Grainger and Sobhy were unseeded in the women’s event – but wasted little time securing their place in the women’s final after beating Brazilians Tatiana Damasio Borges & Giovanna Veiga and second-seeded Colombians Catalina Pelaez& Laura Tovar.
“It’s not often you finish a match you’ve lost and feel awesome,” said Canadian No.1 Samantha Cornett after she and partner Nikki Todd took the US pair the full distance before going down 11-9, 9-11, 11-6.
“Fans came to the women’s doubles for excitement – and found it,” said World Squash Federation Vice President Linda MacPhail (action from the final pictured above). “The match was frantic and once the players took a break after the second game, it became a turning point.”
“GOLD MEDAL for Team USA in the Doubles tonight!” Sobhy told her Twitters followers later. “So stoked to secure my 2nd PanAm gold medal tonight”
RESULTS: Pan American Games Squash Championships, Toronto, Canada
Women’s Doubles quarter-finals:
[1] Samantha Teran & Karla Urrutia (MEX) bt Giselle Delgado & Anita Pinto (CHI) 11-9, 8-11, 11-7
[3/4] Samantha Cornett & Nikki Todd (CAN) bt Pamela Anckermann & Winifer Bonilla (GUA) 11-7, 11-5
Natalie Grainger & Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [3/4] Tatiana Damasio Borges & Giovanna Veiga (BRA) 11-3, 11-10
[2] Catalina Pelaez & Laura Tovar (COL) bt Maria Antonella Falcione & Fernanda Rocha (ARG) 11-2, 11-6Semi-finals:
[3/4] Samantha Cornett & Nikki Todd (CAN) bt [1] Samantha Teran & Karla Urrutia (MEX) 11-2, 11-7 (30m)
Natalie Grainger & Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [2] Catalina Pelaez & Laura Tovar (COL) 11-6, 11-6 (18m)Final:
Natalie Grainger & Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [3/4] Samantha Cornett & Nikki Todd (CAN) 11-9, 9-11, 11-6 (32m)
PanAm images courtesy of Paige Stewart
