India edge out Canada to enter semifinals

 
The tie, hanging fire after the teams split the opening two singles, saw Surbhi Mishra winning the deciding third singles in four games against Jennifer Pelletier to set up a clash with Hong Kong, which overcame New Zealand 3-0.

The other semifinal will be between defending champions and top seeds Egypt and fifth seeded USA, both winning their quarterfinals against Malaysia and England, respectively.

The Indians were off to a poor start when Anwesha Reddy went down to Kemberley Hay in three games. Anwesha appeared rather rusty and tentative while Hay gained in confidence as the match progressed. India, however, bounced back when their No 1 player, Dipika Pallikal defeated Laura Gemmel in straight games to set the match on fire.
The Canadian hopes of snatching an upset win were dashed in the third singles with Surbhi holding firm against Pelletier’s belated fightback to put India in the semifinals.

Results (quarterfinals): 5-USA bt 7-England 3-0 (Amanda Sobhy lt to Kimberley Hay 8-11, 10-12, 9-11; Oliva Blatchford bt Millie Tomlinson 11-4, 11-9, 11-5; Julie Cerullo bt Rachael Chadwick 11-6, 11-8, 11-3).

6-Hong Kong China bt 8-New Zealand 3-0 (Tsz Wing Tong bt Amanda Landers Murphy 7-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7; Tsz Ling Liu bt Lana Harrison 12-10, 11-9, 12-10; Ka Man Lee bt Emma Millar 11-7, 11-9).

1- Egypt bt 3-Malaysia 3-0 (Nour El Sherbini bt Tan Yan Xin 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-1; Heba El Torky bt Low Wee Nee 11-5, 11-3, 11-5; Nour El Tayeb bt Nessrine Ariffin 11-1, 11-9).

2-India bt 4-Canada 2-1 (Anwesha Reddy lt to Samantha Cornett 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 2-11; Dipika Pallikal bt Laura Gemmel 11-8, 11-3, 11-9; Surbhi Misra bt Jennifer Pelletier 13-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6).

Playoffs for 9-16 positions: Australia beat Spain 3-0; France bt The Netherlands 3-0; South Africa bt Sweden 3-0; Germany bt Denmark 3-0.