World Junior Championships- Eindhoven, Netherlands – Day 2

    Eindhoven (NLD) – Read up on the Canadian action in Day 2 of the World Junior Championships, written by Team Manager, Janet MacLeod!

    “The schedule for Day 2 gave everyone, including coach and manager, the opportunity to sleep in a bit as the first match of the day wasn’t until noon. Both Tara and Maddie had the day off from matches and were Cheerleaders Extraordinaire for the day!

    Eindhoven (NLD) – Read up on the Canadian action in Day 2 of the World Junior Championships, written by Team Manager, Janet MacLeod!

    “The schedule for Day 2 gave everyone, including coach and manager, the opportunity to sleep in a bit as the first match of the day wasn’t until noon. Both Tara and Maddie had the day off from matches and were Cheerleaders Extraordinaire for the day!

    Sophie was first up against a feisty American, Kayley Leonard. Kayley had, on the previous day, upset the number 5/8 seed Tinne Gilis from the host nation.  Not to be outshone by this, Sophie came out strong in the first game and took advantage of some loose balls and tired legs of her American opponent and won the first game 11-5.  Unfortunately, Kayley found her legs and came back storming in the second and won 11-3. With that momentum shift and although playing very well, Sophie could not quite get it back and lost the next two games, 11-4, 11-7.

    The next match of the day, and only her second of the tournament, was Chloe at 4pm. It was another battle of the border against American Eleonore Evans. Chloe played extremely well; matching everything the American did in the first game and came out on top 12-10.  Chloe’s unforced errors seemed to make the difference in the second game and she lost it 9-11.  However, the country south of our border would be denied a second victory over The True North, Strong and Free this day as Chloe refocused and won the next two games with solid 11-6, 11-6 scores.

    Chloe had another match later in the evening, at 8pm, at the same time that Grace was on court for the first time that day.  Chloe’s opponent was Australian Victoria Leow. Unfortunately for Victoria, Chloe was working hard to practice her dying length as well as good pace and shot variety and successfully won 3-0.  Grace, having spent the day with Mom and Dad and younger brother Luke, was all set to show her family why she is part of this team. She too, did not disappoint and won easily 3-0 over the local junior Fleur Maas.

    Everyone is still smiling although beginning to feel muscles a little more today. Glad for a slightly later start tomorrow (12:40pm), so the Canadian Junior Girls team can enjoy a leisurely breakfast (the buffet is amazing!) before embarking back on the bus to Squash Time for more squash fun!!”

    UPDATE: Early this morning, Maddie O’Connor, Tara Shannon and Chloe Chemtob each played a match.

    Maddie started the day off with a 3-0 (11-6,3-11,11-8,11-7) win over Maria Fernanda Rivera of Mexico. Tara faced off against Nazihah Hanis Abdul of Malaysia and lost 0-3 (9-11,8-11,3-11). Chemtob went up against France’s Sarah Mekhalfi and used only 19 minutes to defeat her opponent 3-0 (11-3,11-3,11-6). With the win, Chloe advances to the Quarterfinal of the Plate and she will go up against the winner of the Céline Walser/Inge Coetzee match. Maddie will play again later today against Lucy Tremel of England for a spot in the Quarterfinals in the Special Plate. The match is at 6:40pm in Eindhoven, or 12:40pm EST.

    Go Canada Go!

    For full event information, visit http://wsfworldjuniors.com/