Hong Kong

Photo Album

Mostafa Asal and Hania El Hammamy lift the Hong Kong Open trophies and smile at each other

Finals

[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-2 [2] Nour El Sherbini  15-13, 9-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9 (89m)
[4] Mostafa Asal 3-2 [2] Diego Elias (PER) 6-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4 (95m)

 

Asal and CIB El Hammamy Capture Hong Kong Open Titles

Egyptian duo Mostafa Asal and CIB Hania El Hammamy are the 2022 Everbright Securities International Hong Kong Squash Open champions after they overcame men’s World No.5 Diego Elias and women’s World Champion Nour El Sherbini on a dramatic finals day.

Asal, the World No.4, overturned a championship ball and came back from two games down to complete a remarkable comeback against Peru’s Elias, winning 6-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4 after 95 nail-biting minutes.

There was a controversial moment in the fourth game when, with Asal 10-9 up, Elias returned an attempted crosscourt nick from his opponent, but his shot was deemed not to have reached the front wall. An indignant Elias was adamant that the ball had made it and, once the game had been awarded to Asal and both players had gone off court, later TV replays showed that he was correct.

With the scores poised at 2-2 and Elias reeling from that flashpoint, Asal ran away with things in the fifth game to capture his 10th PSA title and maintain his 100 per cent win record in Platinum finals having triumphed in three out of three.

“I’m so proud of myself,” said Asal. “It’s been a tough week for me… People don’t know what happens outside of the court, I’m dealing with lots of things to play this awesome squash.

“I’m so happy to come to Hong Kong. My first time in 2018, I lost in 20 mins against Tom Richards in the first round, so I’m really happy to win it this time.”

World No.3 El Hammamy ensured that she would walk away with four of the seven women’s Platinum trophies on offer throughout 2022 following an epic 15-13, 9-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9 victory over World No.2 El Sherbini in 89 minutes.

El Hammamy – who toppled World No.1 Nouran Gohar in a captivating semi-final contest – has now captured 11 PSA World Tour titles, while her Hong Kong Open title is her second of the 2022-23 season.

“I’m over the moon with that win. Last night and today was definitely tough on me. This morning I was a little bit tired from last night’s match, but I tried to prepare myself mentally as much as I could to dig in and keep pushing hard. It really paid off with the way I fought.

“It’s an amazing feeling to capture the title before the end of the year. At the U.S. Open I was a bit disappointed, I wanted to pick up the title and keep my momentum going, but it didn’t go my way. I’m glad I bounced back and I was able to get back to the way I wanted to perform here in Hong Kong.”

Semis

[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-2 [1] Nouran Gohar  11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-2 (84m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini3-1 [4] Joelle King (NZL)  8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (48m)

[4] Mostafa Asal 3-2 [1] Paul Coll (NZL)  7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 11-4 (72m)

 

–

Quarters

[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) 3-0 [6] Mazen Hesham  11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (29m)
[2] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 [8] Youssef Soliman 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 (52m)
[4] Mostafa Asal 3-0 [7] Victor Crouin (FRA)  11-3, 11-3, 11-3 (33m)
 [1] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1 [5] Marwan ElShorbagy 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9 (64m)

[3] Hania El Hammamy3-1 [5] Nour El Tayeb  6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (45m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini  3-0 [9/16] Nele Gilis Bel) 11-4, 11-8, 13-11 (42m)
[1] Nouran Gohar  3-0 Satomi Watanabe (Jpn) 14-12, 12-10, 11-6 (37m)

World No.3 CIB Hania El Hammamy will appear in the semi-finals of the Everbright Securities International Hong Kong Squash Open for the first time after she ended a three-match losing run against CIB Nour El Tayeb earlier today.

El Hammamy hadn’t beaten El Tayeb since October 2020 prior to today and had only beaten the World No.6 in two of their previous 10 matches. In the early stages, it looked like El Tayeb was on course to extend her winning run after an aggressive start to the match from the 29-year-old saw her take the opening game.

El Hammamy came out firing though and played some measured squash over the course of the next three games to run out a 6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 winner at the Hong Kong Park Sports Centre, which is hosting matches from today onwards.

“Playing against Nour is very tough, both mentally and physically,” said El Hammamy. “The last two meetings went in her favour and I wanted to focus on the things that I did wrong in the last two matches. She’s an amazing player coming back from being a mother, she’s had an incredible journey and it’s very difficult to do what she’s doing, and I don’t want to be in her position as I know how tough it is.

“I have a lot of respect for her and I’m definitely glad to be through today.”

El Hammamy will go up against bitter rival and World No.1 Nouran Gohar for a place in the title decider after Gohar came through a testing encounter with World No.40 Satomi Watanabe.

Gohar, the 2016 Hong Kong Open champion, required two tie-breaks in the opening two games, but was in the zone during a one-sided third game to finally dispatch the surprise quarter-finalist. A win for Gohar over El Hammamy in tomorrow’s semi-final will see her equal the women’s record of reaching 12 PSA finals in a single year, which is currently shared by Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Michelle Martin.

“It was a great match, it’s the first time that I’ve played Satomi,” said Gohar.

“I know how it feels to cause an upset and then come back in the next match. She played really well and she had nothing to lose. I had to adapt to the conditions, especially coming up against a new player as well, so it was a bit tricky for me, but I’m glad with the way I dealt with it today.”

–

Round Three

[1] Nouran Gohar 3-1 Jasmine Hutton (ENG)  11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-3 (48m)
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 3-1 [6] Rowan Elaraby  11-9, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9 (44m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Aifa Azman (MAS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (27m)
[5] Nour El Tayeb 3-1 Fayrouz Aboelkheir    9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-3 (33m)

[8] Youssef Soliman 3-0 Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 15-13, 11-3, 11-8 (53m)
[6] Mazen Hesham 3-1 Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP)  4-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 (42m)
[4] Mostafa Asal 3-0 Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 12-10, 11-3, 11-9 (34m)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy  v Sebastien Bonmalais (Fra) 11-6, 11-8, 5-11, 11-1 (43m)

 

Round Two

[2] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 Mohamed ElSherbini  11-1, 11-3, 11-3 (27m)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) 3-0 Moustafa El Sirty   11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (33m)
[8] Youssef Soliman 3-1 Rui Soares (POR)  11-5, 12-14, 11-7, 11-8 (64m)
[6] Mazen Hesham 3-1  Karim El Hammamy    8-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (52m)
Ivan Yuen (MAS) 3-1 Omar Mosaad 11-3, 10-12, 11-5, 11-5 (49m)
[4] Mostafa Asal 3-0 Leonel Cardenas (MEX)  11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (35m)
Aly Abou Eleinen 3-1 Faraz Khan (USA)  12-10, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7 (50m)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy 3-0 Dimitri Steinmann (SUI)  11-9, 11-7, 11-9 (49m)
Yahya Elnawasany 3-1 Nicolas Mueller (SUI)  11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4 (37m)

[1] Nouran Gohar 3-0 Tomato Ho (HKG)  11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (32m)
Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 3-2 Hana Ramadan  8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 15-13, 11-6 (55m)
[6] Rowan Elaraby 3-1 Sana Ibrahim    11-8, 20-18, 9-11, 11-7 (60m)
[5] Nour El Tayeb v Millie Tomlinson (ENG)  11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (22m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir 3-2 Zeina Mickawy  9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 16-14, 11-5 (53m)
Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-1 Mariam Metwally  6-11, 13-11, 11-5, 11-5 (41m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Ka Yi Lee (HKG)  11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (27m)
Katie Malliff (ENG) 3-2 Hana Moataz   11-4, 6-11, 10-12, 16-14, 11-7 (65m)
Lisa Aitken (SCO) 3-0 Nour Aboulmakarim  11-8, 12-10, 11-5 (34m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-2 Jana Shiha  5-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-8, 11-1 (49m)
Yathreb Adel 3-1 [8] Salma Hany  4-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-5 (45m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-2 Nadine Shahin  11-6, 6-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-5 (39m)

Round One

Zeina Mickawy 3-0 Yee Xin Ying (Mas)  11-4, 12-10, 11-8 (21m)
Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 3-1 Zeina Zein  11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 11-2 (36m)
Jana Shiha 3-0 [wc] Cheng Nga Ching (Hkg)  11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (20m)
Sana Ibrahim 3-1 Chan Yiwen (Mas)  11-5, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6 (48m)
Hana Moataz 3-0 Ineta Mackevica (Lat)  11-8, 11-5, 11-6 (22m)
Nour Aboulmakarim 3-0 Saskia Beinhard (Ger)  11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (23m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir 3-0 Grace Gear (Eng)  11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (29m)
Lucy Beecroft (Eng) 3-1 Nardine Garas   7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (30m)
Yathreb Adel3-0 Sarah Cardwell (Aus)  11-8, 11-8, 11-1 (20m)
Tong Tsz-Wing (Hkg) 3-2 Salma Eltayeb  11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 (53m)

Karim El Hammamy 3-0 [wc] Wong Chi Him (Hkg)  11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10 (73m)
Tsz Kwan Lau (Hkg) 3-1 Mazen Gamal   8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3 (49m)
Mohamed ElSherbini 3-0 [wc] Tang Ming Hong (Hkg)  11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (33m)
Yahya Elnawasany 3-1 Mohd Syafiq Kamal (Mas)  12-10, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5 (40m)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 3-0 Khaled Labib  12-10, 11-8, 12-10 (48m)
Aly Abou Eleinen3-0 Yannik Omlor (Ger)  11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (23m)

Hong Kong Federation Report

It was a good session for the Egyptians with Zeina Mickawy, Sana Ibrahim and Fayrouz Aboelkheir progressing to the women’s second round, while Mohamed ElSherbini and Karim El Hammamy both progressed at the expense of HK wildcards, although Wong Chi Him and Tang Ming Hong both took a game off their much higher-ranked opponents.

The evening session started as the afternoon, with a popular home win on the show court, Lee Ka Yi overcoming promising Egyptian junior Zeina Zein in four games. “I was a bit nervous today,” admitted Lee. “I’m happy to get the win, but in the second game I was 6-0 up and lost it, which is a bit disappointing. I tried to regroup and improve my length and my shots. I’m happy to win 3-1 and enter the second round of the Hong Kong Open for the first time”.

The Egyptian winners kept on coming as Hana Moataz, Jana Shiha, Yathreb Adel and Nour Aboulmakarim all advanced to women’s round two, Shiha taking out the last wildcard entry Cheng Nga Ching.

The last two matches of the day produced two more home winners as Tong Tsz-Wing and Tsz Kwan Lau both won tough encounters against Egyptian opponents Salma El Tayeb and Mazen Gamal respectively. “It feels amazing to win at home and get the support of the home crowd,” said Lau. “It’s been four years since the Hong Kong Open was last held and it is my first time in the main draw. I’m really looking to perform well and I hope I can get another win in front of my family and my friends.

 

Related News