KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia experiencd joy and sorrow at the World Junior Squash Championships in Houston, Texas, yesterday (July 20).
The Malaysian girls' team topped Group C after winning their third consecutive match by defeating Canada 2-1, but the boys' team lost 2-0 to top seeds Egypt in the last 16.
The Malaysian girls, who were silver medallists in Melbourne last year, will face Group D runners-up India in the quarter-finals.
Against Canada, Malaysia's Doyce Lee was edged by Maria Min 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 11-5, 10-12, but U. Thanussa levelled the score by overcoming Ocean Ma 11-3, 11-3, 11-3.
Whitney Isabelle Wilson delivered the winning point for Malaysia by coming back from a set down to beat Spring Ma 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5.
Thaussa said Malaysia have a good chance of beating India to reach the semi-finals.
"India have one good player, Anahat Singh who I have never played before. But I'm showing progress in every match," said Thanussa, who reached the fourth round in the individual event.
In the boys' contest, Malaysia's M. Nickhileswar fell 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 to Egypt's Marwan Abdelsalam, and compatriot Harith Danial Jefri lost 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 to world junior champion Mohamed Zakaria.
With the defeat, the Malaysian boys will play either England or France in the playoff for ninth to 16th place.