Vai breaks into junior squash top ranks

PAPUA New Guinea top-seed Lynette Vai, pictured, survived a tough draw to finish in the top 42 in a field of established professional players in the Squash World Junior championships in Poland recently.
The championships were held from Aug 12-17 in Beilsko-Biata.
The five-day event saw more than 150 teenagers from 30 countries compete in this year’s tournament.
The 18-year-old Pacific Games gold medallist won her opening round, beating Ambre Allinckxo of Switzerland 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 12-10).
She lost to Japan’s Satomi Watanbe of the Penang Squash Academy, 6-11, 3-11 and 11-6.
The loss knocked Vai out of the finals and she finished with a placing match.
She bounced back from the loss, beating Czech Verisova Nikola 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-5).
Despite a late fightback against Great Britain’s Jasmine Hutton, Vai lost 11-3, 11-6, 12-10 in her next fixture.
She won the two last matches against Koreans Song Chae Won and German Beinhard Saskia — both of whom were the top seeds from their respective country.
These two wins enabled Vai to finish in the world’s top 42.