Challenger Tour Round-Up: Heikal and El Torkey Claim Titles in Edmonton and Hinckley

The Bee-Clean Edmonton Squash Club Women’s Open 2024 

Nour Heikal claimed the biggest title of her career so far, beating fellow Egyptian Menna Walid 3-2 in The Bee-Clean Edmonton Squash Club Women’s Open final. 

The Alexandrian pair were the top two seeds in the event, with Walid at No.1 and Heikal at No.2, but it was Heikal who came out on top after five games and 48 minutes. 

Twice she took a one-game lead, winning games one and three, but twice Walid pegged her back to level the score. 

Crucially, though, Heikal took control of game five, winning the first five points in less than four minutes, and didn’t look back from there. 

She closed out the game 11-5 to get her hands on a second Challenger Tour trophy, and first since 2021. 

The success continues an impressive year so far for the 20-year-old, who has reached at least the semi-finals in four of her five events and is up inside the world’s top 70. 

Walid, meanwhile, will also take heart from reaching another final – her fifth of the season – particularly after being troubled by injury. 

Result: 
[2] Nour Heikal (EGY) bt [1] Menna Walid (EGY) 3-2: 11-3, 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5 (48m) 

The Aldi Hinckley Challenger 2024

Unseeded Omar El Torkey capped a remarkable week at The Aldi Hinckley Challenger, easing past England’s Jared Carter 3-0 in the final to claim glory. 

The 23-year-old Egyptian is currently studying at Nottingham University and had only played one Challenger Tour event so far this season. 

He’d also endured a five-game epic to beat Rhys Evans in the semi-finals, winning the decider 11-9, but found life far more straightforward on finals day. 

The Cairo-born player needed only 37 minutes sink the No.5 seed 11-6, 11-4, 11-6, securing his second Challenger Tour title. 

Despite his lack of action on the Challenger Tour, El Torkey has enjoyed a spectacular year so far on court, winning four Satellite events before this 3K victory. 

Defeat for Carter represents more heartbreak at the final hurdle, with the 22-year-old having now lost the final in four of his last five tournaments. 

Result: 
Omar El Torkey (EGY) bt [5] Jared Carter (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-6 (37m)