Egyptians Enjoy Contrasting Fortunes In Kuwait

It was a mixed opening day for Egyptians in the 2008 Kuwait Open as Tarek Momen became the only qualifier to prevail, but seeds Wael El Hindi and Mohammed Abbas crashed out of the $200,000 PSA Super Series Platinum championship - the richest squash event of the year to date - at the KSF Squash Complex in Kuwait City.

Momen, the 20-year-old world No48 from Cairo, beat 11th seed Mohammed Abbas - recovering from a game down to win 5-11, 11-10 (6-4), 11-2, 11-5 and record the best win of his career.

"I'm so happy - I would have never dreamt that I could play such a squash! All my shots were going in, my length was accurate and precise," said Momen after progressing beyond the first round of a Super Series event for the first time.

It was the fast-improving Cameron Pilley that prematurely ended Wael El Hindi's run in Kuwait. In the longest match of the day, the unseeded UK-based Australian fought back from 1/2 down to upset the eighth seed 11-6, 8-11, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6 in 76 minutes.

"I'm over the moon! It's the first time I've beaten him in six attempts. I've been so close in the past and never managed it, but I wanted to win so badly this time it's a joke," explained 25-year-old Pilley, who reached his biggest Tour final at the Canary Wharf Classic in London last month.

"I'm glad my training's started to come good - that's two or three good tournaments in a row. I'm really pleased."

The top two seeds eased comfortably into the last sixteen. Favourite Amr Shabana, the world No1 from Egypt, dropped a game to 17-year-old Pakistani qualifier Aamir Atlas Khan before beating the youngest player in the tournament 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6.

"Oh man - he's like Speedy Gonzales that boy, a little Jansher," said Shabana of the teenager who is a nephew of the Pakistan legend.

Second seed Ramy Ashour, the title-holder, took only 36 minutes to overcome fellow Egyptian Omar Mosaad 11-7, 11-10 (4-2), 11-6.

But the swiftest victory of the day was earned by fourth seed James Willstrop, the England number one who is looking for his fourth PSA Tour title success in a row. A 35-minute 11-9, 11-4, 11-1 win over New Zealand qualifier Kashif Shuja takes Willstrop through to a last sixteen clash with England team-mate Peter Barker.

1st round:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6 (49m)
[12] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 10-11 (2-4), 11-4 (63m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [8] Wael El Hindi (EGY) 11-6, 8-11, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6 (76m)
[14] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8 (63m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Alex Gough (WAL) 11-10 (2-0), 11-8, 11-1 (40m)
[13] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Abdullah Almezayen (KUW) 11-9, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7 (50m)
[7] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [Q] Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 (53m)
[16] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-7, 11-2, 11-7 (45m)
[15] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [Q] Alister Walker (ENG) 6-11, 11-10 (4-2), 6-11, 11-7, 11-6 (73m)
[6] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt [Q] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-9, 11-9, 11-2 (45m)
[9] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 (50m)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) bt [Q] Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-9, 11-4, 11-1 (35m)
[10] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-8 (56m)
[5] David Palmer (AUS) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-5, 10-11 (0-2), 11-1, 11-5 (59m)
[Q] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [11] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) 5-11, 11-10 (6-4), 11-2, 11-5 (47m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-7, 11-10 (4-2), 11-6 (36m)