Habiba Makes Hong Kong Semis by Howard Harding May 28, 2015
- Egyptian teenager Habiba Mohamed unseated an opponent more than twice
her age to secure a shock place in the semi-finals of the Women's HKFC
International 25, the WSA International 25 squash event at Hong Kong
Football Club in Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
The 15-year-old from Alexandria, the youngest player in the world top
30, despatched second seed Rachael Grinham, the former world No.1 from
Australia, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 in 32 minutes.
Grinham, the 38-year-old runner-up of the 2014 event, won the first of
her 34 WSA World Tour titles more than a year before Mohamed was born!
"I played Rachael last year and lost 3/1 so this was my second time to
play with her," said the Egyptian youngster (pictured above, left, with
Grinham) later. "I really stayed focused and concentrated as I wanted
to win this match.
"I really enjoyed playing Rachael and learnt a lot from her. I told
myself to stay relaxed and to just enjoy the game - which I did."
Mohamed will now face another Tour veteran Jenny Duncalf. The No.3 seed
from England, aged 32, defeated Dutch champion Milou van der Heijden
11-8, 11-6, 11-8.
Top seed Annie Au survived a 42-minute battle with Hong Kong compatriot
Joey Chan to reach the semis for the first time. The world No.11 beat
Chan, ranked 16 places lower, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9.
Au will face Asian rival Joshana Chinappa, the fourth seed from India who overcame Malaysian Delia Arnold 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
RESULTS: Women's HKFC International 25, Happy Valley, Hong Kong China
