22 Jan 2019
Prague, 22 January 2019. Outstanding performance of Aspire Academy’s squash team at the “Czech Junior Open”, that took place from January 17 to 20 in Prague: Grade 9 student Mohamed Ouda won his first Under-15 European Super Series level competition, while fellow Aspire student-athlete Yousef Farag finished third in the same age group.
After winning his semi-final in straight games against the number 2 seed, Ouda was dominant in the final against his French opponent, Laszio Godde taking the title 11/3, 11/7, 11/4. This was his second European victory in the Under-15 age group after winning the “Hungarian Junior Open” last October.
In the same age group Yousef Farag played well to take 3rd place. After losing in the semifinal to the same French player, Laszio Godde, Yousef bounced back to win the third and fourth playoff match for a podium finish.
Salem Al Malki demonstrated an improved tactical performance to take 11th position, also in the U15 age category. Salem won three from his five matches, unfortunately drawing his team mate Mohamed Ouda in his round of 16 match.
In the Under-17 event the highest finishing place came from Waleed Zaman who took 13th position. Waleed was close to knocking out the eventual finalist in the main draw however shot selection and ball control let him down at some crucial stages in this match.
Though finishing outside the top 32 there were also very pleasing and improved performances from Ahmad Al Meraikhi and Ibrahim Al Darwish taking 34th and 35th position in the same event.
Of the other Aspire players competing; Yousef Al Kubaisi finished 24th in the U-15 age group, while grade 7 student Abdulrahman Aijineh took 35th place in the U13’s in his first European tournament. Playing in his final junior event Hamad Al Amri finished in 19th place in the Under-19 age group.