Karim El Hammamy Homes in on Colombian Open Main Draw

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World No.128 Karim El Hammamy produced another upset in the final qualifying round of the Abierto Colombiano de Squash el Nogal, PSA M50 event with a hard-fought victory over Jamaica’s Christopher Binnie.

The 2013 World Junior Champion, who also stunned Christopher Gordon in the previous round, took the first game before a tenacious performance from Binnie levelled the playing field at one game apiece.

El Hammamy though raised his efforts to another level in the final two games to secure a 12-10, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8 triumph and progress through to the main draw.

The 19-year-old has the distinction of facing Spanish No.1 Borja Golan in the opening round of the main draw in what will be a difficult test for the Egyptian.

The number one qualifying seed Alfredo Avila is also through after a commanding performance against Joe Chapman. The Mexican No.2 stormed to a 3-0 victory in just 17 minutes to set up a tantalising main draw clash with PSA Men’s Young Player of the Year Fares Dessouki.

Elsewhere, Tsz Fung Yip and Todd Harrity will also take part in the main draw after respective four game victories over Arturo Salazar and Chris Hanson.

Hong Kong’s Fung Yip goes on to face English No.2 Peter Barker while Harrity will try his luck against Zahed Mohamed when the main draw gets underway.

Results – Final Qualifying Round: Abierto Colombiano de Squash el Nogal 2015
[1] Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [7] Joe Chapman (IVB) 3-0: 11-2, 11-2, 11-5 (17 mins)
[3] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (43 mins)
[4] Todd Harrity (USA) bt [6] Chris Hanson (USA) 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-2 (36 mins)
Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt [8] Christopher Binnie (JAM) 3-1: 12-10, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8 (60 mins)

Main Draw – First Round
[1] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Shaun Le Roux (RSA)
[Q] Todd Harrity (USA) v [8] Zahed Mohamed (EGY)
[6] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [WC] Sebastian Laguna (COL)
Diego Elias (PER) v [4] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) v [Q] Karim El Hammamy (EGY)
[Q] Alfredo Avila (MEX) v [5] Fares Dessouki (EGY)
[7] Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Lucas Serme (FRA)
[Q] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v [2] Peter Barker (ENG)