Abouaish Axes Aslam at World Junior Championship

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World No.351 Saadeldin Abouaish stunned spectators when he outplayed second seed Tayyab Aslam in the quarter-final of the Men’s World Junior Championship to make it through to the semi-final stage of the tournament.

The Cairo-born 17-year-old dropped the first game to the World No.84 but produced a magnificent comeback to halt his opponent’s rhythm and run out a 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 15-13 winner to ensure that he will line up against Youssef Soliman in an all-Egyptian semi-final.

“That was one of the hardest matches I’ve ever played mentally,” said Abouaish to the event website later.

“It’s one of my best ever wins and I still don’t know how I managed to come back like that. I’ve never reacted like that at the end of a match, ever! We [Egyptians] have a great team spirit and we all wanted to do well.

“The pressure’s off a little tomorrow as there will definitely be an Egyptian finalist. I play my good friend [Soliman] and may the best man win.”

Title-holder Diego Elias is also in with a chance of appearing in his second successive final after a fourth consecutive 3-0 win in the event, this time beating Israr Ahmed. He will line up against Eain Yow Ng who becomes first Malaysian semi-finalist since 2009 after his win over Asim Khan.

All four semi-final places are taken up by Egyptian’s in the Women’s event for an incredible third year in a row.

The standout match was Salma Hany Ibrahim’s dramatic comeback against Sabrina Sobhy. The Egyptian found herself two games down to the energetic United States player but fought back to complete a superb turnaround.

She faces an even tougher match in the semi-final where defending champion Habiba Mohamed awaits after she saw off Hania El Hammamy.

Second seed Nouran Gohar and Mariam Metwally are also through to the last four after eliminating Choi Uen Shan and Georgina Kennedy, respectively.

Results – Quarter-Final: Men’s Junior World Championship 2015
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [5/8] Israr Ahmed (PAK) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 (33m)
[5/8] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Asim Khan (PAK) 3-1: 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9 (56m)
[3/4] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [5/8] Patrick Rooney (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 12-10, 11-4 (46m)
[5/8] Saadeldin Abouaish (EGY) bt [2] Tayyab Aslam (PAK) 3-1: 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 15-13 (74m)

Draw – Semi-Final
[1] Diego Elias (PER) v [5/8] Eain Yow Ng (MAS)
[¾] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [5/8] Saadeldin Abouaish (EGY)

Results – Quarter-Final: Women’s Junior World Championship 2015
[1] Habiba Mohamed (EGY) bt [5/8] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 (45m)
[3/4] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt [5/8] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 3-2: 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (52m)
[3/4] Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt [5/8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-1: 13-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-4 (36m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [9/16] Choi Uen Shan (HKG) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-4 (24m)

Draw – Semi-Final
[1] Habiba Mohamed (EGY) v [¾] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY)
[¾] Mariam Metwally (EGY) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)