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Indian girls in semi-final of junior World Squash

India were pushed to the limit by Canada before the hosts pulled through 2-1 to enter the semi-finals of the 13th junior squash World team championship for women.

Chennai: India were pushed to the limit by Canada before the hosts pulled through 2-1 to enter the semi-finals of the 13th junior squash World team championship for women.
The tie, hanging fire after the teams split the opening two singles, saw Surbhi Mishra winning the deciding third singles in four games against Jennifer Pelletier to set up a clash with Hong Kong, which overcame New Zealand 3-0. The other semi-final will be between defending champions and top seeds Egypt and fifth seeded USA, both winning their quarter-finals without much ado against Malaysia and England, respectively.The Indians were off to a poor start when Anwesha Reddy, who sat out the previous two encounters, going down to Kemberley Hay in three games. Anwesha appeared rather rusty and tentative while Hay gained in confidence as the match progressed, winning the crucial points. India, however, bounced back when their No.1 player, Dipika Pallikal defeated Laura Gemmel in straight games to set the match on fire. The Canadian hopes of snatching an upset win were dashed in the third singles with Surbhi holding firm against Pelletier`s belated fightback to put India in the semi-finals. The results (quarter-finals): 5-USA beat 7-England 3-0 (Amanda Sobhy lost to Kimberley Hay 8-11 10-12 9-11; Oliva Blatchford beat Millie Tomlinson 11-4 11-9 11-5; Julie Cerullo beat Rachael Chadwick 11-6 11-8 11-3). 6-Hong Kong China beat 8-New Zealand 3-0 (Tsz Wing Tong beat Amanda Landers Murphy 7-11 11-2 11-5 11-7; Tsz Ling Liu beat Lana Harrison 12-10 11-9 12-10; Ka Man Lee beat Emma Millar 11-7 11-9). 1- Egypt beat 3-Malaysia 3-0 (Nour El Sherbini beat Tan Yan Xin 9-11 11-6 11-2 11-1; Heba El Torky beat Low Wee Nee 11-5 11-3 11-5; Nour El Tayeb beat {3} Nessrine Ariffin 11-1 11-9). 2-India beat 4-Canada 2-1 (Anwesha Reddy lost to Samantha Cornett 6-11 11-6 8-11 2-11; Dipika Pallikal beat Laura Gemmel 11-8 11-3 11-9; Surbhi Misra beat Jennifer Pelletier 13-11 11-8 3-11 11-6). Playoffs for 9-16 positions: Australia beat Spain 3-0; France beat The Netherlands 3-0; South Africa beat Sweden 3-0; Germany beat Denmark 3-0. IANS