The QTerminals Qatar Classic 2023 squash tournament, the second Platinum event of the 2023-24 PSA World Tour, kicked off on Saturday at the squash courts of the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, with the first round of the women’s competition. Today’s competition witnessed strong confrontations, as Egyptian Nour Aboulmakarim defeated her compatriot Menna Hamed 3-2, (13-11, 13-11, 4-11, 3-11, 11-9).
Egyptian Hana Ramadan beat Scottish Georgia Adderley 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-3), and Egyptian Fayrouz Abu Al Khair defeated Canadian Nicole Bunyan 3-0 (11-2, 11-0, 11-6). The Egyptian Amina Arfi beat her compatriot Nadine Shaheen 3-1 .(11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8).
Egyptian Nada Abbas won over the Malaysian Low Wee Wern 3-1 (11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5). Egyptian Mariam Metwally defeated the English Katie Malliff 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11- 3), while Egyptian Salma El Tayeb beat her compatriot Zeina Mekkawi 3-2 (11- 6 12-10 6-11 11-5).
English Lucy Turmel also qualified for the second round by defeating Egyptian Malak Khafaji 3-1 (6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5), and Tong Tsz Wing from Hong Kong by defeating French Enora Villard 3-0 (11- 8 11-2 11-7).
The women’s competitions will continue on Sunday with the start of the second round which will witness strong confrontations, as Egyptian Nouran Gohar, the first seed in the tournament, will begin her competition campaign against Welshwoman Emily Whitlock.
Egyptian Nour El Sherbini, seeded second in the tournament, will also meet South African Alexandra Fuller, while Egyptian Hania El Hammamy, seeded third in the tournament, will clash with her compatriot Hana Ramadan.
New Zealander Joelle King, seeded fourth in the tournament, will face Englishwoman Jasmine Houghton, while Egyptian Nour El Tayeb, seeded fifth, will meet her compatriot Salma Hani.
The men’s first round matches are scheduled to begin on Sunday, where the Qatari trio will begin their journey in the tournament with Abdullah Al Tamimi (ranked 23rd in the world) facing Frenchman Lucas Serme (ranked 49th in the world), while the duo Syed Azlan and Salem Al Malki will enter two difficult confrontations during the first round, where Azlan will meet French player Auguste Dussourd, while Al Malki will play with Englishman Patrick Rooney