Doha Welcomes World's Best For Qatar Classic

Just days after doing battle in the world's richest squash tournament of all-time in Kuwait, the world's best men and women players will contest the second biggest event of the year in the Qatar Classic which gets underway today at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha.

Egyptians and Englishmen led the charge through the men's qualifying finals with Tarek Momen, Yasser El Halaby and Omar Mosaad from Cairo claiming places in the main draw, together with three England players Daryl Selby, Alister Walker and Jonathan Kemp.

The last-minute withdrawal of Egypt's 11th seed Mohammed Abbas - who is languishing in hospital in Kuwait with suspected chicken pox - means that a further Englishman Stacey Ross also secures a place in the first round as a 'lucky loser'.

France's sole qualifying finals survivor Renan Lavigne picks up the unluckiest qualifying slot by being drawn to face top seed Amr Shabana. The world number one from Egypt battled in vain in Wednesday's Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open final, losing to 'boy wonder' compatriot Ramy Ashour.

The teenager who picked up the sport's biggest ever winner's cheque will have his work cut out in his Doha opener: the 19-year-old's opponent is older brother Hisham Mohd Ashour, the world No26 who will no doubt want to exert some sibling authority!

The women's qualifying finals produced six winners representing six different nations. Suzie Pierrepont, appearing on the WISPA World Tour for the first time since sustaining a heel injury in November's World Open in Belfast, survived her all-English battle with Jenna Gates - winning 9-2, 9-0, 10-9 to set up a first round meeting with compatriot Alison Waters, the No11 seed.

Nicol David is seeded to win her ninth successive Tour title since last July. The world No1 from Malaysia will be bidding to extend her international match-winning run to 44 as she takes on New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes in the first round.

Men's qualifying finals:
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Dylan Bennett (NED) 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-5
Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt Jean-Michel Arcucci (FRA) 4-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5
Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 10-11 (2-4), 11-9
Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt Eric Galvez (MEX) w/o
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 10-11 (1-3), 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8 (83m)
Alister Walker (ENG) bt Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-9, 11-4, 11-8
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Amr Swelim (EGY) 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8
Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Stacey Ross (ENG) 11-4, 10-11 (2-4), 11-5, 11-8

Women's qualifying finals:
Christina Mak (HKG) bt Lauren Siddall (ENG) 9-4, 1-9, 9-4, 9-1
Tenille Swartz (RSA) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 9-4, 9-6, 9-1
Line Hansen (DEN) bt Carlene Rossel-Reed (RSA) 9-0, 9-5, 9-5
Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) bt Jenna Gates (ENG) 9-2, 9-0, 10-9
Orla Noom (NED) bt Adel Weir (RSA) 6-9, 9-0, 9-3, 9-1
Aisling Blake (IRL) bt Eman El Amir (EGY) 9-4, 3-9, 9-2, 9-4