Vikram Goyal Open QF: Ali and Fathy Set Up Surprise Semi-Final

Egypt’s Malak Fathy and Haya Ali will meet in Tuesday’s semi-finals at the Vikram Goyal Open, in a surprise last four contest in Delhi.

Ali took on No.2 seed Ching Hei Fung in the quarters of the Challenger 10 level competition on Monday evening. She caused several surprises on route to the final of the Mozart Open in Salzburg last month, and that form continued into this week as well.

The tournament’s No.7 seed won the opening two games comfortably on Monday, before Fung fought back in the third. It went to a tie-break, but the 18-year-old Egyptian was able to come through it 13-11 to secure her semi-final spot.

She will now take on compatriot Malak Fathy, after her fellow Egyptian won a battle between two unseeded players. Both Fathy and Lojayn Gohary had taken surprise wins on day two, and it was Fathy who took the win yesterday. She won in straight games to book her place in the last four in Delhi.

The other semi-final will see top seed Cheng Nga Ching and Malaysia’s Ainaa Amani meet once again. The Hongkonger defeated Egypt’s Nour Ramy in straight games, while Amani downed the last remaining Indian in the competition, in No.5 seed Tanvi Khanna.

Ching and Amani will meet for the second time in three weeks, after the young Malaysian defeated this week’s top seed in the final of the Hong Kong Squash Challenge Cup. Amani claimed her maiden Tour title that day, so she will have good memories of playing the Hongkonger.

The semi-finals of the Vikram Goyal SRFI Open will take place in Delhi on Tuesday, April 4. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. Action from Delhi will be streamed live throughout the week on India Squash YouTube channel.

Quarter Final Results: Vikram Goyal SRFI Open
[1] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) bt [6] Nour Ramy (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (24m)
[3] Ainaa Amani (MAS) bt [5] Tanvi Khanna (IND) 3-1: 12-10, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 (38m)
Malak Fathy (EGY) bt Lojayn Gohary (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-8 (30m)
[7] Haya Ali (EGY) bt [2] Ching Hei Fung (HKG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 13-11 (28m)

Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Tuesday, April 4
[1] Cheng Nga Ching (HKG) v [3] Ainaa Amani (MAS)
Malak Fathy (EGY) v [7] Haya Ali (EGY)