Top Maharashtra Seeds Downed In Mumbai

The two top seeds crashed out of the new Maharashtra State PSA Open after failing to survive epic first round marathons against lower-ranked Egyptians today in the PSA World Tour Challenger 15 squash event at the Bombay Gymkhana in Mumbai, India.

Favourite Ong Beng Hee, the 33-year-old former world No7 from Malaysia, twice led Zahed Mohamed - but the 21-year-old Egyptian held his nerve to close out the match 5-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10 after 98 minutes.

Mohamed, ranked 90 in the world, saved four match balls from 6-10 down in the decider before clinching the day's biggest upset.

An all-Egyptian encounter at the bottom of the draw saw experienced No2 seed Omar Abdel Aziz establish a comfortable two-game lead over qualifier Fares Mohamed Dessouki, an 18-year-old from Alexandria.

"At 2/0, it seemed like Omar had weathered the initial storm and he would now coast," explained tournament spokesman Raj Arora. "But the solid Fares was not done yet. Fares maintained a very slender lead and was 10-7 up when the experienced Omar pulled back to 10-10. Fares pulled off a stunning shot to seize game ball and soon was still alive having wrested the third."

Dessouki maintained his form to draw level. "At 2-2 it was delicately poised," continued Arora. "It was neck and neck all through as they battled like gladiators all through the decider - 6-6, 7-7, 8-8. The juniors in the crowd were relishing this contest as Fares earned a stroke to go 9-8 up. Another well-played rally took him to match ball and shortly thereafter Omar played a ball onto himself to yield a stroke and the match.

"It was a memorable win for Fares in a match that was good to watch for its quality in the first half and its attrition in the second," added Arora after the 10-12, 2-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-8 win in 97 minutes.

Dessouki now goes on to face Mahesh Mangaonkar, one of two Indians who will compete in the quarter-finals. The 19-year-old from Mumbai - who has just moved out of the junior ranks - had more in the tank compared to his younger rival Kush Kumar who has just arrived after winning Gold at the Asian Youth Games in China and the Indian Junior Open in Chennai.

"At one game all, the match promised to get close - but the more experienced Mangaonkar capitalised on his opponent's tired legs to claim an 11-6, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6 victory," said Arora.

Chennai-based Harinder Pal Sandhu ousted Egyptian qualifier Shehab Essam Hosny 11-6, 14-12, 11-3 and will now take on fourth-seeded Egyptian Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry for a place in the last four.

Quarter-final line-up:
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) v Ravi Dixit (IND)
[3] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) v Johan Bouquet (FRA)
[4] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) v Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND)
[Q] Fares Mohamed Dessouki (EGY) v Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND)