Lagos Squash Classic QF: Malik Brothers Set To Face Off In Semis

England’s Curtis and Perry Malik will face off in the semi-finals of the men’s event at the Lagos State Squash Classic on Friday.

Top seed Curtis came through a tough quarter final contest, as he downed tournament wildcard Adegoke Onaopemipo to make her way into the last eight of the men’s Challenger 10 level competition.

Malik found himself behind after losing the second on a tie-break 16-14, and then the third comfortably. However, the Englishman fought back to win both the fourth and fifth games by 11-7 scorelines to book his place in the semi-finals.

He will now take on younger sibling Perry on Friday evening. The No.4 seed also overcame Nigerian opposition, beating Kehinde Samuel Temitope in a four-game contest, regrouping after losing the third to round out the match in the fourth.

The other men’s semi-final will see Egypt’s Mazen Gamal and the Czech Republic’s Martin Svec do battle. Gamal, the No.2 seed, done Frenchman Laouenan Loaec, while Svec defeated Egypt’s Seif tamer, fighting back from a game down to win in four.

Torrie Malik makes it a hat-trick of siblings through to the semis, as the women’s top seed got the better of Nigeria’s Isaac Blessing in straight games. The Englishwoman dropped just eight points in an 11-1, 11-3, 11-4 rout of the Nigerian, to move through to the semis of the Challenger 5 level women’s competition.

She will now take on Nigerian No.1 Busayo Olatunji for a place in the final. The Nigerian downed Egypt’s Mariam Ashraf, the No.7 seed, coming back from a game down to win in four. France’s Lea Barbeau and Egypt’s Malak Fathy will take each other on in the other women’s semi-final.

The Lagos State Squash Classic continues on Friday, May 12 with the semi-finals. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Men’s Quarter Final Results: Lagos State Squash Classic
[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt [WC] Adegoke Onaopemipo (NGR) 3-2: 11-6, 14-16, 4-11, 11-7, 11-7 (65m)
[4] Perry Malik (ENG) bt Kehinde Samuel Temitope (NGR) 3-1: 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3
[3] Martin Svec (CZE) bt Seif Tamer (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-8 (35m)
[2] Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt [8] Laouenan Loaec (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (34m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, May 12
[1] Curtis Malik (ENG) v [4] Perry Malik (ENG)
[3] Martin Svec (CZE) v [2] Mazen Gamal (EGY)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: Lagos State Squash Classic
[1] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt [6] Isaac Blessing (NGR) 3-0: 11-1, 11-3, 11-4 (15m)
[3] Busayo Olatunji (NGR) bt [7] Mariam Ashraf (EGY) 3-1: 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (40m)
[5] Malak Fathy (EGY) bt [4] Rofiat Abdulazeez (NGR) 3-0: 11-3, 13-11, 11-8 (25m)
[2] Lea Barbeau (FRA) bt [8] Favour Utukpe (NGR) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 (16m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, May 12
[1] Torrie Malik (ENG) v [3] Busayo Olatunji (NGR)
[5] Malak Fathy (EGY) v [2] Lea Barbeau (FRA)