In a thrilling final at the All Africa U19 Mixed Team Championships held today in Thies, Senegal, Mauritius emerged victorious against Egypt, securing a 3-1 win to claim the coveted title. The star performers of the day were undoubtedly the How Hong sisters, Chiara and Elsa, who delivered a sensational performance in the decisive match, bringing home the gold for their nation.
The final kicked off with an intense Men’s Singles match, where Lucas Douce set the tone for Mauritius with a hard-fought victory over Egypt’s Seif Omar, winning 21-15, 22-20. This early lead was a crucial confidence boost for the Mauritian team as they managed to obtained the precious first point of the tie.
Next up was the Women’s Singles, where Tiya Bhurtun displayed outstanding serenity to defeat Egypt’s Reem Hussein 21-15, 21-14, extending Mauritius’s lead to 2-0 and putting them within reach of the championship.
However, the Egyptians fought back in the Men’s Doubles, where Ziad Hesham and Seif Omar proved to be a solid pair for the Mauritian duo of Agnivesh Ragoonundun and Aiden Yu Kiat Siow Yin Young, winning 21-18, 21-12. This win kept Egypt’s hopes alive and added pressure to the final match.
The culmination of the final came in the Women’s Doubles, where Chiara and Elsa How Hong took to the court against Egypt’s Elgendy Hadia and Reem Hussien. In a nail-biting three-set match, the How Hong sisters exhibited an amazing strategy to overcome their opponents, winning 18-21, 21-13, 21-18. Their victory not only sealed the tie for Mauritius but also marked a historic moment for them as it was the first time ever that they got into this situation where they are offering the win for Mauritius.
After the match, the jubilant sisters shared their emotions with BCA TV:
“We are on cloud nine right now as this is the first time ever that we are in this situation and offering such a victory to Mauritius,” said Elsa How Hong. “This is a proud moment for us, and we are happy that we have managed to secure the gold medal. We have trained hard for this, and today we are savoring the fruits of our hard work. I really hope that we can keep the same momentum for the individuals, and now we need to rest well and eat well before our next match.” said Chiara How Hong.
With this sensational victory, Mauritius has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting individual competition. The focus now shifts to the individual events, where players will compete in all five categories. Follow us on our YouTube Channel, WhatsApp Channel, and Facebook page for live updates and to support the athletes as they continue their quest for glory.
