz meets Wu Yue, the no.3 seed; Adriana Diaz renews acquaintance with friend and rival, Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, the no.5 seed. Wu Yue advanced according to status. She resisted a spirited recovery by Jessica Yamada, the no.15 seed and like Bruna Takahashi from Brazil (11-5, 11-5, 11-6, 3-11, 13-15, 7-11, 11-8), before ending the hopes of Chile’s Paulina Vega, the no.7 seed (14-12, 11-3, 11-8, 12-10).
Hard earned wins for the defending champion; it was the same for Bruna Takahashi. She ousted the Dominican Republic’s Yasiris Ortiz, the no.19 seed (11-6, 11-6, 11-1, 11-7), prior to upsetting the order of merit by beating Lily Zhang of the United States, the no.4 seed, by the very narrowest of decisions (6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9).
The Diaz family very much the name to note, they set all sorts of records. Additional to a first gold for Puerto Rico, they are the first siblings to combine to win a title in the table tennis events at the Pan American Games and the first to reach singles semi-final.
Attracting the attention, in counterpart men’s singles event that honour fell on the shoulders of Canada’s Eugene Wang and the Dominican Republic’s Wu Jiaji; both players whose seeding belies their quality.
Eugene Wang, the no.20 seed, upset the status quo by beating Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes, the no.6 seed (9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 12-10, 14-12) and Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre, the no.4 seed (11-4, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 8-11, 14-12) to the reserve his semi-final place. Similarly, Wu Jiaji caused upset after upset. The no.24 seed, he caused a major second round surprise by overcoming Gustavo Tsuboi, the no.2 seed (11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9), prior to ending the hopes of Puerto Rico’s Brian Afanador, the no.8 seed (12-10, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 11-4).
Awaiting Eugene Wang is Brazil’s Hugo Calderano in what is a repeat of four years ago in Toronto; for Wu Jiaji, the adversary is Kanak Jha of the United States.
Impressively, Hugo Calderano, the top seed, beat Chile’s Juan Lamadrid, the no.9 seed (11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-1), followed by success against Mexico’s Marcos Madrid, the no.5 seed (11-8, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5). Meanwhile, Kanak Jha, the no.3 seed, advanced in a similarly imposing manner. He accounted for Argentina’s Gaston Alto, the no.14 seed (13-15, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9), prior to ousting Ecuador’s Alberto Miño, the no.7 seed (11-6, 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6).
The men’s singles and women’s singles events will be played to a conclusion on Wednesday 7th August.
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Three groups in the opening stage of proceedings in the junior boys’ team competition, the leading outfits all secured first places.
Selecting from Shi Kexun, Josh Chua Shao Han, Lim Dao Yi and Pang Yew En Koen, Singapore, the top seeds, enjoyed a day without troubles. It was no different for the second seeded outfit formed by Iran’s Amin Ahmadian and Japan’s Tomoya Kimura, who lined up alongside Yanapong Panagitgun and Parapat Thanmathikom. Similarly, the third seeds, the Chinese Taipei combination of Tai Ming-Wei, Li Hsin-Yu and Huang Yan-Cheng ended the day as predicted at the head of their group.
No great moments of drama; it was the same in the junior girls’ team competition where there were also three groups in the initial phase. The top seeded Japanese trio comprising Haruna Ojio, Kaho Akae and Sakura Yokoi claimed first place in style, likewise the second seeded Chinese Taipei team of Chien Tung-Chuan, Yu Hsiu-Ting and Cai Fong-En progressed in a most impressive manner.
However, for the third seeds, Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee, Chau Wing Sze and Fung Wai Chu, life was more testing on their journey to first place. They needed the full five matches to beat the Indian selection of Swastika Ghosh, Arusha Kutumbale and Manushree Patil. Mainstay of the success was Lee Ka Yee, she accounted for both Swastika Ghosh (14-12, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5) and Anusha Kutumbale (11-6, 11-4, 12-10).
Meanwhile, in the cadet boys’ team competition, Iran’s Navid Shams and Hong Kong’s Yu Nok justified their top seeded position to end the day in first place, a situation that applied also to the latter’s colleagues, the second seeded pairing of Yiu Kwan To and Baldwin Chan Ho Wah.
Convincing performances, for the third seeds, the Indian outfit formed by Payas Jain, Vishwa Deenadayalan and Aadarsh Om Chhetri, reserving first place proved a most exacting experience. A 3-2 result was the outcome in opposition to Singapore’s Izaac Quek Yong and Daniel Ng. The player to cause the Indian outfit problems was Izaac Quek Yong; he beat both Aadarsh Om Chhetri (11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11) and Payas Jain (11-9, 11-6, 11-2).
A close call for the third seeds, for the next on the list in an event where there were four groups in the initial phase, it was defeat. Japan’s Sora Matsushima and Tamito Watanabe endured a 3-2 reverse at the hands of Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chia-Chuan and Ka Cheng-Jui. Notably Sora Matsushima beat both Chuang Chia-Chuan (11-6, 11-8, 11-7) and Ka Cheng-Jui (11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7) but that was the sum total of Japanese success.
Defeat for the fourth seeds, in the cadet girls’ team event, it was the reverse scenario; the top three seeds all experienced losses, the fourth seeds remained unbeaten.
Hong Kong’s Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam and Yenn Ho Ching, the top seeds, suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Korea Republic’s Lee Yeohui and Kim Nayeong. Next in line the India combination formed by Anargya Manjunath, Suhana Saini and Yashini Deepak Ghorpade experienced a 3-1 defeat in a reversal of fortunes for the host association; Kong Tsz Lam, Ma Yat Sum and Chow Ka Ching secured victory. Mainstay of the success was Ma Yat Sum; she defeated both Suhana Saini (11-2, 11-4, 11-5) and Anargya Manjunath (13-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9).
A four match reverse for the second seeds, it was a rather closer disappointment for the third seeds; Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yun-En and Chu Yi-Ching experienced a 3-2 loss when confronting Japan’s Sachi Aoki and Miwa Harimoto. Tsai Yun-En accounted for both Sachi Aoki and Miwa Harimoto but that was the sum total of Chinese Taipei success.
Differing experiences for Hong Kong; however, the overall balance was in their favour; Phoebe Hui Wai and Wong Hoi Ting, the fourth seeds, ended the day in first position in their group.
All team events conclude on Thursday 8th August.
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It was an era when the pen-hold grip was the tradition for Asian players, Liang Geliang was a right handed shake-hands grip player; furthermore, watching him play he was just as comfortable in defence as in attack. If ever there was an all-rounder, it was Liang Geliang.
Success in the men’s team event alongside Guo Yuehua, Huang Liang, Li Zhenshi and Wang Jun but it is in the men’s singles event where my memory is the most vivid. After beating West Germany’s Peter Stellwag and Czechoslovakia’s Milan Orlowski, he faced Yugoslavia’s Dragutin Surbek.
After losing the opening two games, he won the next three (16-21, 12-21, 21-9, 21-16, 21-18); the recovery underlined his tactical skills and his very complete style of play. Defend all the time he would have lost, continually attack it would have been the same outcome; find a balance he succeeded.
Later he was to experience defeat at the semi-final stage against the champion elect, Japan’s Mitsuru Konno but he did leave with a further gold medal. He won the men’s doubles title in partnership with Li Zhenshi.
Good players adapt; never was the phrase more true than in the career of Liang Geliang; furthermore, he was one of the first to use a racket with different surfaces, the smooth rubber on the forehand, the pimpled rubber on the backhand, a high level of skill, the variations in spin caused opponents headaches.
Later he competed in the German Bundesliga and also in the World Veteran Championships. In 1990 in Baltimore and in 1992 in Dublin, on both occasions he won the men’s singles 40 years title. Eight years after his Dublin appearance he was present in Vancouver, he emerged the men’s singles 50 years champion.
In Shenzhen he is eligible to compete in the men’s singles 65 to 69 years category.
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Good form in England’s capital city, more recently, less than two weeks ago he was also in good form; he emerged successful in Taichung, Chinese Taipei; he claimed gold at the 2019 Asian Para Championships.
Impressive, Rungroj Thainiyom is one of several players on duty in Bangkok who have this year made their presence felt. In Egypt, colleague Anurak Laowong (class 3) was a silver medallist, as was Malaysia’s Chee Chao Ming (class 9); one step higher Jean-Paul Montanus of the Netherlands, struck gold.
All occupy top seeded positions in Bangkok as do two players, who like Rungroj Thainiyom have enjoyed Paralympic Games success, Korea Republic’s Joo Youngdae (class 1) was a silver medallist in Rio de Janeiro, the Czech Republic’s Ivan Karabec (class 10), struck gold in 2000 in Sydney.
Furthermore, Joo Youngdae has a title to his name this year; he won in Slovenia. Similarly, occupying the top seeded positions in the men’s singles events, Great Britain’s Billy Shilton (class 8) was a silver medallist in Poland, Korea Republic’s Lee Kyeonghun (class 4) enjoyed the same level of success in Spain. Somewhat differently, Korea Republic’s Jeong Kyuyoang (class 11) has not shared the same success rate this year but last year he won in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, occupying top seeded positions in the women’s singles events, Korea Republic’s Kang Oejeong (class 5) and Josephine Medina (class 8) of the Philippines are the names that stand out. Kang Oejeng was crowned World champion in 2008 in Lasko, Slovenia; Josephine Medina was a bronze medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Josephine Medina is the leading name in class 7-8; other than men’s singles class 1-2, the only combined category.
Similarly, heading the order, Iraq’s Najlam Al-Deyyeni (class 6) was a silver medallist earlier this year at the Al-Watani Championships; Japan’s Nanako Hazeyama (class 11) secured bronze in 2018 in the Czech Republic.
Otherwise, it is to Asian Championships that we turn our eyes with regards to the leading female names. Chinese Taipei’s Lu Pi-Chin (class 4) was a silver medallist in 2018; earlier this year Thailand’s Chilchitraryak Bootwansirna (class 2) and Chinese Taipei’s Tian Shiau-Wen (class 10) won silver, whilst also from the host nation, Chayana Settisrikedkun (class 9) and Korea Republic’s Yoon Jiyu (class 3) claimed bronze.
2019 Para Bangkok Open: Draws and Latest Results
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England Squash find winning formula for World Squash Day
Published in
Squash
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 07:08
Karakal kit bag and £250 grant lures clubs to sign up to WSD
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor
A big shout out to England Squash for launching a significant and successful development project in partnership with Karakal to encourage clubs to sign up to attract new members on World Squash Day.
In what is set to be the most successful World Squash Day to date in England, Karakal will provide kit bags featuring 18 rackets to the first 100 England Squash-affiliated clubs who sign up to become a delivery partner and stage a World Squash Day event.
At the time of writing, more than 70 clubs had already signed up to join the fun and promote the sport on World Squash Day.
Mark Williams, Director of Sport at England Squash said: “World Squash Day serves as a springboard to inspire the nation to pick up a racket and we are thrilled to have Karakal’s support to grow the game in England.
“This year, we’ve set the ambitious target of engaging 5,000 players through World Squash Day events in England and we are encouraging clubs to sign up and help showcase our fantastic sport to their local communities.
“Delivery partners will receive a host of incentives including the Karakal kit bag and a £250 grant to grow their programmes.”
Steve Gallienne, Global Sales and Marketing Manager at Karakal, said: “We are delighted to partner with England Squash for World Squash Day and encourage clubs to stage events. For Karakal to play a part in inspiring new players to get on court is extremely rewarding and aligned to our strategy to increase participation.”
As co-ordinator of the World Squash Day campaign, it is heartening to see a national federation like England Squash support WSD in such a solid and committed fashion in partnership with a major brand like Karakal.
Our global goals are to encourage clubs to invite their local communities to step inside on World Squash Day to see what a fantastic sport we have… and to try it out.
We aim to promote the well-documented health and well-being benefits associated with squash.
In short, we want squash to be the sport that provides community health benefits to fight epidemics such as childhood obesity.
It requires clubs to think outside the box and plan strategic partnerships with health providers to make an impact on local communities.
We aim to provide more information on this aspect of the project during the build-up to World Squash Day, which is now just over nine weeks away.
Find out more about World Squash Day at englandsquash.com/worldsquashday
Clubs worldwide can download a Toolkit from the World Squash Day website containing a multitude of ideas for events on the big day: www.worldsquashday.net
For further information on the England Squash scheme, please contact Donna Helmer at [email protected]
Clubs in the UK can order World Squash Day shirts from Pete Smith at Recognition Sports. Please email [email protected]
Posted on August 7, 2019
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Top four seeds to contest World Junior semis in KL
Published in
Squash
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 09:24
Top seeds Egypt, Malaysia and Hong Kong eases into semis while England are made to work hard
By KNG ZHENG GUAN, HOWARD HARDING and ALEX WAN – Squash Mad International Correspondents
Malaysia stayed very much on track in their title bid while England produced the day’s drama as the cast for the semi-finals of the CIMB Foundation WSF World Junior Team Squash Championships was decided.
The hosts and second seeds were rarely tested as they started their day by beating Canada 3-0 in their last Group B match at the National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil.
Returning to court hours later, they were once again dominant as they packed off challengers Switzerland 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
With a 1-2-3 order of play, Aifa Azman stepped on first and despite a slight lapse in the second game, still had too much firepower in producing an 11-4, 13-11, 11-4 win over Ambre Allinckx.
Amber Allinckx (r) troubled Malaysian Aifa Azman in the second but couldn’t convert any of her four game balls.
Second string Chan Yiwen then duly sealed the win by whipping Cassandra Fitze 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 before third string Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi, in place of a sick Ooi Kah Yan, finished off the contest by beating Alina Poessl 11-1, 11-5 in the dead rubber.
“Of course it’s pleasing to get through with a convincing win. Our first target is to get back on the podium and we’ve achieved that now,” said national assistant head coach Andrew Cross.
“Now it looks like we’ll be up against Hong Kong in the semi-finals, a repeat of the Asian Junior Team Championships final which we won. It’s another tough game but I expect the girls to be up to it.
“Meanwhile Kah Yan is sick, which is why she is rested but I have complete faith in Ainaa to do the job. We gave her a chance to play today in order to get a run out in case she is needed to step up in the semi-finals.”
Malaysia, silver medallists from the 2017 edition, do go on to meet regional rivals Hong Kong in the last four.
A happy Hong Kong camp after booking their semi-final berth.
Third seeds Hong Kong secured their spot in the last eight as Group C winners after beating India 3-0 in the morning session.
And they too were looking very strong as they saw off a weary looking USA 3-0 in the last eight.
The crucial win for Hong Kong was in the first string match as Chan Sin Yuk avenged her British Junior Open Under-17 final defeat to Marina Stefanoni, this time carving out an 11-7, 7-11, 11-1, 7-11, 11-4 win.
“I’ve played Marina a few times but I lost to her the last time we met. I knew however I had a chance to take her down today,” said Sin Yuk.
“It was an important win because I knew that if I won, my team-mates would be able to play without pressure and I’m pleased to have delivered for the team.”
Chan Sin Yuk (r) avenged her defeat to Marina Stefanoni at the British Junior Open this year to give Hong Kong their first point.
Following Sin Yuk’s win, Hong Kong quickly wrapped up the contest with Kirstie Wong and Lee Sum Yuet both seeing off Olivia Robinson and Caroline Spahr respectively.
“Sin Yuk’s win was important. It is revenge for her and it gave the team a good push,” said Hong Kong coach Dick Leung.
“I’m also pretty happy with the results so far. We were promoted to be third seeds before the team event started but I’ve been telling the girls that the seedings is just a number.
“I’m pleased that they were able to show their ability as a top four team and we have nothing to lose against Malaysia so we’ll give it a go.”
Meanwhile fourth seeds England produced the best drama of the day, from both the morning and evening sessions.
In the morning session, they rallied together after first string Elise Lazarus fell in five to Stefanoni to clinch a 2-1 win over the Americans and topped Group D.
Second string Alice Green played a huge role as she first saved match ball in the deciding rubber against Robinson, before converting her sixth match ball opportunity in a see-saw battle to win 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 17-15.
Alice Green (r) is congratulated by Olivia Robinson after their gruelling five-setter.
That set up Evie Coxon to clinch the win by beating Elisabeth Ross 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.
Later in the quarter-finals, the English girls once again showed great tenacity to beat India 3-0.
Lazarus redeemed herself as she recovered from two games down to beat Sanya Vats 8-11, 1-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-3.
And Green once again delivered the heroics by beating Aishwarya Khubchandani 11-13, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 before Coxon finished it off by beating Yoshna Singh 11-7, 8-11, 13-11 in the dead rubber.
“I feel great to be honest. I had a great match against Olivia, 17-15 in the fifth and it surely wasn’t an easy match,” said Green.
“I’m pleased that I recovered well enough to play in the evening match but a lot of credit also goes to Elise, who did great coming from 2-0 down to win her tie.
“Now we’re excited to be in the semi-finals and we’re looking forward to facing Egypt. They’re the top seeds and we want to give it a go against them.”
Defending champions Egypt had another effortless day as they first swept Switzerland 3-0 in the morning session before putting on their strongest lineup to crush surprise quarter-finalists Australia 3-0.
Egypt’s Jana Shiha in action against Australia’s Lee Sze Yu.
In the playoffs for 13th-18th, Sweden beat Singapore 3-0 and will meet Ireland next while Japan defeated Chinese Taipei with a similar score and meets Korea next.
CIMB Foundation WSF Women’s World Junior Team Squash Championship, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Final qualifying round – Pool A:
[1] EGYPT bt [8] SWITZERLAND 3/0
Hania El Hammamy bt Ambre Allinckx 11-6, 11-6, 11-4
Jana Shiha bt Simona Frevel 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
Sana Ibrahim bt Alina Poessl 11-3, 11-3, 11-1
[9] FRANCE bt [16] SINGAPORE 3/0
Ninon Lemarchand bt Paige Teresa Hill 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 15-13, 11-5
Lea Barbeau bt Gracia Chua Rui En 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
Mahe Asensi bt Sonya Bajaj 11-7, 11-3, 11-8
Final positions: 1 Egypt, 2 Switzerland, 3 France, 4 Singapore
Pool B:
[2] MALAYSIA bt [7] CANADA 3/0
Aifa Azman bt Molly Chadwick 11-4, 11-6, 11-9
Chan Yiwen bt Erica McGillicuddy 11-3, 11-6, 11-6
Ainaa Ampandi bt Brianna Jefferson 11-4, 12-10, 11-2
[10] AUSTRALIA bt [14] JAPAN 2/1
Alex Haydon bt Erisa Sano Herring 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12
Sze Yu Lee lost to Ayumi Watanabe 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 9-11
Remashree Muniandy bt Rafu Takahashi 11-9, 11-7, 11-6
Final positions: 1 Malaysia, 2 Australia, 3 Canada, 4 Japan
Pool C:
[3] HONG KONG CHINA bt [6] INDIA 3/0
Chan Sin Yuk bt Sanya Vats 11-4, 11-9, 11-4
Kirstie Po Yui Wong bt Aishwarya Khubchandani 12-10, 11-7, 11-7
Lee Sum Yuet bt Yoshna Singh 11-1, 11-6, 11-5
[11] NEW ZEALAND bt [13] IRELAND 3/0
Anika Jackson bt Emma McGugan 11-2, 11-8, 11-7
Natalie Sayes bt Emma Lundy 11-6, 11-1, 11-5
Winona-Jo Joyce bt Alessia Osborne 11-5, 11-1, 11-1
Final positions: 1 Hong Kong China, 2 India, 3 New Zealand, 4 Ireland, 5 Chinese Taipei
Pool D:
[4] ENGLAND bt [5] USA 2/1
Elise Lazarus lost to Marina Stefanoni 11-9, 11-8, 2-11, 7-11, 7-11
Alice Green bt Olivia Robinson 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 17-15
Evie Coxon bt Elisabeth Ross 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
[15] SOUTH AFRICA bt [12] REPUBLIC OF KOREA 3/0
Faith Panashe Sithole bt Chae Won Song 11-6, 14-12, 11-7
Teagan Roux bt Shin Yu Jin 11-7, 11-7, 12-10
Helena Coetzee bt Jang Yea Won 6-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4
Final positions: 1 England, 2 USA, 3 South Africa, 4 Republic of Korea, 5 Sweden
Quarter-finals:
[1] EGYPT bt [10] AUSTRALIA 3/0
Hania El Hammamy bt Alex Haydon 11-7, 11-5, 11-9
Jana Shiha bt Sze Yu Lee 11-5, 11-6, 11-6
Farida Mohamed bt Remashree Muniandy 11-8, 11-3
[4] ENGLAND bt [6] INDIA 3/0
Elise Lazarus bt Sanya Vats 8-11, 1-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-3
Alice Green bt Aishwarya Khubchandani 11-13, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6
Evie Coxon bt Yoshna Singh 11-7, 8-11, 13-11
[3] HONG KONG CHINA bt [5] USA 3/0
Chan Sin Yuk bt Marina Stefanoni 11-7, 7-11, 11-1, 7-11, 11-4
Kirstie Po Yui Wong bt Olivia Robinson 11-4, 11-6, 11-9
Lee Sum Yuet bt Caroline Spahr 8-11, 13-11, 11-6
[2] MALAYSIA bt [8] SWITZERLAND 3/0
Aifa Azman bt Ambre Allinckx 11-4, 13-11, 11-4
Chan Yiwen bt Cassandra Fitze 11-3, 11-7, 11-4
Ainaa Ampandi bt Alina Poessl 11-1, 11-5
13th – 18th place play-offs:
[17] SWEDEN bt [16] SINGAPORE 3/0
Sara Månberg bt Paige Teresa Hill 11-5, 11-5, 11-2
Moa Bönnemark bt Sonya Bajaj 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8
Malin Frank bt Wei Ting Lim 11-4, 11-9
[14] JAPAN bt [18] CHINESE TAIPEI 3/0
Erisa Sano Herring bt Wu Yi-Chen 11-9, 11-6, 11-6
Ayumi Watanabe bt Wang Yuan 11-3, 11-7, 11-2
Rafu Takahashi bt Chen Pin Yu 11-6, 11-0
Pictures courtesy of #WSFWorldJuniors2019 and Regina Ho
Posted on August 7, 2019
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James Ryan: Ireland's World Cup pre-season hardest yet, says lock
Published in
Rugby
Wednesday, 07 August 2019 11:25
James Ryan says Ireland's players are eager to get their World Cup bid under way after a tough pre-season.
The Irish begin a four-game warm-up programme at home to Italy on Saturday.
"It's my first time being in camp this long and it's been the hardest pre-season I've had," said Ryan, who has been named the Rugby Writers of Ireland men's Player of the Year.
"We have done a lot of work and guys are itching to get going. There is a lot of nervous excitement about."
Ryan's award comes after a season when he cemented his reputation as one of the best second rows in the world.
After a sensational rookie season in 2017-18 when he won a Grand Slam with Ireland as well as the Pro14 and Champions Cup double with Leinster, he delivered again for club and country in 2018-19.
After Italy, Ireland will play Wales twice and England once before travelling to Japan for the World Cup next month.
Ryan is not one of the players likely to be fretting over his inclusion in the 31-man squad, but says consistency of performance is important ahead of the biggest tournament of his life.
He said: "It is once in a lifetime opportunity to represent your country on a world stage but it's where you want to be, isn't it?
"We have four warm-up games before that and when you think about it that is four test matches, so there is a lot of rugby to be played.
"It's important that if you want to be on the plane you put in a committed and accurate performance."
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