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19e OPEN DE FRANCE JUNIOR 2012
MICHÈLE LECOMTE
du 16 au 19 février - Lille |
16-Feb-2012
FIRST DAY, A FEW MATCHES...
 Don't
ask me exactly what happened squash wise today. Not a clue. I mean, I
sort of browse in front of the court, watched a bit of this, chatted
with that one, and that other one, in two languages. Took a few photos,
but, do I have a clue of what happened, really? Nope.
Well, let's have a look at the draws then.
Only boys on court today from 5, and the
babies - they'll love that, U13 - were not playing.
For the U19, only 5 matches, and already a few surprises, as 4
out of five matches went against seeding.
Excellent
day for the English really, with Jack Fowler getting the
better out of Dutch Tom Lucas [17/32], along with Chris Longman,
beating another Dutch Stepfan Welters [17/32]. Same for Gavan
Hitchenor and Blake Bettley, ousting Morten Wold (Norway)
Roel Zwagerman (Ned) respectively.
For the U17, it was all about
the Barbary family really!!!!
[17/32]Mathias
Pontet bowed to Omar El Barbary, from Egypt, while Youssef
el Barbary
[17/32] lost to English Joshua
Masters, and Ryan Duke
[17/32] from England, losr to
Magdy El Barbary, 11/9 in the 5th!
As for the U15... One good win for French Philippe Marin,
getting on top of Swiss Alexander Jost
[17/32],
and one bad loss, Guillaume Ducos,
[9/16]
to English boy Jack Martell. |
En Bref, #1
(All you NEED to know)
Photos, Day 1
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Les
tableaux
Les
Infos
La Presse
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FRAMBOISE JUST
ARRIVED...
As ever in a tournament, one
always have a moment of panic as it's about to start. Multiply that
feeling by 25.000 for a junior open.
So many faces I don't know, or faces I knew a little while ago, who have
grown soooo much, so many coaches/parents, of different nationalities.
Girls refusing to have their photos taken, cause "hair ain't right",
boys on the contrary taking the pose, bref, a normal day in a junior
open....
To be perfectly honest, I don't know that much about junior squash, but
enough I hope to find my way around. With the little help of my friends,
hopefully.
Speaking with Fred Lecomte - now in charge of the tournament,
along with Dominique Fontanon, President of the tournament, and
André Delhoste (who you know as French National coach),
tournament director - I have now a few notions of who is to be
watched...
Let's start with the kiddies, U13.
For the girls, Nadiia Usenko, seeded 1 from Ukraine, is logically
favorite, along with [3/4] Perein Abou Seada from Egypt. From a
French point of view, Yuna Loac seems to be our best bet.
As for the Boys, the "Bleu" Heart is going with Victor Crouin,
from Toulon, but the favourite are James Wyatt, a very talented
English boy, along with Yousseff Abou Seada (brother of!).
For the U15.
Enzo Corigliano carries the French hopes, seeded one, and
Jules Cremoux could be creating a surprise, as seeded 2. But you'll
need to keep an eye for Blal Nawar [3/4] from Egypt.
For the girls, French hopefuls are basically a nice trio, Laura
Gamblin, Julie Rossignol et Elisa Romba. But the favourite are
Elin Harlow, seeded 1, from Wales, Tinne Gilis, from Belgium,
2.
Now, Steve Cubs - all comfy in Witley Bay, about to go to squash,
the lucky b..., had the kindness to do a little Crystal Ball about the
U17 and U19. May he be thanked warmly... |
French junior
open 2012 - ones to watch
by Steve Cubbins
 Not
that it's going to be particularly easy to follow any particular players,
as all the draws seem to be split over the three clubs .. but here goes
anyway !
Girls U17
Some less familiar names here, but Finland coach Mike Harris
talks highly of second seed Emilia Soini, so we'll expect her to
do well. There's more strong Englishy interest here, with Ellie Lake,
Lucy Beecroft, Lily Taylor, Anna Kimberley, Martha Posseger and
Alicia Mead all amongst the seeds. [for the French view, watch out
for Lea Van der Swalder, Marion Andriamifidy, and Marie Stephan,
FG]
Boys U17
A Swiss-Portuguese final between Manuel Wanner and Claudio Pinto
is predicted by the seedings here, but you guessed it, there's a posse
of young Englishmen including George Parker, Hamish Falconer, Tom Lee
and Angus Gillams who will have other ideas. Home hopes rest with
Baprtiste Masotti, seeded 3/4.
Girls U19
France's Melissa Alves is top seed but should face a strong
challenge from Belgium's second seed Nele Gilis, but 3/4 seeds
Caroline Sayegh and Julia Lecoq will have their sights on the
final too.
There's strong English interest too, with Victoria Temple-Murray,
Katie Smith, Brogan Lane, Georgina Ingham and Catherine Finlayson
lurking among the seeds.
Boys U19
Given that they have to navigate their way around the clubs, it could be
a TomTom final as De Mulder (Belgium) and Ford (England)
are seeded to meet in the final. [French bets are on Damien Volland.
FG]
Ford has a strong supporting team, with Ashley Davis, Oiver Holland
Taminder Gata-Aura and Matt Sidaway all high up in the
seedings. One to watch is Qatar speed merchant Abdulla Al-Tamimi. |
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