Nour El Tayeb Heads For Hurghada

A 14-year-old Egyptian schoolgirl is heading to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada to make her debut on the women's professional squash circuit after fighting through the qualifying finals of the Hurghada International at the Cairo Stadium in the Egyptian capital.

One of the latest talents to emerge from the Egyptian junior production line, Nour El Tayeb first beat England's Lauren Selby, then despatched compatriot Sarah El Noumany 3-9, 9-0, 9-2, 9-1 in the qualifying finals to earn her first appearance in the main draw of a WISPA World Tour event.

The teenager will now travel to Hurghada with fellow qualifiers Dipika Pallikal, a 15-year-old Cairo-based Indian from Chennai, and fellow Egyptians Salma Shabana and Amnah El Trabolsy.

El Tayeb, who won the British Junior U13 Open title in January 2005, faces compatriot Raneem El Weleily, the 18-year-old fourth seed from Alexandria.

Australia's former world number one Rachael Grinham is top seed in the established women's event which is played on an all-glass court set on The Plaza in Hurghada. Grinham, a finalist for the past four years, is expected to face Egypt's title-holder Omneya Abdel Kawy in the climax on Sunday.

Qualifying finals:
Salma Shabana (EGY) bt Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) 10-8, 9-4, 9-0 (23m)
Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Farida El Dahab (EGY) 9-4, 9-6, 9-6 (27m)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Sarah El Noumany (EGY) 3-9, 9-0, 9-2, 9-1 (29m)
Amnah El Trabolsy (EGY) bt Salma Nassar (EGY) 9-0, 9-1, 9-6 (23m)