The Hindu : World junior crown is England-bound

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 09, 2002

Sport

Sport - Squash

World junior crown is England-bound

By S.R. Suryanarayan

Peter Barker of England (left) seems to have a word or two regarding a point with Pakistan's Majid Khan in the second semifinal of the World junior men's squash championship in Chennai on Sunday. — Photo: K. Gajendran

CHENNAI DEC. 8. It was England's day at the World junior men's squash championship on Sunday and it will be another tomorrow when either James Willstrop or Peter Barker will emerge champion at the TNSRA-SDAT complex. Not in the last 12 years has a winner emerged from England, the last being Simon Parke in 1990.

It will be in the fitness of things that the winner will get his reward from the hands of a legend in the sport, none other than Jehangir Khan, the former World champion and currently president of the World Squash Federation.

Though Jehangir would have certainly liked to see a Pakistani in the title-match, the semifinals proved that Khayal Muhammad and Majid Khan were not yet ready to match the two Britishers, incidentally the top two seeds.

The only moment when the tide looked like changing direction came at the fag end of the second semifinal between Majid and Barker. Like a helpless man clinging on to a rope which had withered down to the last strand, Majid Khan looked desperate to keep alive Pakistan's hopes of a representation in the final. But that proved too slender a hope for the second seed, Barker, closed out the match with as swift an operation as his country-mate Willstrop had earlier meted out to Muhammad.

Still, for the gumption shown from a two-game-down situation, Majid needs to be commended. And perhaps he was a trifle unlucky too when leading 8-6 and on game point, two decisions on `let' and `stroke' by Referee Christine Sinclair proved crucial. Of course, the Referee has the last word and may be in this case since it involved the fate of a player fighting for survival, the sympathies from all around went to him. Still that was the brief moment when Majid touched his best as he kept the points at level before drawing away.

Not tested thus far by anyone, Barker admitted he had a touch of uncertainty that saw him get into tangles with his boasts and otherwise impeccable drops. Maybe, if Majid had made the most of the situation, the tale could have had a few more twists. But there was no mistaking who was the boss on court.

Equally emphatically did the top seed, and one eager to earn the `Junior champion' crown to endorse his status as the world number one, Willstrop go about his task. If there was anything amiss in the English lad's approach then it had to be his sudden show of temper at Muhammad, something for which he was repeatedly told by the Referee to show restraint. "It does not happen normally. But I felt Muhammad was a touch unfair in his movements with the intention of blocking," Willstrop was to explain later.

Otherwise, Muhammad was short of ideas against the rangy player who `gets up' everything and returns with either the explosiveness of a dynamite or with the softness of a landing feather. Just 27 minutes and Willstrop had completed the demolition leaving everyone watching with awe.

Considering their class and form, the all-England final should be a treat. "I promsie you that," said Barker, who is only too keen, for he needs to correct his `all defeat' record against Willstrop.

The scores (semifinals): James Willstrop (Eng) bt Khayal Muhammad (Pak) 9-1, 9-0, 9-4; Peter Barker (Eng) bt Majid Khan (Pak) 9-3, 9-0, 10-8.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport