Kippax Conquers Au In KL Qualifiers

England's Sarah Kippax produced an impressive upset in today's women's qualifying finals in the CIMB KL Open when she defeated world No16 Annie Au in straight games to claim an unexpected place in the main draw of the $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold squash event in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Kippax, the world No23 from Halifax in Yorkshire, battled for 40 minutes to conquer the rising 21-year-old Hong Kong star 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 - and will now line up against Australian Kasey Brown, the No8 seed, in the first round.

There was Hong Kong success in the final qualifying round when veteran campaigner Rebecca Chiu, the 31-year-old former Asian Games gold medallist, defeated younger compatriot Joey Chan 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 to earn a main draw clash with Egypt's fourth seed Omneya Abdel Kawy.

Egyptian Raneem El Weleily also secured an anticipated place in the first round when she beat Ireland's Aisling Blake 11-6, 12-10, 11-4 - but the 21-year-old world No15 was then picked to face England's sixth seed Laura Massaro for the third time this year in a WISPA Tour event as a qualifier.

Malaysian favourite Nicol David begins her second WISPA Gold campaign this year when she takes on New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes in the first round. The world number one from Malaysia is bidding to reach the final for the eighth time since 2002 - then win her sixth title.

Local hero Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan was in impressive form in the final qualifying round of the men's $50,000 5-star PSA World Tour event - claiming an unexpected place in the main draw after beating Amr Swelim, the world No43 from Italy, 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 11-7 in 74 minutes.

The 23-year-old world No56 from KL will now face favourite Ramy Ashour, the world number one from Egypt who is competing in the event for the first time since 2006.

There were two further qualifying winners who added additional Egyptian interest in the main draw: Omar Abdel Aziz twice came from behind to beat England's Chris Simpson 12-14, 11-1, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10 in 83 minutes while former world No13 Mohammed Abbas despatched Hungarian Mark Krajcsak 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 in 42 minutes.

Women's qualifying finals:
Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Annie Au (HKG) 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 (40m)
Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 (42m)
Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt Tania Bailey (ENG) 11-9, 13-11, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10 (49m)
Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-6, 12-10, 11-4 (27m)

Men's qualifying finals:
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 12-14, 11-1, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10 (83m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Mark Krajcsak (HUN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 (42m)
Ivan Yuen (MAS) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-6 (46m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Amr Swelim (ITA) 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 11-7 (74m)