Avila Takes Out Top Seed Richards In Hong Kong Qualifiers

Mexican world No52 Alfredo Avila stunned England's world No32 Tom Richards in the final round of qualification for the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open 2014.

The 23-year-old recorded an impressive 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 15-13 victory over Richards to progress to the main daw of a PSA World Series event for the first time in 2014.

Avila will now face Egyptian Marwan Elshorbagy on the opening day of main draw action on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in qualification, Egyptian Fares Dessouki, who impressed the crowds at the Allam British Open in May with a stellar performance against eventual runner-up Nick Matthew, ensured his presence in the main draw with a 3/1 win over England's Eddie Charlton.

There was disappointment for local hope Leo Au as his hopes of reaching the main draw were dashed at the hands of Shaun le Roux, going down 3/1 to the South African champion - while Australian Rex Hedrick impressed with a 3/2 victory over the more fancied Omar Abdel Aziz.