World Juniors Day One Round-Up

Two New Zealand players have reached the third round of the world men’s junior squash championships in Chennai, India.

Both Matthew Lucentre and Gabe Yam from the Belmont club on Auckland’s North Shore had straight set game wins in their second round matches and will now face seeds in the third round.

Lucente beat Keagan Waugh (South Africa) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 in just over 20 minutes of play while Yam accounted for Pakistan’s Muhammad Farhan Hashmi (Pakistan) 11-8, 11-9, 14-12 in 37 minutes.

The action gets tougher for Lucente as he takes on Egyptian seed, Yeshia Elnawasany in the third round of the 128-player draw while Yam will take on another seed, Darren Rahui Pragasam from Malaysia who has a world senior ranking of 135.

The other Kiwi to make the second round was Elijah Thomas who lost his match to Abbas Zeb (Pakistan) 4-11, 4-11, 3-11.

In earlier first round matches, Tenwa Chileshe had a one hour long clash which went five games against a seed from Malaysia. Unfortunately the Kiwi who led by two sets wasn’t able to come away with the victory.

Anthony Lepper also played a seed but was beaten in straight games by a Canadian player and Leo Fatialofa was beaten in four sets by his Malaysian opponent.

There will be one round of men’s singles this evening and the opening two round of the women’s singles (featuring six Kiwis).

Result:

Men’s singles second round:

Matthew Lucente bt Keagan Waugh (South Africa) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 ,

Gabe Yam bt Muhammad Farhan Hashmi (Pakistan) 11-8, 11-9, 14-12,

Elijah Thomas lt Abbas Zeb (Pakistan) 4-11, 4-11, 3-11.

First Round Results:

Elijah Thomas bt Darosham Khan (Canada) 4-11, 12-10, 11-6, 1-11, 11-8,

Matthew Lucente bt Nicolas Sema (Colombia) 11-4, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3,

Gabe Yam bt Scott Gillanders (Ireland) 11-8, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7,

Anthony Lepper lt Julien Gosset (Canada) 9-11, 6-11, 4-11,

Temwa Chileshe lt Siow Yee Xian (Malaysia) 12-11, 11-6, 3-11, 2-11, 7-11.

Leo Fatialofa lt Muhammad Uzair (Malaysia) 8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11.