All men through and Yathreb Adel star in only upset of the day
By ALEX WAN – Squash Mad Asian Bureau Editor
It was all according to the seeding in the men’s qualifying, with top seed Raphael Kendra leading the way, easing into the next round after seeing off Thailand’s Arnold Phat in just 20 minutes. The German number 2 came out victorious with a convincing 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 score line and plays Iker Pujaris for a place in the main draw. The Spanish was kept on court for nearly twice as long by his opponent, Henry Leung of Hong Kong, but also came out straight games winner.
India will be assured of another player in the main draw as both Harinder Pal Sandhu and Abhay Singh won their matches to set up a clash tomorrow. Harinder was in devastating mood as he took out local Manuel Gassmann for the loss of only 4 points while British Junior Open finalist Abhay Singh won in 3 close games against Hong Kong’s Wong Chi Him.
In the lower half of the draw, England’s Joshua Masters halted James Huang of Taiwan in straight games to set up a showdown with Hong Kong’s Tang Ming Hong, who was put through a gruelling 76 minute encounter by Czech Martin Svec in the longest match of the day.
Steven Liu, the host’s top male player, failed to progress further after losing out to Evan Williams in 21 minutes over three games. Mazen Gamal of Egypt awaits Evan tomorrow after he took out UAE’s Ali Miski with relative ease in exactly the same duration of 21 minutes.
While it was less eventful in the men’s, the women’s matches had a lot more drama, with world junior finalist and qualifying second seed Hania El Hammamy being booted out by compatriot Yathreb Adel over five games. She plays Hong Kong’s Tong Tsz-Wing who went through an equally tough encounter against Egyptian Farah Momen before winning in five.
The all-Hong Kong affair between Liu Tsz-Ling and Lee Ka Yi proved to be another cracker. Lee Ka Yi, ranked nearly 50 places below her compatriot, came back from 1-2 down to force a decider, but it was the more experienced Tsz-Ling who scraped through. She plays world junior champion Rowan Elaraby, who had no trouble disposing China’s Peng Zhen Ni in 15 minutes.
Ho Tze Lok booked her place in the qualifying finals tomorrow after beating Indian Janet Vidhi in straight games. The 21 year old from Hong Kong will take on top seeded Aussie Rachael Grinham in a repeat of the HKFC International first round match a fortnight ago, where she upset the books to make the last eight.
Vanessa Chu, fresh from her final appearance at the Malaysian Circuit 5k, was in devastating form as she saw off China’s Duan Si Yu in just 15 minutes and will be facing Netherland’s Milou van der Heijden tomorrow, who survived a close third game in her straight games win over Filipino Jemyca Aribado.
Qualifying First Round
Raphael Kendra (GER) bt Arnold Phat (THA) 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 (20m)
Iker Pajares (ESP) bt Henry Leung (HKG) 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (36m)
Abhay Singh (IND) bt Wong Chi Him (HKG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (36m)
Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) bt Manuel Gassmann (MAC) 11-1, 11-1, 11-2 (17m)
Joshua Masters (ENG) bt James Huang (TPE) 11-4, 11-6, 11-8 (31m)
Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt Martin Svec (CZE) 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10 (76m)
Evan Williams (AUS) bt Steven Liu (MAC) 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 (21m)
Mazen Gamal (EGY) bt Ali Miski (UAE) 11-6, 11-1, 11-3 (21m)
Ho Tze Lok (HKG) bt Janet Widhi (IND) 11-7, 11-3, 11-9 (21m)
Vanessa Chu (HKG) bt Duan Si Yu (CHN) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (15m)
Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt Jemyca Aribado (PHI) 11-3, 11- 7, 12-10 (22m)
Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) bt Lee Ka Yi (HKG) 2-11, 11-8, 11-3, 4-11, 11-7 (45m)
Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Peng Zhen Ni (CHN) 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 (15m)
Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) bt Farah Momen (EGY) 11-3, 9-11, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7 (53m)
Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8 (53m):
Pictures by Macau Squash Association