Kuwait International RD1: Double Home Delight On Opening Day

The opening day of the 1st Kuwait International Squash Championship took place in Hawally on Saturday, and there was double delight for the home fans, with both Ammar Altamimi and wildcard Abdullah Almezayen making it through to the last 16.

Almezayen was one of three wildcards for the competition, alongside compatriots Athbi Hamad and Mohammad Almasoud, and he came up against Qatari Abdulrahman Al-Malki in the opening round. He showed his skills throughout the contest, needing just 20 minutes to get the job done, and dropping just ten points in the process.

Kuwaiti No.1 Ammar Altamimi was the other home favourite to get through to the second round in Hawally, after getting the better of compatriot Hamad on the first day. He dropped just 11 points in the all-Kuwaiti contest, winning 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 to set up a meeting with No.4 seed Syed Azlan Amjad in the next round.

Elsewhere, there were surprise wins for World Junior Champion Rowan Damming, England’s Finnlway Withington and Nigerian Adegoke Onaopemipo, with the trio getting the better of their respective opponents, all seeded higher than them in the tournament.

Damming, who defeated Withington in the final in Nancy to claim the WSF World Junior Championship crown earlier this summer, overcame another Englishman, in Perry Malik. He dropped the first game 11-5, but went on to win in four to advance to the second round.

Withington’s first round match in Hawally lasted just 20 minutes, as he overcame the challenge of India’s Sandeep Ramachandran, while Onaopemipo got the better of Iranian No.1 Alireza Shameli in four games to book his place in the last 16.

The second round of the 1st Kuwait International Squash Championship will take place on Sunday, September 25, as the top eight seeds come into the draw for the Challenger 10 level competition.

First Round Results: 1st Kuwait International Squash Championship
Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt Vinicius Leao Rodrigues (BRA) 3-1: 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 (40m)
Abdallah Elmasry (EGY) bt Manu Paquemar (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (40m)
Rowan Damming (NED) bt Perry Malik (ENG) 3-1: 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 (54m)
Ammar Altamimi (KUW) bt [WC] Athbi Hamad (KUW) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (30m)
Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR) bt Alireza Shameli (IRI) 3-1: 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-4 (37m)
Finnlay Withington (ENG) bt Sandeep Ramachandran (IND) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-5 (20m)
[WC] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) bt Abdulrahman Al-Malki (QAT) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 (20m)
Mohamed Nasser (EGY) bt [WC] Mohammad Almasoud (KUW) 3-0: 11-6, 14-12, 11-8 (49m)

Second Round Draw: To Be Played Sunday, September 25
[1] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v Tang Ming Hong (HKG)
Abdallah Elmasry (EGY) v [5] Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY)
[7] Khaled Labib (EGY) v Rowan Damming (NED)
Ammar Altamimi (KUW) v [4] Syed Azlan Amjad (QAT)
[3] Balazs Farkas (HUN) v Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR)
Finnlay Withington (ENG) v [6] Tom Walsh (ENG)
[8] Chi Him Wong (HKG) v [WC] Abdullah Almezayen (KUW)
Mohamed Nasser (EGY) v [2] Mazen Gamal (EGY)