by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

A three matches to two success was the order of proceedings with Selena Selvakumar, as one day earlier in the group stage of proceedings, the mainstay of success; she accounted for Sarah Abousetta in the opening contest of the fixture (11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-7) and for Marwa Alhodaby in the fourth match (12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 11-9).

Victory over Marwa Alhodaby, set the scene for Waad Ibrahim to perform the starring role; in the vital fifth and deciding match of the engagement, she overcame Sarah Abousetta to seal the victory. Earlier, Marwa Alhodaby had beaten Waad Ibrahim (11-7, 11-7, 11-5) to be followed immediately by Mariam Alhodaby who accounted for Riman Hesham (11-7, 11-3, 11-4) in the third match of the fixture to give her team a two-one lead. It was an advantage on which they were unable to build.

Impressive from Selena Selvakumar; at the semi-final stage she had been equally imposing; she beat Egypt’s Eman Taha (11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-7) and Tunisia’s Abir Haj Salah (11-5, 12-14, 11-9, 11-6) in a three-one success. The one further win had been secured by Waad Ibrahim; in the opening match of the engagement, she had accounted for Abir Haj Salah (11-5, 11-5, 11-6). The one success for the defeated had been recorded in the third contest of the engagement when, in an all Egyptian contest, Farah Abdelfattah had beaten Rman Hesham (11-8, 11-5, 11-7).

Meanwhile, in a most authoritative manner, in the counterpart semi-final, Sarah Abousetta, Mariam Alhodaby and Marwa Alhodaby had posted a three matches to nil win against the combination of Nigeria’s Esther Oribamese who joined forces with Egypt’s Mariam Abdelaziz and Rolan Hesham.

Proceedings in the Junior Girls’ Team event over, attention now turns the Junior Girls’ Singles competition.