Semi Final | CCI International 2019
Results/Photos/Match Report - Semi Final | 2019 CCI International JSW Indian Squash Circuit
Match report by: Sachika Irshwin Balvani | Photos by: Nitesh Square
[1] Tarek Momen (EGY) beat Ramit Tandon (IND) | 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 | 39 mins
In the first semi-final of the day, we saw the sole Indian left in the tournament, Ramit Tandon, take on Egyptian World Number 4 Tarek Momen.
Thus far, Ramit has done very well, having beaten Joshua Masters in the first round and Top 20 player Tom Richards in the second round. He got a walkover against Saurav Ghosal yesterday, after Ghosal had to, very unfortunately, withdraw due to injury. Momen has played against Youssef Ibrahim and Iker Pajares, both of whom are young and determined and Momen definitely had to bring his best game to the court.
Momen took the first game, looking very comfortable and sure of his shots. Ramit did well to rally and keep up with Momen, but it was only in the second game that Ramit threatened Momen, as they locked in at 7 all. But unforced errors and, perhaps, some frustration getting in Tandon’s way saw Momen take the game, 11-7.
With Saurav Ghosal in his corner between games and the look of pure determination on his face, Tandon got off to a fiery start. He did well to put pressure on Momen during some important rallies as they leveled halfway through the game. But Tandon couldn’t keep up with Momen’s unrelenting quality, and Momen took the game and the match. He will look to win his sixth tour title tomorrow here at the CCI.
[4] Fares Dessouky (EGY) beat [5] James Willstrop (ENG) | 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4 | 49 mins
The second semi-final of the day promised to be an interesting clash, as England’s James Willstrop took on Fares Dessouky of Egypt. Dessouky is coming back from a major injury, but has looked unstoppable on court during this tournament. He took out England’s Ben Coleman and compatriot Karim Elhammamy to be in today’s semi-final, and had gone through this tournament without even dropping a game.
However, this fact was about to change as Dessouky and Willstrop went to battle. Dessouky looked calm and composed, and used his high-class ability on the volley to put Willstrop under pressure. He went up two games to love, but Willstrop seemed to have taken good advice from Saurav Ghosal in between games and played clinical squash to take the third game.
The fourth game saw both players do more than just navigate around the court; they had to bring out their best to keep the rally going. When one hit a good shot, the other answered with one that matched. In the end, however, it was Dessouky who managed to keep up the attack longer and he got through as the winner. Tomorrow’s final is set as Dessouky goes against Tarek Momen in an all-Egyptian confrontation.
FINAL - 12th January - 2019 CCI International JSW Indian Squash Circuit
18:45 | [1] Tarek Momen (EGY) V [4] Fares Dessouky (EGY)
