Australia’s trio on track at the World Cup
After five days of play at Warilla, Australia’s three competitors are on the cusp of progressing to the post-sectional rounds of the World Cup.
Former English international David Holt is in the box seat to advance directly to the semi-finals, leading section 2 with seven wins and one loss.
The reigning Australian Indoor Champion suffered his only blemish in his seventh round encounter to New Zealand Blackjack Ali Forsyth, 7-7, 7-10, but bounced back to defeat Macao’s Su Hong Lam 13-3, 15-4 in his last encounter yesterday afternoon.
Holt faces second-placed Ian McClure from Ireland in his round nine match this morning, and then earns a double reprieve with back-to-back byes to end his sectional campaign.
Australia’s three-time defending champion, Jeremy Henry is looming large in section 1 of the draw, but needs to retain his current standing with two rounds remaining to claim a top-three play-off spot.
Henry encounters second positioned Todd Priaulx from Guernsey in the penultimate round eight at 12.30pm this afternoon, and then Fiji’s Abdul Kalim in the final match tomorrow morning.
Jamie-Lee Worsnop, who secured her spot in the international field as the youngest ever winner of the Australian Indoor Championships, also remains in the hunt in section 2 of the women’s singles.
With four wins and two losses to her name so far during the tournament, a final round win against Fiji’s Radhika Prasad Worsnop at 4.30pm tomorrow afternoon will book her a spot in the post-sectional knock-out rounds.
A loss wouldn’t necessarily bundle the St Johns Park ace out of the competition however, with fourth-placed Ireland requiring a victory against top of the table Malaysia to leap-frog her way into the play-offs.
Click here to follow Holt’s, Henry’s and Worsnop’s progress at the pointy end of the coveted World Cup event.
Caption: Australia’s three-time defending World Cup champion Jeremy Henry is on track to advance to the post-sectional rounds at his home club.