Chennai, July 16 (UNI) Shaurya Bawa assured India of a medal in the World Junior Squash Championship being held at Houston in US, when he entered the semifinals in the boy’s section on Monday night.
Bawa became only the second Indian after Kush Kumar (in 2014) to reach the semifinals of the World Junior Squash Championships.
The 18-year-old from Delhi, seeded 17/32, rallied to beat Malaysia’s Low Wa-Sern (17/32) 2-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10 in the boys’ quarterfinals to assure India of a medal.
In a thrilling clash that lasted 80 minutes, Bawa was down 6-9 and 7-10 in the deciding fifth game. However, he fought back remarkably and saved 3 match balls, before registering a thrilling win in a roller-coaster encounter.
Bawa will meet Egyptian top-seed Mohamed Zakaria in the last-four stage.
Meanwhile, compatriot Anahat Singh (5/8) bowed out in the girls’ quarterfinals for a third straight year.
The 16-year-old Indian National champion lost a close five-setter to Egyptian Nadien Elhammamy (3/4).
The Indian was at the receiving end losing the closely-contested first two games 8-11, 9-11.
However, she came back strongly and won the next two, before the Egyptian won the edge-of-the-seat decider on extra points to enter the last four.
Naiden eventually won 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 13-11.
