Egyptians dominated the opening day of qualifying in the Qatar Classic, the sixth PSA World Series event of the year at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in the Qatar capital Doha.
Teenagers Marwan El Shorbagy and Mohamed Abouelghar both overcame higher-ranked opponents to secure places in the qualifying finals of the popular event in its 11th year. El Shorbagy, the 18-year-old world junior champion from Alexandria, ranked 62 in the world, stemmed a fightback by Ryan Cuskelly, ranked 21 places higher, to beat the experienced Australian 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9 in 88 minutes.
“I just didn’t want to lose today,” El Shorbagy (pictured) told www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards.
Abouelghar, also 18, but from Cairo, reached 69 places above his world No109 ranking to topple compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9.
Cairo-based Mazen Gamal denied local hope Abdul Rahman Al-Malki a place in the qualifying finals, beating the 23-year-old Qatar number one 13-11, 11-4, 11-4.
In an earlier match between two players separated by just three world ranking positions, Egyptian Omar Abdel Aziz upset Malaysia’s world No39 Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9 to set up a meeting with Jaymie Haycocks, one of four successful Englishmen.
The Leeds-based 27-year-old despatched Qatar’s 19-year-old Ahmed Mohammed Al Tamimi 11-0, 11-1, 11-6 in just 18 minutes.
Haycocks will be joined by compatriots Chris Ryder, Joey Barrington and Robbie Temple in the play-offs for places in the main draw.
Experienced Mohammed Abbas became the fifth Egyptian to make the qualifying finals when he beat India’s Harinder Pal Sandhu 12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 in the final match of the day.
1st qualifying round:
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bye
Siddharth Suchde (IND) bt Leo Au (HKG) 11-7, 11-13, 11-4, 11-4 (62m)
Kamran Khan (MAS) bt Omar Abdullah Al Emadi (QAT) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 (20m)
Joey Barrington (ENG) bt Bradley Hindle (MLT) 11-5, 11-6, 2-11, 5-11, 11-7 (74m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 (58m)
Yann Perrin (FRA) bt Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-3, 6-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6 (103m)
Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Wael Farag (EGY) 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 1-11, 11-4 (60m)
Chris Ryder (ENG) bt Ivan Yuen (MAS) 11-6, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6 (63m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9 (53m)
Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) bt Ahmed Mohammed Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-0, 11-1, 11-6 (18m)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 (61m)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 6-3 ret.
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9 (88m)
Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt Abdul Rahman Al-Malki (QAT) 13-11, 11-4, 11-4 (30m)
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Elvinn Keo (MAS) 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 (26m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) 12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 (54m)
Qualifying finals line-up:
Matthew Karwalski (AUS) v Siddharth Suchde (IND)
Kamran Khan (MAS) v Joey Barrington (ENG)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v Yann Perrin (FRA)
Chris Ryder (ENG) v Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) v Jaymie Haycocks (ENG)
Robbie Temple (ENG) v Henrik Mustonen (FIN)
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) v Mazen Gamal (EGY)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) v Farhan Mehboob (PAK)
