England capture bronze at 2022 WSF Women's World Team Championships

England claimed bronze at the WSF Women's World Team Championships today following a semi-final defeat to No.2 seeds USA at the Madinaty Sporting Club in Cairo, Egypt.

No.3 seeds England, who lost No.2 Gina Kennedy ahead of the championship, were missing England No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry for today's tie after the World No.8 was unable to shake off a knock.

Up first for the seven-time champions was World No.49 Julianne Courtice, who was drafted in for Kennedy. The 31-year-old put in a spirited performance against the USA's World No.15 Sabrina Sobhy but was unable to deal with the lightning pace of the American, with Sobhy winning 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 to give USA the advantage.

23-year-old Jasmine Hutton went up against World No.5 Amanda Sobhy carrying England's hopes once again.

In yesterday's quarter-final, World No.22 Hutton put in what England National Coach David Campion called a "career-best performance" as she, alongside Lucy Turmel, rescued England against France, with Hutton downing former World No.2 Camille Serme in the decider.

Hutton threatened to build on that brilliant performance, with the Englishwoman hitting her targets well at the front as she took the opening game 12-10.

Sobhy responded in the second and opened up a 10-7 lead, only to face a determined rearguard from Hutton, who pulled level to 10-10.

Hutton, however, was unable break the deadlock and Sobhy eventually drew level with a 13-11 win.

Sobhy took the third game 11-7 and then coasted home with an 11-2 win in the fourth to send USA into the final for the first time.

Afterwards, Campion reflected positively on the result and performances throughout the tournament:

"With Sarah-Jane carrying a couple of issues at the moment and managing that, we felt it was the best thing for the team, and to give the team the experience.

"I think particularly Jazz, with the way she played last night, it was important for her to come in second. She gave a great account of herself."

"It was always going to be a tall order for Julianne at the start against Sabrina who's playing very well. We felt that with the way Jazz is playing, and the way she played last night, then there was no reason why she couldn't produce that again on there tonight and I think for two-and-a-half games she did. She put herself in a position where she had a a chance to close out.

"But Amanda's a quality operator and it was all about who could get in first, they're both great squash players. I'm pleased for Jazz to have produced that level at this stage.

"We've got some great younger players now, Georgina Kennedy, Lucy Turmel, Jazz and there's Katie Malliff at home and loads of juniors behind that and other players pushing into the top 50.

"The future's bright for sure. We're going to have a good young team over the next few years."

Result: WSF Women's World Team Championship Semi-Final

[2] USA 2-0 [3] ENGLAND
Sabrina Sobhy 3-0 Julianne Courtice: 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (25m)
Amanda Sobhy 3-1 Jasmine Hutton: 10-12, 13-11, 11-7, 11-2 (39m)
Olivia Fiechter v Lucy Turmel (w/d)