On Sunday, Republic of Korea made national sporting history as their men’s team won the South China Group Asian Junior Team Championships for the first time, while Hong Kong, China’s women finally ended Malaysia’s decade of dominance by claiming the title for the first time in 14 years.

Jooyoung Na in action against Harith Danial. Image courtesy of hksquash-majorevents.com.

Prior to yesterday’s conclusion at Hong Kong Squash Centre, Republic of Korea had never reached the final of the Asian Junior Team Championships, which have been held biennially since 1983.

The top seeds, who stunned the squash world with a swashbuckling run to the final of the World Junior Team Championships last year, showed no signs of nerves in their final against Malaysia, who were hunting the title for the first time since 2015.

In an epic first string battle, Jooyoung Na – who reached the final of the World Junior Individual Championships last year – finally overcame rival Harith Danial after fighting back from 1-2 down to record an 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 victory in 63 minutes.

Jeonguk Ryu’s clash with Nickhileswar Moganasundharam was no less epic, with Ryu twice coming from behind as he ensured a 2-0 victory for Republic of Korea with a 68-minute 6-11, 13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 win.

In the women’s event, the hosts ended a heartbreaking run of five consecutive final defeats by overcoming fierce rivals Malaysia.

Malaysia had been Hong Kong, China’s boogeyman for a decade with the 10-time champions beating the hosts in the final of the last four events, part of a barren run of five consecutive second place finishes for Hong Kong, China beginning with defeat to India in 2013 in Seoul.

This time, though, it was sweet revenge for the hosts as Ena Kwong swatted aside Anrie Goh 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 and Tsz Ching Armona Cheung recovered from a rocky start to dispatch Harlein Tan 3-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

Completing the medals in the men’s event were No.6 seeds Pakistan, who beat No.5 seeds Japan in the quarter-finals but lost out to Republic of Korea in the semis, and No.4 seeds India, who upset hosts Hong Kong, China in the quarter-final before losing out Malaysia in the semis.

Completing the medals in the women’s event were No.3 seeds India and No.5 seeds Singapore, with India finishing second in Pool B after comprehensive wins over China, Macau – China, and Mongolia before losing out to the hosts in the semi-finals, and Singapore coming second in Pool A after wins over No.4 seeds Republic of Korea as well as Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei before eventually exiting to Malaysia in the last four.

Result: South China Group Asian Junior Team Championships Men’s Final
[1] Republic of Korea 2-0 [2] Malaysia
Jooyoung Na bt Harith Danial 3-2: 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 (63m)
Jeonguk Ryu bt Nickhileswar Moganasundharam 3-2: 6-11, 13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 (68m)
Seojin Oh w/d Altamis Sufian

Result: South China Group Asian Junior Team Championships Women’s Final
[1] Hong Kong, China 2-0 [2] Malaysia
Ena Kwong bt Anrie Goh 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (28m)
Tsz Ching Armona Cheung bt Harleein Tan 3-1: 3-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (33m)
Helen Tang w/d Haneesha Veerakumar

About the South China Group Asian Junior Team Championships
The 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships were sole title-sponsored by South China Group, organized by the Squash Association of Hong Kong, China, sanctioned by the Asian Squash Federation, subvented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Arts & Sports Development Fund and fully supported by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Watsons Water.

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