2010 Women’s World Squash Open: The Egyptians zip through the first round
Six talented young Egyptian professionals made it through the first round of the 2010 Women’s World Squash Championship to make a place for themselves in the round to follow.
The 2010 tournament started off at the beautiful Egyptian Sea resort Soho Square at Sharm El-Sheikh. One of the most prestigious WISPA events will feature a cutting edge prize money fund of $US 147,000. Even though Soho Square debuted in 2009 for WISPA,
this is the first time Egypt is hosting the event.
Sara El-Noamany defeated compatriot Mayar Aly Ezzo in a brief, twenty minute match played between the two. Mayar lost 11-2, 11-8, 11-3, as El-Noamany took the game based up on her straight set win.
Alongside, Salma Nassar eliminated fellow country-woman Nada Elkalaawy in the first round match of their draw. Nassar thrashed Elkalaawy 12-10, 11-4, 11-7, three sets in a row to proceed further.
Amongst those to have come out victorious on home-ground was Haidi Lala. In the shortest match of the qualifying first round, Lala defeated Mexico’s Karina Heredia in fourteen minutes. Heredia lost 11-4, 11-2, and 11-6, to be sent home as Haidi made it through
to the next round.
Egypt’s Nihal Bayoumi was made to face defeat at the hands of companion, Salma Youssef as she was beaten 11-9, 11-4, and 11-7, in straight sets to be eliminated from the tournament.
Furthermore, Mennat Nasser got through with fellow Egyptian Yathreb Adel defeating her in an ardous five set match played between the two professionals. Nasser took the first set 13-11, starting off fine. Until Adel defeated her 5-11 in the second set of
the match.
Surprisingly, Mennat also lost the following set 6-11 but managed to recover in the fourth set by defeating Yathreb 11-3 and verily 11-8 in the deciding fifth set of the match.
Along with Nasser, Egypt’s Salmy Hany made it through to the following round upon defeating Merhan Mahmoud in a four set tussle. Mahmoud was defeated 5-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9.
Salmy stated that she was initially nervous and a bit afraid. However, she went on to say “I haven’t played so well in my last matches and this is my first World Open. After I lost the first I just told myself I had to concentrate, I really wanted to win
to get through to tomorrow.”
The Egyptians have been performing brilliantly so far and will hopefully continue doing so as far as the rest of the tournament is concerned.
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