Ng Eain Yow ends Abdulla Al Tamimi’s run in Qatar
By ALEX WAN – Squash Mad Asian Bureau Editor
Malaysian number two Ng Eain Yow claimed his first win in a PSA Platinum event this evening after breaking local hearts and stunning Qatar’s number one Abdulla Al Tamimi. The former world junior champion, ranked 18 places below Tamimi at 42, capitalised on his tensed opponent who played an error strewn match to win in four games.
It was nowhere near a good match as both players had a pretty high error count, particularly from the racket of Tamimi. In the first game, it was obvious Tamimi was not feeling comfortable in the court, losing out in just seven minutes after many tins from 3-2 down.
A turnaround happened in the next game, with Tamimi breaking away from 3-3 to 7-3. The Qatari played it smart by bringing the ball to the front court more often, an area he’s comfortable playing. He wins 11-8 to draw level.
Tamimi came out firing in the third, continuing his good run and raced to 6-1. But from thereon, he was tinning shot after shot again, allowing his younger opponent to come back take it 11-9. It was a similar case in the fourth, Tamimi going ahead 4-1 before sending shots either into the tin or out of court. It was a painful scene for the local crowd as their hero would only win one point from the next 11 and crash out of his home tournament.
“(Winning today) means a lot to me. I always fell short of making the main draw from last year a few other Platinum events. But with the new format, it gives me more chance to push further,” said a very satisfied Eain Yow in his post-match interview with Andy Taylor.
There was no double joy for the Malaysian camp as Nafiizwan Adnan failed to convert his match ball in the fourth game against Scotland’s Greg Lobban, and eventually losing out in five games in the longest match of the day that lasted 82 minutes.
It was also the end of the road for Tamimi’s fellow Qataris after Syed Azlan Amjad lost the opening match to Hong Kong’s Yip Tsz Fung and Abdulrahman Al-Malki losing out to Cameron Pilley, both in straight games.
There was plenty of court time today as five other matches went all the way to five. Mexico’s Cesar Salazar beat Wales’ Peter Creed, Germany’s Raphael Kendra beat Mexico’s Arturo Salazar, former world number 5 Borja Golan edging out England’s Nathan Lake, England’s Tom Richards beat Mohamed Reda of Egypt and Welshman Joel Makin beat Aussie Rex Hedrick in the second longest match of the day.
Another notable result of the day is the upset of New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson by England’s Geroge Parker, who won 3-1 in a 68 minute marathon. The win earned the world number 49 a match against the German tree chopper Simon Rosner on Monday.
Makin meets Colombia’s world No.5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez aiming to repeat his sensational victory over world champion Mohamed ElShorbagy in the Channel VAS Championship at St George’s Hill.
Qatar Classic, First Round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bye
Yip Tsz Fung (HKG) bt [WC] Syed Azlan Amjad (QAT) 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (24m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (38m)
[9/16] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bye
[9/16] Daryl Selby (ENG) bye
Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 5-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 (51m)
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3 (55m)
[8] Diego Elias (PER) bye
[7] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Peter Creed (WAL) 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 12-10, 11-8 (57m)
Borja Golan (ESP) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 10-12, 11-2, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4 (56m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5 (82m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Mohamed Reda (EGY) 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 (60m)
[9/16] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bye
George Parker (ENG) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8 (68m)
[4] Simon Rösner (GER) bye
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) bye
[9/16] Nicolas Müller (SUI) bye
[9/16] Max Lee (HKG) bye
[9/16] James Willstrop (ENG) bye
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [WC] Abdulrahman Al-Malki (QAT) 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (26m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 (58m)
Joel Makin (WAL) bt Rex Hedrick (AUS) 8-11, 11-5, 13-11, 8-11, 11-3 (78m)
[5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bye
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bye
Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 (40m)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (37m)
Declan James (ENG) bt Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-1, 11-5, 11-8 (38m)
Leo Au (HKG) bt Ben Coleman (ENG) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (53m)
[9/16] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bye
[9/16] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bye
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bye
Second Round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Yip Tsz Fung (HKG)
[9/16] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
[9/16] Daryl Selby (ENG) v Mazen Hesham (EGY)
[8] Diego Elias (PER) v Raphael Kandra (GER)
[7] Paul Coll (NZL) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
Borja Golan (ESP) v Greg Lobban (SCO)
[9/16] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v Tom Richards (ENG)
[4] Simon Rösner (GER) v George Parker (ENG)
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) v [9/16] Nicolas Müller (SUI)
[9/16] James Willstrop (ENG) v [9/16] Max Lee (HKG)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Joel Makin (WAL)
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Eain Yow Ng (MAS)
Declan James (ENG) v Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
[9/16] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Leo Au (HKG)
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) v [9/16] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
Pictures courtesy of PSA and Qatar Squash Federation