Top seeds successful in opening exchanges

Nimes – France, Nov 12: top seeds, The top eight seeds showed their strength in the opening encounters of the WSF Women’s World Team Championship in Nimes with 3/0 victories in the afternoon session of the first day’s play in the biennial World Squash Federation event which is being held in France for the first time in its 33-year history.

The eight nations continue their qualifying action with further ties in today’s evening session – with hosts France making their debut against Netherlands on the ‘centre’ court of the three all-glass courts at La Parnasse Arena, and additional action also taking place at the nearby eight-court Club des Costières.

Favourites England – bidding to win the title for a seventh time, but for the first time since 2006 – beat championship debutants Republic Of Korea 3/0. England’s powerful line-up featured Alison Waters, Jenny Duncalf and Sarah Kippax – all in the world’s top 25 – while only one of the Koreans is world-ranked.

“We are really focussed and wanted to get a strong start from the outset,” said England team coach David Campion. “But, credit to Korea, their players were not overawed by the occasion and showed great technique and athleticism.”

Second seeds Egypt saw off Scotland 3/0. Pushed down to 24th seeds after the last-minute withdrawal of number one Lisa Aitken, Scotland’s hopes were lifted when, on the eve of her 31st birthday, new top string Frania Gillen-Buchert took the opening game against Nour El Sherbini. But the Egyptian teenager restored order by winning 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-8 in 35 minutes.

RESULTS: WSF World Team Championship, Nimes, France: 1st qualifying rounds (afternoon session, 1st day):
Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [23] REPUBLIC OF KOREA 3/0
Alison Waters bt Song Sun-Mi 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (23m)
Jenny Duncalf bt Park Eun Ok 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (21m)
Sarah Kippax bt Yang Yeon-Soo 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (24m)

Pool B:
[2] EGYPT bt [24] SCOTLAND 3/0
Nour El Sherbini bt Frania Gillen-Buchert 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-8 (35m)
Omneya Abdel Kawy bt Alex Clark 11-2, 11-6, 11-4 (19m)
Nour El Tayeb bt Rosie Allan 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (16m)

Pool C:
[3] MALAYSIA bt [19] CHINA 3/0
Nicol David bt Li Dongjin 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 (24m)
Low Wee Wern bt Gu Jinyue 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 (19m)
Delia Arnold bt Xiu Chen 11-4, 11-0, 11-8 (16m)

[14] SOUTH AFRICA bt [26] SPAIN 3/0
Siyoli Waters bt Marina de Juan 11-6, 11-5, 11-3
Milnay Louw bt Xisela Aranda Nunez 4-11, 11-6, 12-10, 14-12
Senada Haupt bt Cristina Gomez 11-6, 12-10, 11-8

Pool D:
[4] HONG KONG CHINA bt [20] COLOMBIA 3/0
Annie Au bt Silvia Angulo Rugeles 11-3, 11-2, 11-4
Liu Tsz-Ling bt Karol Gonzalez 11-3, 11-8, 12-14, 11-3
Tong Tsz-Wing bt Ana Gabriela Porras 11-5, 11-9, 11-8

[13] CZECH REPUBLIC bt [25] NAMIBIA 3/0
Lucie Fialova bt Isabell Schnoor 11-6, 12-10, 11-8
Olga Ertlova bt Adri Lambert 11-3, 11-2, 11-5
Anna Klimundova bt Lucinda Rodrigues 11-0, 11-4, 11-4

Pool E:
[5] NEW ZEALAND bt [22] JAPAN 3/0
Joelle King bt Misaki Kobayashi 11-8, 11-7, 11-1
Jaclyn Hawkes bt Chinatsu Matsui 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6
Amanda Landers-Murphy bt Mayu Yamazaki 10-12, 11-2, 11-7, 11-5

Pool F:
[6] AUSTRALIA bt [18] AUSTRIA 3/0
Rachael Grinham bt Birgit Coufal 11-3, 11-3, 11-2
Donna Urquhart bt Judith Gradnitzer 11-4, 11-3, 11-1
Sarah Cardwell bt Ines Winkler 11-1, 11-1, 11-1

Pool G:
[7] IRELAND bt [17] ARGENTINA 3/0
Madeline Perry bt Antonella Falcione 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (21m)
Aisling Blake bt Cecilia Cerquetti 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (22m)
Laura Mylotte bt Fernanda Rocha 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4 (24m)

Pool H:
[8] NETHERLANDS bt [21] GERMANY 3/0
Natalie Grinham bt Pamela Hathway 11-4, 11-6, 11-5
Orla Noom bt Franziska Hennes 11-7, 12-14, 11-5, 11-1
Milou van der Heijden bt Annika Wiese 11-7, 11-3, 11-4. —- WSF