Hong Kong fail in world title bid

Defending champions Hong Kong were beaten by arch-rivals Egypt in the semi-finals of the world junior team championships yesterday. The SAR team, who overcame the Egyptians 2-1 in the final two years ago, were no match for them this time at the Boundary Street Sports Centre, losing all three matches. Raneem El Weleily, the reigning world junior champion, beat Hong Kong's top player, Annie Au Wing-chi, 10-9, 9-1, 9-5, while Nour Bahgat cruised to a 9-2, 9-4, 9-0 victory over Tong Tsz-wing. Leung Shin-nga retired when trailing Heba El Torky 2-0.