Egyptian Youngsters Continue Giant-Killing Shanghai Run by Howard Harding September 6, 2014 -
Young Egyptian qualifiers Salma Hany Ibrahim and Nouran Gohar continued
their giant-killing run in the Women's China Open - Squash Stars On The
Bund after despatching two further seeds in the quarter-finals of the
WSA Gold 50 event in China's largest city Shanghai.
Action in the event
moved onto an all-glass showcourt on the 11th floor of The Peninsula
Hotel, which offers breath-taking views of Shanghai and its famous
waterfront, The Bund.
"It is hard to imagine
a more spectacular setting than this court at The Peninsula Hotel -
acclaimed by the players as the best hotel they have ever stayed in,"
said noted English coach Malcolm Willstrop. "It's a setting to match
the very best."
Gohar, a 16-year-old
from Cairo who ousted experienced Australian Rachael Grinham in the
first round, faced left-hander Annie Au, the No4 seed from Hong Kong.
"They traded winners
before Gohar won the game 11-9," reported event spokesman Graham Miao.
"She began the second game aggressively, increasing the pace - but it
was Au who took the tiebreak 13-11.
"Rallies lengthened in
the third and Gohar began to force errors from Au, winning it 11-6. It
was the pace and accuracy of the Egyptian that clinched the fourth
11-8."
World No26 Gohar now faces top seed Camille Serme, the world No5 from France who beat England's Sarah Kippax 11-6, 11-5, 11-8.
It was on the glass
showcourt that 18-year-old Salma Hany Ibrahim gained revenge for her
four-game defeat by world No12 Dipika Pallikal in the Macau Open late
last year by defeating the fifth seed and Indian number one 11-8, 11-7,
11-5.
Alexandria-based
Ibrahim, ranked 40 in the world, had secured her surprise place in the
last eight after upsetting England's world No6 Alison Waters in the
opening round.
Ibrahim (pictured
above in action with Pallikal) will now line up against Malaysian Low
Wee Wern, the No3 seed who edged out England's sixth seed Jenny Duncalf
11-7, 11-6, 11-5.
RESULTS: Women's China Open - Squash Stars On The Bund, Shanghai, China
Quarter-finals: [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt [5] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (40m) [3] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [6] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (37m) [Q] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Annie Au (HKG) 11-9, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8 (50m) [1] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [8] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 (35m) Semi-final line-up: [Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) v [3] Low Wee Wern (MAS) [1] Camille Serme (FRA) v [Q] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
