The top four seeds in the Women’s World Team Squash championships — England, The Netherlands, Malaysia, Egypt — took their allotted places in the semifinals when the completed easy 3-0 wins over their respective opponents in the first round of the knockout play-offs in Edmonton, Canada.
Top seeds England cantered though 3-0 against New Zealand (seeded sixth) while The Netherlands, the fourth seeds, accounted for Ireland 3-0 to reach the last four for the first time since 1992. Third seeds Malaysia also had little trouble in disposing of France 3-0.
Second seeded Egypt whitewashed 12th seeds South Africa.
Egypt’s number one Omneya Abdel Kawy, ranked nine in the world, dropped the first game 9-7 to Tenille Swartz and struggled through the second game 10-8 to even the score.
Thereafter she raced through 9-0 9-0. Engy Kheirallah, ranked 12, had little difficulty in beating Diana Argyle for the loss of only five points to clinch the tie for Egypt.
In the dead rubber Raneem El Weleily defeated Karen van der Westhuizen 9-4 9-4. — Sapa
Results:
Quarterfinals: 1-England bt 6-New Zealand 3-0, 4-Netherlands bt 10-Ireland 3-0, 3-Malaysia bt 10-France 3-0, 2-Egypt bt 12-South Africa 3-0.