By Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The verdict went in favour of the former by three matches to one with Tobias Hippler the mainstay of his team’s success.
He beat both Omar Ammous (11-8, 11-6, 12-10) and Rashed Sanad (9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7); the one remaining success was recorded by Mohammed Abdulwahhab who accounted for Rashed Sanad in the second match of the contest by the narrowest of margins.
Meanwhile, for the defeated the one win came in the third match of the engagement courtesy of Mootezz Saadaoui (13-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7).
Full distance contest
Success for Tobias Hippler, Mohammed Abdulwahhab and Abdulaziz Mohd in the Junior Boys’ Team competition; in the counterpart Cadet Boys’ Team event it was the top prize for the Egyptian duo of Ammar Attia and Ahmed Elborhamy.
However, it was hard fought success; at the final hurdle they were extended the full five match distance by the Tunisia ‘A’ Team combination of Youssef Ben Attia and Aboubaker Bourass.
Aboubaker Bourass
The player to cause the champions elect problems was Aboubaker Bourass; he beat Ammar Attia in the opening match of the fixture (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-1) and Ahmed Elborhamy in the fourth match (11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 14-12).
Alas for the host nation that was the sum of success; Youssef Ben Attia was beaten by Ahmed Elborhamy (11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7) and, in the vital fifth and deciding match of the engagement, by Youssef Ben Attia (11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4).
Important wins but arguably the most important of all was the doubles; success went the way of Ahmed Elborhamy and Omar El-Safty (11-7,8-11, 11-9, 13-15, 11-3).
Quarter-final and semi-final stages
Earlier at the quarter-final stage Ammar Attia and Ahmed Elborhamy had beaten the Libyan Arab Republic duo of Salh Abodib and Habeb Alajaebi by three matches to nil prior to recording the same margin of victory in the semi-final round in opposition to the Egypt ‘B’ Team combination of Adham Abdelaal and Abdelrahaman Dendan (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6).
Road to final
Likewise, in the round of the last eight, Aboubaker Bourass and Youssef Ben Attia overcame colleagues Haythem Najjar Nia and Jawhar Ramoul, before reserving their place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to the Egypt ‘C’ Team pairing of Ziad El-Shawa and Mohamed Sameh.
A three-one victory margin was the order of affairs, the one win for the Egyptians being recorded in the doubles. Ziad El-Shawa and Mohamed Sameh recorded a straight games win (11-8, 12-10, 11-5).
Individual events commence
Play in the Junior Boys’ Team and Cadet Boys’ Team events over; attention now turns to the individual events, proceedings commence on Friday 2nd September.
