El Hindi Completes Egyptian Trio In Canary Wharf Classic Quarters

Squash powerhouse Egypt has three players in the quarter-finals of the ISS Canary Wharf Classic after the conclusion of Tuesday's first round of the $52,500 5-star PSA Tour event in front of another full-house crowd at East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf, London.

Number six seed Wael El Hindi overcame his training partner Joey Barrington in a marathon late-night battle to join top seed Amr Shabana and world junior champion Mohamed El Shorbagy in the last eight.

While the 18-year-old Shorbagy meets his hero Shabana, a three-time World Open champion, El Hindi faces a potentially brutal battle with Australian David Palmer.

El Hindi took 80 minutes to subdue Englishman Barrington, son of the legendary Jonah - but Palmer had an easier time against Surrey wild card Tom Richards, winning in straight games.

El Hindi said: "It is always difficult when you play your friends on the squash court, but you have to leave your feelings outside. It was always going to be difficult against Joey because we know each other's games inside out."

Palmer praised wild card Richards - then promised to give his best against El Hindi. "Tom doesn't get much opportunity to play on the glass court and it took him a while to get used to the surroundings," said the reigning British Open champion. "Once he did, he began to play very well and I was relieved to get off court in straight games.

"I am looking forward to playing El Hindi and have plenty of energy left. I am still enjoying playing and I still think I can win the big tournaments," added the US-based 32-year-old who recently celebrated his 100th successive month in the world's top ten. "As long as I continue to feel that way I will carry on playing."

Number two seed Gregory Gaultier, who won the ATCO Super Series Finals last week, overcame spirited resistance from Australian Cameron Pilley, last year's runner-up, to book a quarter-final showdown with England's No8 seed Peter Barker.

"I could hardly move my legs after the Super Series and went home to France to rest," said Gaultier. "I didn't touch a racket all week and I'm so glad that I was playing today and not yesterday. I could hardly stand up yesterday but the match got me moving again and I'm confident I will be OK against Barker.

"I have played him before and I know it will be difficult. He will have a lot of support but I hope to have the crowd in the palm of my hand."

Local favourite Barker, who lives less than a mile from the venue in Limehouse, beat Essex team-mate Daryl Selby 3/1 in a tight match littered with lets and stoppages. It took 92 minutes to complete the longest match in the six-year history of the Canary Wharf tournament.

Completing the quartet of top-class clashes tonight is reigning champion James Willstrop's match with Spaniard Borja Golan, who removed No5 seed Thierry Lincou of France on Monday.

1st round (lower half of draw):
[6] Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt [Q] Joey Barrington (ENG) 9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-5 (80m)
[4] David Palmer (AUS) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 (41m)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) bt [Q] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-13, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (92m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (70m)