Teenage Sensation Continues To Make Progress In Malaysia

Egypt's 17-year-old Ramy Ashour continued his impressive run on the PSA Tour today in Kuala Lumpur when he despatched experienced Frenchman Stephane Galifi to reach the semi-finals of the Country View Malaysian Open at the National Squash Centre.

Ashour, who at 16 became the youngest ever winner of the world junior championship title in August, made a spectacular PSA debut last month in Greece when he won the Athens Open as a qualifier. After trouncing eighth-seeded Pakistani Majid Khan in the first round in Kuala Lumpur, Ashour defeated Galifi - the surprise earlier conqueror of top-seeded Malaysian Ong Beng Hee - 11-5 5-11 7-11 11-10 11-8 in 52 minutes.

He will meet compatriot Wael El Hindi for a place in the final after the third seed overcame England's sole entrant Joey Barrington 11-6 11-5 11-8 in the other quarter-final in the top half of the draw.

Local interest in the $20,000 PSA Tour event is still being led by second seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar. But the 22-year-old from Sarawak was fully stretched by Dutchman Tommy Berden before beating the fifth seed 10-11 11-5 11-7 10-11 11-3 in 77 minutes.

Iskandar faces Pakistan's Shahid Zaman in the semi-finals following the fourth seed's 1-11 11-6 2-11 11-1 11-5 dismissal in 25 minutes of Egypt's seventh seed Mohamed Essam A Hafiz.

Quarter-finals:
[Q] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Stephane Galifi (FRA) 11-5, 5-11, 7-11, 11-10 (6-4), 11-8 (52m)
[3] Wael El Hindi (EGY) bt [6] Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 (35m)
[4] Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt [7] Mohamed Essam A Hafiz (EGY) 1-11, 11-6, 2-11, 11-1, 11-5 (25m)
[2] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [5] Tommy Berden (NED) 10-11 (0-2), 11-5, 11-7, 10-11 (0-2), 11-3 (77m)