RESULTS: World University Championship, Melbourne, Australia


Men's final:
[1] Joel Hinds (GBR) bt [2] Jens Schoor (GER) 11-6, 11-7, 11-2

Third place play-off:
[5/8] Todd Harrity (USA) bt [5/8] Leo Au (HKG) 11-7, 11-5, 11-3

Women's final:
[1] Annie Au (HKG) bt [3/4] Emma Chorley (GBR) 11-8, 11-5, 11-4

Third place play-off:
[5/8] Kirsty McPhee (GBR) bt [2] Melody Francis (AUS) 11-7, 12-14, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8


Britain's Joel Hinds and Hong Kong's Annie Au shared gold in the World University Squash Championships after straight games victories in today's (Wednesday) individual finals of the 7th staging of the event at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

The British camp occupied three of the six podium spots on offer - with top seed Hinds, a student at Birmingham University in England making his third appearance in the biennial event, the team's star after his 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 triumph after a fiery yet dominant performance over Germany's second seed Jens Schoor.

"It was great - it's my third time so it's great to finally get that first place," said the visibly exhausted but relieved and ecstatic 23-year-old from Derbyshire after his win.

Hinds become the second British winner of the men's title, following success by Chris Ryder, now ranked 38 in the world, in 2006.

Annie Au, a student at Hong Kong Polytechnic University who is ranked 16 in the professional WISPA world rankings, put paid to a British double at Monash after beating Emma Chorley 11-8, 11-5, 11-4.

It was a brave performance by Chorley, a 3/4 seed from Bridgwater College in Somerset who secured a surprise place in the final after downing Australia's brightest hope Melody Francis, the No2 seed, in the previous round.

The final concluded an impressive tournament run by the highly-rated Au who became the first World University champion from Hong Kong - making up for the disappointment of fellow countrywoman Rebecca Chiu's runners-up finish ten years ago.

Briton Kirsty McPhee took third place in the women's event after beating Melody Francis in the bronze medal match.

McPhee and Chorley's attention will now turn to the team competition where the Britons will try to continue their run of hot form in the face of some fierce opposition from all across the globe.