Sutton Coldfield International: Top Seeds Downed as Semi-Finalists Are Confirmed

Both top seeds were defeated yesterday at the Aston & Fincher Sutton Coldfield International 2023 as Jonah Bryant and Nour Megahead downed the No.1 seeds James Peach and Au Yeong Wai Yhann to gatecrash the semi-finals.

18-year-old Bryant has been tipped for success by many and showed his fine skills against Peach right from the start of play as he played structured, accurate squash to keep Peach behind him and dictate the play. After setting himself up with a. 2-0 lead, Bryant finished with a flourish as he took the third 11-4 to advance to the semis. He’ll now face recent Northern Joe Cup winner Mohamed Zakaria, who had no trouble overcoming Wales’ Rhys Evans in straight games.

The other semi-final will be played between No.4 seed Stuart MacGregor and Joel Arscott. MacGregor needed just 23 minutes to overcome Poland’s Jakub Pytlowany, surrendering just 5 points in the first two games before winning the third 11-7. Arscott was up against World Junior Champion Hamza Khan for a place in the final four and after a tight first game went the way of the New Zealander, Khan was forced to retire at 5-2 in game two, sending Arscott through to his first 5k semi-final since July 2022.

In the women’s event, Egypt’s Nour Megahead was in fine form as she defeated top seed Singaporean Au Yeong Wai Yhann in straight games to reach the semi-finals. The Egyptian needed just 23 minutes to secure the win, winning 11-6, 11-3, 11-7. She has now set up an all-Egyptian semi-final battle as Menna Walid moved past Hana Ismail in four games.

An all-British bottom-half semi-final was guaranteed with all four of the quarter finalists in that half hailing from Britain, but it was the higher seeds who came through. Scotland’s Alison Thomson was first to do so as she overcame Wales’ Lowri Roberts 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 in 32 minutes. Whilst No.2 seed Asia Harris needed just 3 minutes less to defeat Keira Marshall also in straight games.

Results: Men’s Quarter Finals
[5] Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [1] James Peach (ENG)3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (31m)
[3] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY) bt [6] Rhys Evans (WAL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (41m)
[4] Stuart MacGregor (ENG) bt [9/16] Jakub Pytlowany (POL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-7 (23m)
[9/16] Joel Arscott (NZL) bt [9/16] Hamza Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-9, 5-2 ret. (18m)

Results: Women’s Quarter Finals
[9/16] Nour Megahed (EGY) bt [1] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-7 (23m)
[4] Menna Walid (EGY) bt [7] Hana Ismail (EGY) 3-1: 11-2, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9 (33m)
[3] Alison Thomson (SCO) bt [6] Lowri Roberts (WAL) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 (32m)
[2] Asia Harris (ENG) bt [5] Kiera Marshall (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 14-12, 11-4 (29m)

Draw: Semi-Finals
[5] Jonah Bryant (ENG) v [3] Mohamed Zakaria (EGY)
[9/16] Joel Arscott (NZL) v [4] Stuart MacGregor (ENG)

Draw: Women’s Semi-Finals
[9/16] Nour Megahed (EGY) v [4] Menna Walid (EGY)
[2] Asia Harris (ENG) v [3] Alison Thomson (SCO)