Top Seeds On Course For Domestic World University Success

Former world junior champions Ramy Ashour and Omneya Abdel Kawy remained on course for anticipated domestic success in the 6th World University Championships after convincing straight games victories in the quarter-finals at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.

Ashour, the world number four from Cairo who is top seed in the men's event, defeated Austrian Aqeel Rehman, a 5/8 seed, 11-3, 11-6, 11-5 - and will now take on Malaysia's 3/4 seed Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan for a place in the final.

Nafiizwan twice had to come from behind to overcome his older brother Nafzahizam Adnan, a 5/8 seed, 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7.

The other men's semi-final will be an all-Egyptian affair after two Cairo-based players overcame British opposition. Tarek Momen, the other 3/4 seed, beat Scotsman Alan Clyne 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 while second seed Omar Mosaad claimed his last four place when Welshman Jethro Binns retired midway through the second game with a suspected torn hamstring.

Women's favourite Omneya Abdel Kawy despatched Czech opponent Lucie Fialova 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 and will now line up against Great Britain's 3/4 seed Emma Beddoes after the Nottingham University student beat Austria's Birgit Coufal 11-3, 11-3, 11-9.

There was disappointment for Malaysia's reigning World University Champion Lim Yoke Wah when she went down 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 to second-seeded Egyptian Raneem El Weleily.

The 19-year-old from Alexandria goes on to face Canada's Alana Miller for a place in the final.

Men's quarter-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [5/8] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 11-3, 11-6, 11-5
[3/4] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt [5/8] Nafzahizam Adnan (MAS) 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7
[3/4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [5/8] Alan Clyne (GBR) 11-5, 11-7, 12-10
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [5/8] Jethro Binns (GBR) 11-5, 6-3 ret.

Women's Quarter-finals:
[1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [5/8] Lucie Fialova (CZE) 11-3, 11-6, 11-6
[3/4] Emma Beddoes (GBR) bt [9/16] Birgit Coufal (AUT) 11-3, 11-3, 11-9
[3/4] Alana Miller (CAN) bt [5/8] Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [5/8] Lim Yoke Wah (MAS) 11-7, 11-9, 11-8