Kiwi Team Beaten By Eighth Seeds

The New Zealand men’s junior squash team has lost its top 16 knockout clash against the United States overnight at the world championships in Chennai, India.

Aiming for a top eight place at the tournament the Kiwis came close but were unable to defeat the eighth seeded Americans.

In the opening match which featured the second ranked players Temwa Chileshe lost to Thomas Rosini 11-6, 2-11, 4-11, 11-7, 9-11 in 59 minutes in a match which could have gone either way.

In the No.1 singles Matthew Lucente lost in four games and had opportunities to take the match to a fifth set at 10-9 up but couldn’t close the vital points with a couple of errors creeping in at the pressure time. The eventual score had American Daelum Mawii winning in 46 minutes 11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 10-12.

The Kiwi team will now face Australa in a playoff for ninth place tonight. The team for that clash is Matthew Lucente, Gabe Yam and Anthony Lepper.