India lose in semis of women's World Junior squash

Dipika Pallikal salvaged personal pride but second seeds India bowed out of the reckoning in the women's World junior squash team championship after a 1-2 defeat against sixth seeds Hong Kong in Chennai on Friday.

Pallikal gave the team a good start, beating Tsz Ling Liu 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6 but Anwesha Reddy and Surbhi

Mishra lost the subsequent matches which brought curtains on India's campaign.

Tsz Wing Tong beat Anwesha Reddy 12-10, 11-8, 11-6 and Carmel Lee beat Surbhi Mishra 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9.

Hong Kong will battle it out with top seeds Egypt, who beat fifth seed USA 2-1, for the title on Saturday.

Heba El Torky put Egypt ahead, winning the first of the three singles in four games against Olivia Blatchford but its

newly-crowned World champion, 13-year old Nour El Shebini was drubbed by Amanda Sobhy.

 Later, Nour El Tayeb held her nerve to beat Julie Cerullo and help Egypt make the final.

Results (semi-finals):

1-Egypt beat 5-USA 2-1 (Heba El Torky beat Olivia Blatchford 11-5, 11-6, 13-15, 11-7; Nour El Sherbini lost to Amanda Sobhy 6-11, 6-11, 8-11; Nour El Tayeb beat Julie Cerullo 11-6, 11-5, 11-4).

6-Hong Kong China beat 2-India 2-1 (Tsz Ling Liu lost to Dipika Pallikal 4-11, 12-10, 8-11, 6-11; Tsz Wing Tong beat Anwesha Reddy 12-10, 11-8, 11-6; Carmel Lee beat Surbhi Mishra 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9).

Play-offs:

For 5-8 positions: England beat Malaysia 2-0; Canada beat New Zealand 2-0.

For 9-12 positions: France beat Australia 2-1; Germany beat South Africa 2-1.

For 13-16 positions: The Netherlands beat Spain 3-0; Denmark beat Sweden 2-1.