INJURY has forced Jags Sehmbi to pull out of the Tecnifibre British Junior Championships which start in Manchester today. The Redbridge-based county player had been scheduled to open his U-19’s campaign with a first-round match against Emyr Evans of Wales but a thigh injury which has plagued him for the past month has forced his withdrawal.
“I’m hugely disappointed not to be playing,” said Jags on Wednesday evening. “I have targeted the British Championships all year but this injury has come at the worst possible time. I’ll now have to focus on the British Open in January. I have been training hard and playing well over recent months. This is a real blow.”
Essex have 11 other players entered into the tournament, which starts with qualifying rounds today (Thursday) and swings into full action over the following three days.
Elise Lazarus is seeded one in the girls’ Under-15’s while Alice Green is ranked 9/16 and faces Amberley McKenzie from Norfolk in round one. Amy Aspinall goes through qualies. Colchester’s Ellie Hewes is a 5/8 seed in the U-13’s and opens her account against a qualifier. Joel Braddock faces 9/16 seed Daniel Haggerty from Warwickshire in his first round U-13 match and Essex’s Ollie Green(9/16) takes on Lewis Harding from Merseyside.
Tom Bird, Harry Kitchens and Hayden Smith go through qualifying in the U-15 boys as do Aaron Allpress in the U-17’s and Guy Tallentire in the U-19s.
Click below for full draw.