PSNS President’s Trophy QF: Seeds Fall In Shocking Quarter Finals

Incredibly, none of the top four seeds in either the men’s or women’s draw will participate in the semi-finals of the PSNS President’s Trophy.

The quarter finals threw up surprises galore at the Royal Seri Menanti Golf and Country Club in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, on Friday.

Egypt’s Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek and Nour Megahed both caused major upsets, as they knocked out top seeds Khaled Labib and Menna Hamed, respectively.

Abdelkhalek fell behind in his quarter final, losing the opening game to Labib 11-6. However, he fought back to win the second by the same scoreline, before then going on to win the third in a tie-break. Abdelkhalek went on to win in four games, as he took the fourth 11-8 to secure the surprise upset.

In the women’s draw, Megahed, who has been selected for the World Junior Teams, defeated Menna Hamed. Like Abdelkhalek, she won in four games, regrouping after losing the third to win the fourth 11-9 and to cause the upset.

Compatriot Habiba Hani made it two Egyptians in the women’s semis. The unseeded Egyptian downed No.7 seed Heng Wai Wong in a five-game contest, fighting back from 2-1 down to win the last two games, advancing to the last four.

She will take on the only Malaysian left in the women’s draw on home soil, in No.6 seed Sehveetrraa Kumar. The Malaysian downed Egypt’s Nour Ramy, the No.3 seed, to advance. India’s Rathika Suthanthira Seelna will be the other member of the semi-finals, after beating wildcard Yu Jie in a deciding game tie-break.

In the men’s event, Abdelkhalek is joined by three Malaysians on home soil. Ameeshenraj Chandaran downed No.2 seed Mohamed Nasser in straight games, while Ong Sai Hung and Hafiz Zhafri both defeated compatriots, winning against Wee Ming Hock and Darren Rahul Pragasam.

The semis of the PSNS President’s Trophy will take place on Saturday, June 10. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. Action from Negeri Sembilan is being streamed throughout the week on the PSNS Squash YouTube channel.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: PSNS President’s Trophy
[8] Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek (EGY) bt [1] Khaled Labib (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8 (61m)
[6] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS) bt [3] Darren Rahul Pragasam (MAS) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (42m)
[5] Ong Sai Hung (MAS) bt [4] Wee Ming Hock (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 (26m)
Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS) bt [2] Mohamed Nasser (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (44m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, June 10
[8] Abdelrahman Abdelkhalek (EGY) v [6] Hafiz Zhafri (MAS)
[5] Ong Sai Hung (MAS) v Ameeshenraj Chandaran (MAS)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: PSNS President’s Trophy
Nour Megahed (EGY) bt [1] Menna Hamed (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9 (49m)
Rathika Suthanthira Seelan (IND) bt [WC] Yu Jie (MAS) 3-2: 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 12-10, 15-13 (39m)
[6] Sehveetrraa Kumar (MAS) bt [3] Nour Ramy (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 13-11 (35m)
Habiba Hani (EGY) bt [7] Heng Wai Wong (MAS) 3-2: 6-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 11-4 (38m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, June 10
Nour Megahed (EGY) v Rathika Suthanthira Seelan (IND)
[6] Sehveetrraa Kumar (MAS) v Habiba Hani (EGY)