Hisham Assures Local Line-Up In Heliopolis Semis

Sixth seed Hisham Mohd Ashour caused a notable upset in the quarter-finals of the Rotary Heliopolis Open to set up an all-Egyptian semi-final line-up in the $41,000 PSA Tour event at the National Stadium in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

The 25-year-old from Cairo, the older brother of teenage star Ramy Ashour, twice came from behind to conquer Spain's No4 seed Borja Golan 8-11, 11-10 (5-3), 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 in an 86-minute marathon.

Hisham goes on to face fellow Cairo-based compatriot Karim Darwish, the No2 seed, for a place in the final. Darwish, runner-up in the event two years ago, beat Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, the No5 seed who was runner-up last year, 11-10 (3-1), 11-5, 11-3.

Top seed Wael El Hindi is on course to retain the title he won for the first time in 2006. The 27-year-old world No10 from Giza despatched compatriot Omar Elborolossy, a qualifier, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6, and now takes on third seed Mohammed Abbas - who also beat a fellow countryman, Omar Mosaad, 11-2, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt [Q] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (33m)
[3] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt [8] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-2, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4 (49m)
[6] Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) bt [4] Borja Golan (ESP) 8-11, 11-10 (5-3), 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 (86m)
[2] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [5] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-10 (3-1), 11-5, 11-3 (40m)