Hany Stuns World No.4 Gilis to Reach El Gouna International Quarter-Final

Unseeded Egyptian Salma Hany shocked Belgian World No.4 Nele Gilis as the World No.11 reached the quarter-finals of the El Gouna International Squash Open.

Hany went into today’s match at the El Gouna Conference and Culture Center with revenge on the mind, having lost out to Gilis two weeks ago in the German Open and in the quarter-finals of this event last year.

After an even opening, the Egyptian pulled away, working Gilis all over the court with perfectly controlled attacking play to take a 2-0 lead.

The No.3 seed improved significantly in game three, finding the previously missing spark as she earned an 11-5 win to gain a foothold in the match.

To the delight of the crowd, Hany came storming out in game four, taking the first nine points as she wrapped up the win with a brutal 11-1 victory.

Hany will face Nele Gilis’ sister, Tinne Gilis in the quarter-final after the No.7 seed overcame Japan’s Satomi Watanabe in five games.

Afterwards, Hany said: “I had a really good, solid gameplan today. Obviously we played just ten days ago in Germany and that match was pretty fresh.”

Also through to the quarter-final is women’s World No.1 and Nour El Sherbini, with the Egyptian top seed coming back from a game down to beat compatriot Nada Abbas.

El Sherbini will face Rowan Elaraby in the next round after the No.8 seed came through an entertaining all-Egyptian clash against Zeina Mickawy 3-2.

In the men’s event, World No.1 Farag also came through a testing encounter, with the reigning World Champion going a game down to Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller, before eventually putting the World No.23 to the sword 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 .

Farag will face old rival and former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy in the last eight after the English No.6 seed took down Egypt’s Youssef Soliman in a fiery encounter.

“I’m feeling very fired up. A loss [in the Black Ball Open final] takes a dent out of your confidence but also fires you up, it depends on how you want to use it. Mohamed, we love how fiery he is and his hunger has never faded away since he was five years old but today he was a little extra fiery,” Farag said.

Also through to the next round are Peruvian No.3 seed Diego Elias and Egyptian No.8 seed Tarek Momen, after Elias beat India’s Ramit Tandon 3-0 and Momen came back from a game down to defeat Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas 3-1.

Round three concludes tomorrow (22 April), with the action beginning at 12:30 (GMT+2) at the El Gouna Squash Complex before moving to the El Gouna Conference and Culture Center at 18:30. Watch every moment live on SQUASHTV.

For updates on the El Gouna International Squash Open 2024, visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Results – Women’s RD3 (Top Half): El Gouna International Squash Open 2024 

[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Nada Abbas (EGY) 3-1: 4-11, 11-4, 13-11, 11-6 (46m)

[8] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-2: 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (50m)

[7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 3-2: 11-4, 4-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 (53m)

Salma Hany (EGY) bt [3] Nele Gilis (BEL) 3-1: 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 11-1 (56m)

Results – Men’s RD3 (Top Half): El Gouna International Squash Open 2024 

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-1: 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (41m)

[6] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (46m)

[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Leonel Cardenas (MEX) 3-1: 7-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6 (48m)

[3] Diego Elias (PER) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-0: 11-2, 11-4, 11-2 (35m)

Draw – Women’s RD3 (Bottom Half): El Gouna International Squash Open 2024 – to be played 22 April

[4] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) v Aira Azman (MAS)

Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [6] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)

[5] Olivia Weaver (USA) v Malak Khafagy (EGY)

Amina Orfi (EGY) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)

Draw – Men’s RD3 (Bottom Half): El Gouna International Squash Open 2024 – to be played 22 April

[4] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v Dimitri Steinmann (SUI)

Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) v Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)

[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Greg Lobban (SCO)

Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [2] Paul Coll (NZL)