Nicol David storms into semifinals

By Raju Chainani

PENANG, JULY 19. Defending champion Nicol David of Malaysia would play England's Jenny Duncalf, while her compatriot Tricia Chuah will meet second seed Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt in the semifinals of the 9th World junior women's individual squash championships.

David destroyed Germany Kathrin Rohrmuller 9-0, 9-0, 9-3 in fifteen minutes and Duncalf overcame her compatriot Laura- Jane Lengthorn 10-8, 9-4, 8-10, 9-3 over 76 minutes. Earlier Chuah had a 30 minute 9-3, 9-3, 9-4 scoreline against unseeded Australian Kasey Brown while Kawy defeated American Michelle Quibell 10-8, 9-0, 9-2 in 22 minutes.

Nicol David was like the `Penang Express' in her match with Rohrmuller. She won the opener in 2 minutes and 38 seconds, the second in 4 minutes and 5 seconds and the third in 7 minutes and 35 seconds. David's `Swan Lake act' was a joy to watch as she hardly put a foot wrong, volleyed with power and precision and had a backhand that worked to near perfection.

Duncalf had come here with a tall reputation, but had encountered a few obstacles en route to the semifinals. However on Thursday, she missed out on winning in straight games against her compatriot Laura-Jane Lengthorn.

A matchpoint in the third went abegging and Lengthorn needed four gameballs before finding the point that mattered. It made the score look respectable as Duncalf went 6-2 ahead in the fourth, good enough to keep her opponent in check.

Kawy was the overwhelming favourite against Quibell and it came as a surprise when the American number one led 3-2 in the opener. But a blitz from Kawy soon set that right and she served for the game at 8-4, having strung together four superb backhand winners.

Kawy then missed a sitter and the 18-year-old from Atlanta persevered to draw level. Kawy forced with a forehand and Quibell's return went above the tramlines. On the next rally, she plucked a forehand almost disdainfully and it rolled off the nick. Eleven minutes into the match and Abdew Kawy was a game to the good.

Kawy raced through the second game in five minutes, where her opponent served just twice, and through the third in six. ``I felt I was there in the opening game but began thinking of the outcome. I don't know what happened'', said Quibell.

Chuah, the number four seed, had started the afternoon session and the rub of the green was with her as two mishit volleys saw her to 4-0 in the opener. Brown was unable to keep pace and was played second fiddle for most of the match.

The Malaysian led 7-0 in the second and 6-1 in the third. She idled when in front but had enough of a cushion to keep her fan club happy. ``I was not as nervous as I had been earlier in the week'', said Chuah, `` I was quite comfortable and did not allow the crowd pressure to get to me''.

Australian coach Dean Landy felt Brown had allowed her opponent too much of latitude. `` You can't give her a six or seven point start and expect to win''.

Chuah had lost in straight games to Kawy in the semifinals of the British Junior Open. But, that was in the cold and in surroundings that she is far more accustomed to, plus the local support, one could be in for an interesting battle of wits on Friday when the stage shifts to the all-glass court which has been set up at the Penang International Sports Arena.

Fourteen teams in fray

The Indians have three days to prepare themselves for the team event. Previously, the draw was made in advance but this has been changed and though a provisional list of seedings is made before the event, the final touches are done only after the semifinals of the individual event. There are 14 participating countries with the list being completed by the arrival of the Singapore team, who had opted out of the individual event. Last time, at Antwerp in 1999, India had finished in 17th place, just ahead of Wales.

This time around, though India is much stronger with Joshna Chinappa at number one and Vaidehi Reddy at two, one cannot expect much from either Supriya Balsekar or Rachita Vora, given their showing in individual event

But, Vaidehi, who reached the last sixteen and Joshna, who lost in the third round, have impressed many coaches. To see Indian junior girls of this standard is something of a surprise for them. The need of the hour is a carefully designed training programme and a good deal of international exposure.

There is no substitute for matchplay and it is in this department that the Indians have been caught out. That is food for thought. If Joshna is given the latitude, there is reason to believe that she could become World junior champion in four years time. But, as Kipling suggested, ``If'' is a very big word.

The results (quarterfinals): 1-Nicol David (Mal) bt 5/8-Kathrin Rohrmuller (Ger) 9-0, 9-0, 9-3; 3-Jenny Duncalf (Eng) bt 5/8- Laura-Jane Lenthorn (Eng) 10-8, 9-4, 8-10, 9-4; 4-Tricia Chuah (Mal) bt Kasey Brown (Aus) 9-3, 9-3, 9-4; 2-Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) bt 5/8-Michelle Quibell (U.S) 10-8, 9-0, 9-2.

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