02/05/2012
The glass court was the stage for six final matches last week. Jordanian players (Hijazi Squash Academy Players) were present in all 6 finals prompting a large local crowd turnout. Jordan eventually won 4 of the 6 contested titles.
Results were as follows:
BU11:
[1] Vasudef Vasanthan (MAS) bt [2] Abdel Rahman Alsarraj (JOR) 11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 12-10
Abdel Rahman Alsarraj from Jordan played very well as he tried to overcome the much bigger Vasudef Vasanthan from Malaysia. Down 2 games he came back in the third game hitting deep to the backside of the court. He won the third game but could not keep up the pace in the fourth game which he closely lost 12:10 and the match 3:1 (11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 12-10).
BU13:
[3] Ibrahim Abu Laban (JOR) bt Hamza Alsarraj (JOR) 11-8, 11-2, 11-2
There was no surprise in the result of this final match between the experienced Ibrahim Abu Laban and the surprising finalist and 3 years younger Hamza Alsarraj, both from Jordan. Abu Laban controlled the match from the beginning winning in 3 straight games (11-8, 11-2, 11-2)
BU15:
[1] Mohammad Alsarraj (JOR) bt [2] Hamzah Alzubaidi (JOR) 11-3 11-3 12-10
Another final between 2 Jordanian players and the third encounter between these 2 players in a junior event this year. Hamzah Alzubaidi went into the court determined to cause an upset. He, however, stumbled upon the talented and agile Mohammad Alsarraj who had no intentions of giving up a single game. Mohammad proved to be too much for the impatient and inconsistent Alzubaidi and cruised to a 3:0 win (11-3 11-3 12-10)
BU17:
[1] Saif Albreakat (JOR) bt [2] Tsz Kwan Lau (HK) 11-6, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9
Saif Albreakat from Jordan is known for his talent but also equally known for his indifferent and often lazy style of play. He started the match exceptionally well forcing his opponent Tsz Kwan Lau from Hong Kong to scurry around the court in an attempt to return impossible shots from Saif. The first game went to the Jordanian. The charged Saif went on a standby mode in the following 2 games allowing his opponent to win both. The disappointed crowd expected a quick 4th game in favor of Tsz but Saif surprised all including himself when he fought back with a new spirit of determination to win both final games and eventually the match 3:2 (11-6, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9)
GU19:
[1] Zahab Khan (PAK) bt [5/8] Yara Hamadah (JOR) 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3
If Zahab Khan thought that this match was going to be a one-sided affair she found out that she was absolutely wrong. Yara Hamadah from Jordan and 5 years younger than Zahab went into the court knowing she had nothing to lose. She played very well and proved difficult to beat by the older and stronger Khan. Yara even won the third game but eventually lost the match 3:1 (11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3)
BU19:
[1] Ahmad Alsaraj (JOR) bt [2] Cheuk Yan Tang (HK) 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
To all Jordanians this was probably the most important match of all. Ahmad Alsaraj, a promisisng young Jordanian who was the U17 Asian champion only last year and a semifinalist in the 2012 British Junior Open had no options but to win. When he lost the first game to Cheuk Yan Tang from Hong Kong, hopes were deflated and the mood of the crowd blunted. Ahmad proved to be too good to let a win and a title slip away from him. He started the second game playing error-free squash. The long rallies proved too much for the tiring Cheuk. Ahmad won all subsequent 3 games and the match 3:1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8).
