Irish Open QF: Abouelghar and Azman Into Semis

Egypt’s Mohamed Abouelghar and Malaysia’s Aira Azman have gatecrashed the semi-finals at the Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open.

The pair were both part of the twelve winners at the PSA World Championships Qualifying Event in Birmingham last week, and their good form has continued into the Challenger 20 level Irish Open in Dublin.

Abouelghar, the former World No.7, is battling back after an extended period away from he Tour with injury. He is currently just outside the world’s top 50, but playing at a much higher level, as his straight games victory on Thursday shows.

The Egyptian took on No.2 seed Leonel Cardenas, and defeated the Mexican No.1 quite comfortably. He won the opening game 11-8, before then taking the next to to the loss of just four and six points, respectively. Abouelghar will now face compatriot Aly Abou Eleinen in the last four after his fellow Egyptian defeated England’s Adrian Waller in straight games, with the first being won deep into a tie-break, 17-15.

The other semi-final will see Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng, the top seed, take on US No.1 Shahjahan Khan. The American fought from a game down to defeat Frenchman Lucas Serme in four, while Ng got the better of England’s Curtis Malik in straight games, winning all three by an 11-5 scoreline.

In the women’s event in Dublin, Malaysia’s Aira Azman is the only unseeded player into the last four. She took on Zeina Zein in the quarter finals, and got revenge for her sister’s loss to the Egyptian in the previous round. Zein had beaten older sister Aifa in a five-game battle on Wednesday, one of the big upsets of the day.

The quarter final between the unseeded pair went the distance as well, with the younger Azman sister coming from two games down. She lost the opener on a tie-break before then going two down, but she fought back brilliantly. The Malaysian went on to win the last three games of their contest to take the victory, and to move through to the last four in Dublin.

She will now take on the adopted home favourite, South Africa’s Alexandra Fuller. The tournament’s No.3 seed downed Alicia Mead in straight games to make the semis. The other match on Friday evening will see England’s Jasmine Hutton and Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir go head-to-head for a place in the final after they both won their respective last eight matches in straight games.

The semi-finals of the Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open will take place on Friday, April 21. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Action from Dublin is being streamed throughout the week on the Irish Squash TV channel, and you can also keep up to date with live scores which are available on the PSA World Tour website here.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open
[1] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (33m)
[3] Shahjahan Khan (USA) bt [7] Lucas Serme (FRA) 3-1: 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5 (60m)
[4] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [5] Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-0: 17-15, 11-9, 11-5 (42m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (32m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 21
[1] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [3] Shahjahan Khan (USA)
[4] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) v Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open
[1] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt Grace Gear (ENG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)
[4] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt [5] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-3, 11-6 (26m)
[3] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt Alicia Mead (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-2 (23m)
Aira Azman (MAS) bt Zeina Zein (EGY) 3-2: 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-9 (45m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, April 21
[1] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) v [4] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY)
[3] Alexandra Fuller (RSA) v Aira Azman (MAS)