Top Seeds Tumble in Dunlop British Junior Open Semi-Final Shocks

Three top seeds fell in an upset-heavy semi-finals day at the 2020 Dunlop British Junior Open in Birmingham on Sunday.

Malaysia’s Harleein Tan struck first when she overpowered Egyptian favourite Jana Mohamed 3-0 in the GU11’s, then BU13’s top seed Mohamed Zakaria was taken out 3-0 in a whirlwind 21 minutes by fellow Egyptian Ahmed Rashed.

And in the day’s second-longest encounter, GU17’s Aira Azman met her match in Nour Khaled Aboulmakarim who won 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 16-14 in 47 minutes, a result carrying extra special significance for the Egyptian after Azman’s own U15 upset in 2018.

“I lost to Aira in the quarters when I was top seed, so it was nice to get a bit of revenge,” said Aboulmakarim.

“When I was 7-10 down in the fourth, I was so tired but I kept saying to myself ‘you can make it, it’s only the fourth game.'”

The upset put fire in the belly of Azman’s older sister Aifa who kept her nerve to defeat GU19’s Farida Mohamed 3-1 in a physical and compelling tussle as she moved one step closer to a fourth BJO title.

She will play Egyptian top seed Jana Shiha, who looked ominous in a brief encounter with Team USA’s Marina Stefanoni and will be itching for her maiden BJO crown.

“I’ve played in the British Junior Open five or six times and I’ve never won a title and this is my last chance so hopefully I can win tomorrow,” said the World No.84.

BU19’s Egyptian top seed Moustafa El Sirty out-hit India’s Veer Chotrani 3-1 to reach his first BJO final before he was joined by three-time champion Yahya Elnawasany, the winner of an all-Egyptian semi against Karim El Barbary 3-1.

Malaysian boys U17’s Ishant Shah put on a patient display to outmanoeuvre and ultimately frustrate his talented Egyptian opponent Ahmed Aly 3-1 in 55 minutes to set up a clash with home favourite Sam Todd, who is seeking a third BJO title.

GU17’s second seed Sana Ibrahim expended little energy in pencilling in Monday’s all-Egypt final when English opponent Katie Maliff retired in the second due to injury.

BU15’s second seed Muhammad Humza Khan was rewarded for his persistence at this event as he set up a final with England’s Yusuf Sheikh, who followed yesterday’s upset with a straight-games defeat of Khan’s fellow Pakistani Muhammad Ammad.

“I got to the semis two years ago and the quarters last year so it feels great to finally reach a final,” said Khan.

GU15’s second seed Fayrouz Abouelkheir looked the pick of the bunch by needing just 18 minutes to dispatch compatriot Habiba Hani Diab after Malak Taha showed little sign of fatigue after yesterday’s surprise win against the favourite as she sent Team USA’s Caroline Fouls home.

BU13’s second seed Youssef Salem won 3-0 when fellow Egyptian Eyad Hossam retired in the third while in the GU13’s, Anahat Singh caused another Sunday shock with a 3-2 win over Egypt’s Janna Galal in 39 hard-fought minutes to move into Monday’s final with Amina Orfi.

GU11’s No.2 seed Mariam Eissa warmed up for Monday’s final against Tan with another straight-games victory while in the BU11’s,mSeif Belal El Shal set up another all-Egypt final against Yassin Kouritam.


Eissa, 10, said: “I’m very happy to reach the final beating really tough players from my first match all the way to the final. I have been working very hard and winning my fist BJO title would be great!”

Results
Girls’ Under 11s
[3/4] Harleein Tan (MAS) bt [1] Jana Mohamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (21m)
[2] Mariam Eissa (ENG) bt [3/4] Maya Mandour (MAS) 3-0: 13-11, 11-7, 11-6 (23m)

Boys’ Under 11s
[3/4] Seif Belal El Shal (EGY) bt [9/16] Yassin Azouz (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-1 (22m)
[2] Yassin Kouritam (EGY) bt [5/8] Farouk Mohamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (22m)

Girls’ Under 13s
[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [9/16] Barb Sameh (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-0 (17m)
[3/4] Anahat Singh (IND) 3-2 [2] Janna Galal (EGY) 3-2: 7-11, 11-7, 13-11, 5-11, 17-15 (39m)

Boys’ Under 13s
[9/16] Ahmed Rashed (EGY) bt [1] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-9, 11-9 (21m)
[2] Youssef Salem (EGY) bt [3/4] Eyad Hossam (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 14-12, 8-3 rtd (26m)

Girls’ Under 15s
[5/8] Malak Taha (EGY) bt [5/8] Caroline Fouls (USA) 3-1: 4-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (29m)
[2] Fayrouz Abouelkheir (EGY) bt [9/16] Habiba Hani Diab (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (18m)

Boys’ Under 15s
[5/8] Yusuf Sheikh (ENG) bt [9/16] Muhammad Ammad (PAK) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 (22m)
[2] Muhammad Humza Khan (PAK) bt [5/8] Yassin Shohdy (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (22m)

Girls’ Under 17s
[3/4] Nour Khaled Aboulmakarim (EGY) bt [1] Aira Azman (MAS) 3-1: 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 16-14 (47m)
[2] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bt [3/4] Katie Maliff (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 5-0 rtd (11m)

Boys’ Under 17s
[1] Sam Todd (ENG) bt [9/16] Noor Zaman (PAK) 3-0: 11-6, 11-1, 11-1 (18m)
[5/8] Ishant Shah (MAS) 3-1 [5/8] Ahmed Aly (EGY) 3-0: 11-13, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (55m)

Girls’ Under 19s
[1] Jana Shiha (EGY) 3-0 [3/4] Marina Stefanoni (USA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (23m)
[2] Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-1 [3/4] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10 (32m)

Boys’ Under 19s
[1] Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) bt [3/4] Veer Chotrani (IND) 3-1: 7-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8 (33m)
[2] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt [3/4] Karim El Barbary (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (43m)