England capture Men's World Junior Team title for the first time since 2000

England ended a 22-year-wait for a WSF Men’s World Junior Team Championship title as they downed top seeds and defending champions Egypt 2-1 in an enthralling final in Nancy, France.

Egypt - who have appeared in every final since 2002 - were looking to extend their record tally of six Men's World Junior Team titles as they took on second seeds England in a repeat of the last final, 2018 in Chennai which Egypt won 2-0.

Both teams were in dominant form in the early stages of the event, winning their pools and quarter-finals without dropping a match, but both were tested in their semi-finals with Pakistan and Malaysia both levelling their ties before Egypt and England won the deciding matches.

England rotated their four-man squad in the pool stages, with #4 Franklyn Smith the only one to play all three matches, but the top three of Finnlay Withington, Sam Osborne-Wylde and Jonah Bryant played all three knockout matches.

With a playing order of 1/3/2, the first match of the final was Finnlay Withington against Kareem El Torkey, both seeded 3/4 for the individual event. It was El Torkey, who lost in the individual round of 32, who dominated against individual finalist Withington, taking the first two games 11-8, 11-5.

Withington took a 5-1 lead in the third but El Torkey fought back to level at six-all, and the pair traded points as El Torkey had match balls at 10-9 and 11-10 before errors from the Egyptian racket saw Withington take the game 14-12.

Withington was in control for the remainder of the match as he completed the comeback 11-3, 11-6 to put England ahead.

Withington said:“ I just thought to keep fighting and pushing. I knew that in his head he thought he’d won the match but thankfully I could put him down in five.”

Next up was Jonah Bryant against Salman Khalil, who had both reached the fourth round of the individuals, with England needing one more win to take the title.

The first two games were shared, but it was the Egyptian who held his nerve to take the third in extra points before streaking to a 10-2 lead in the fourth. Bryant saved four match balls - including a monster two and a half minute rally - but couldn't continue the run as Khalil won 11-3, 5-11, 14-12, 11-6 to level the match.

The decider pitched Sam Osborne-Wylde - who had lost out to Withington in the individual quarters - against individual semi-finalist Mohamed Zakariah.

Osborne-Wylde took the first two games 11-3, 11-6 to put England one game away from the title. Zakaria increased the tension as he pulled a game back 11-4, but there was not to be a second miracle comeback as Osborne-Wylde pulled clear from five-all in the fourth, taking the match 11-8 on his second match ball to give England the title for the first time since 2000.

Commenting afterwards, Osbourne-Wylde said:

“I literally can’t put it into words what it means to win and the way it went down. Finn saving those match balls, Jonah fighting for everything, and the way it ended. You couldn’t ask for anything better! Just looking at the names on the trophy, and we’re going to have our names on it. I can’t believe it.

“We’re all such good mates, I couldn’t ask for better people to win it with.

“Big shout out to England coaches Josh Taylor and Adam Fuller, they’ve been huge this week. I couldn’t ask for better coaches.

“Josh just told me to enjoy it and just to enjoy the moment, to take the pressure off yourself and it really worked in the first two games. I absolutely bottled the third but then came out in the fourth and managed to pull it back. I’ve never felt like that in my life!”

Bryant added:

“We’ve known each other for the best part of eight years. We’re all best mates and it’s special to do it together.”

England coach Josh Taylor said:

"I'm so proud of these boys. I knew they could do it, it’s been a rollercoaster to get to this moment. From the first squad with some of these players 10 years ago to world champions… incredible! The first England team in 22 years, they have made history!”

Result: WSF Men’s World Junior Team Championships 2022 Final

[1] EGYPT 1-2 [2] ENGLAND
Kareem El Torkey lost to Finnlay Withington 2-3: 11-8, 11-5, 12-14, 3-11, 6-11 (54 min)
Salman Khalil bt Jonah Bryant 3-1: 11-3, 5-11, 14-12, 11-6 (60 min)
Mohamed Zakaria lost to Sam Osborne-Wylde 1-3: 3-11, 6-11, 11-4, 8-11 (60m)