Canada's Cornett Advances, Habiba Stuns Top Local Hope To Make Penang World Qualifying Finals by Howard Harding March 16, 2104
- Egyptian teen sensation Habiba Mohamed Ahmed Alymohmed despatched top
local hope Delia Arnold in today's second day of qualifying action in
the Penang CIMB Women's World Squash Championship to claim an
unexpected place in the qualifying finals of the premier Women's Squash
Association (WSA) event at the Nicol David International Squash Centre
in Penang, Malaysia.
Still only 14 years
old and already a four-time British Junior Open champion, Mohamed gave
the strong home crowd something to ponder upon as she scored a
convincing 11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4 win over the qualifying draw's
highest-ranked Malaysian in 46 minutes.
It was a pulsating
match which kept the crowd on their toes - but it was also a big blow
to the recently-married Delia, ranked 37 in the world, as she struggles
with her form.
But Habiba, the world
No54, certainly deserves the plaudits as she seeks to follow in the
footsteps of compatriots Raneem El Welily and Nour El Sherbini who have
made the mark on the senior stage.
"It was really
exciting to beat a great player like Delia," said Habiba. "My main was
to make the main draw and I am now one step closer. If I can get that
far it's really good enough for me."
Habiba will go on to
meet Dutchwoman Milou van der Heijden for a place in the main draw. The
world No.51 from Eindhoven got the better of Malaysian Pushppa Devi,
winning 13-11, 11-8, 11-1 in 21 minutes.
There were a further
two notable upsets - none more so than the 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8
victory in 60 minutes achieved by unheralded South Korean Eun Chan Ahn
over England's Emily Whitlock, the world No25 and top seed in the
qualifying draw.
The Seoul-born
28-year-old made an impressive WSA World Tour comeback earlier this
month in the Malaysian Tour Squash Circuit 1 after a four-month absence
- winning the title as the No8 seed!
Furthermore,
19-year-old Aparajitha Balamurukan of India got the better of
experienced world No.48 Kylie Lindsay when she beat the 30-year-old
from New Zealand 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5. Ranked 104 in the world,
Balamurukan becomes the lowest-ranked player through to the qualifying
finals.
Qualifying second seed
Nour El Tayeb however had no such problems as the Egyptian brushed
aside the challenge of Malaysian junior Aika Azman with an 11-3, 11-4,
11-6 win in 17 minutes.
"Not my best
performance, but it was good experience for me," said 17-year-old Aika.
"It was also nice that us juniors got a taste of what the world
championships felt like."
It was a bad day for the hosts, with all nine Malaysians in contention bowing out.
Penang lass Celine
Yeap gave the best fight but was still no match for Tesni Evans, losing
6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 6-11 to her Welsh opponent.
The first round of the
main draw will start on Tuesday at the Subterranean Penang
International Conference & Exhibition Centre (SPICE Arena).
RESULTS: Penang CIMB Women's World Squash Championship, Penang, Malaysia
2nd qualifying round: Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (60m) Megan Craig (NZL) bt Sarah Cardwell (AUS) 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 (48m) Heba El Torky (EGY) bt Rachel Arnold (MAS) 11-1, 11-7, 11-8 (23m) Deon Saffery (WAL) bt Tong Tsz-Wing (HKG) 12-14, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (47m) Siyoli Waters (RSA) bt Lotte Eriksen (NOR) 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 (58m) Lisa Aitken (ENG) bt Christine Nunn (AUS) 11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4 (40m) Tesni Evans (WAL) bt Celine Yeap (MAS) 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6 (34m) Olga Ertlova (CZE) bt Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 12-10, 9-11, 11-4, 11-1 (39m) Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt Pushppa Devi (MAS) 13-11, 11-8, 11-1 (21m) Habiba Mohamed Ahmed Alymohmed (EGY) bt Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4 (46m) Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt Teh Min Jie (MAS) 11-1, 11-6, 11-5 (21m) Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) bt S Sivasangari (MAS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (18m) Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) bt Kylie Lindsay (NZL) 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5 (53m) Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Zulhijjah Binti Azan (MAS) 11-3, 11-2, 13-11 (26m) Lisa Camilleri (AUS) bt Zoe Foo (MAS) 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 (22m) Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Aika Azman (MAS) 11-3, 11-4, 11-6 (17m) Habiba Stuns Top Local Hope To Make Penang Qualifying Finals
Qualifying finals line-up: Eun Chan Ahn (KOR) v Megan Craig (NZL) Heba El Torky (EGY) v Deon Saffery (WAL) Siyoli Waters (RSA) v Lisa Aitken (ENG) Tesni Evans (WAL) v Olga Ertlova (CZE) Habiba Mohamed Ahmed Alymohmed (EGY) v Milou van der Heijden (NED) Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) v Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) Samantha Cornett (CAN) v Aparajitha Balamurukan (IND) Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v Lisa Camilleri (AUS)
