Lee Sets Up Surprise All-English Semi In Iran

Joe Lee, the sixth seed from Surrey, set up a surprise all-English semi-final in the Kish Persian Gulf Cup when he upset fourth-seeded Pakistani Khawaja Adil Maqbool in the quarter-finals of the $10,000 PSA Tour squash event at the Kish Olympic Squash Centre in Kish Island, Iran.

The London-born 19-year-old battled for 48 minutes to overcome Maqbool, ranked 37 places higher in the world, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11 in the third men's Tour event to be staged in Iran this year.

Lee will now face St George's Hill club-mate Tom Richards, the event favourite who despatched unseeded South African Gary Wheadon 11-4, 11-6, 11-4.

The other semi-final will feature South African Stephen Coppinger and Dutchman Dylan Bennett. Third seed Coppinger recovered from a game down to beat Austrian Aqeel Rehman 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7, while second seed Bennett was taken the full distance before overcoming Egyptian qualifier Mazen Gamal 6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10 in 72 minutes.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Gary Wheadon (RSA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 (27m)
[6] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [4] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11 (48m)
[3] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Aqeel Rehman (AUT) 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7
[2] Dylan Bennett (NED) bt [Q] Mazen Gamal (EGY) 6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10 (72m)