Azman Makes Maiden Platinum Quarter-Final At Qatar Classic

World No.26 Aira Azman celebrated her 21st birthday by reaching the quarter-finals of a Platinum-level PSA Squash Tour event for the first time, beating Egypt's Zeina Mickawy to join fellow Malaysian Sivasangari Subramaniam in the last eight of the QTerminals Qatar Classic.

It will be the first time since the 2015 British Open that two Malaysian women have reached the quarter-finals of a major PSA tournament at the same time, with eight-time World Champion Nicol David and former world No.12 Delia Arnold achieving that feat a decade ago.

Azman beat Mickawy 11-8, 11-7, 13-11 to set up a quarter-final match with world No.5 Amina Orfi, while Sivasangari overcame Belgium's Nele Gilis in a clinical straight games win.

"It's my first time playing this tournament and first time in a Platinum quarter, so they are big points for me, which has boosted my confidence," said Azman afterwards.

"Today is my birthday too, so I'm very happy to reach the quarter-finals. I was really into my game plan in the first two games, I was sharp, I lost a bit of focus and she came back. But I managed to get back on top to win in three.

"I will celebrate with my sister [Aifa], but she has a match tomorrow, so I hope she wins that. Amina was really sharp today, I've played her at the World Juniors two years ago, but there is no pressure on me, she's the world No.5."

2023 champion Hania El Hammamy continued her title challenge with a 3/1 victory over England No.2 Jasmine Hutton. El Hammamy conceded the first game after Hutton stormed out of the traps in an attacking start, but El Hammamy weathered the storm to take three unanswered games. El Hammamy will play Sivasangari next.

"It's always tough playing against Jasmine, and it always goes to four," said El Hammamy afterwards.

"I know how dangerous she is, she's very talented and she has good hands. On this court specifically, it was always going to be tough. The ball dies so quickly in the front and it takes a good, accurate length. She was better in the first game, her accuracy was higher than mine, so I tried to level up my accuracy and be more up to it, and I think that was the difference in the end."

World No.15 Fares Dessouky has reached the last eight after coming out on top in a five-game battle against India's Abhay Singh, coming back from 2/1 down to win 11-13, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3.

It's the first time in over three years that Dessouky has reached back-to-back quarter-finals at major PSA events, having also reached the last eight at the CIB Egyptian Open earlier this month. He will play fellow Egyptian Youssef Ibrahim for a place in the semi-finals.

"It was a very tough match and I had to dig in every game," said Dessouky.

"I put two balls in the tin [at the end of the first game], so it was difficult mentally to back up and get the second game. I'm proud I did that and kept pushing. I thought about the mistakes I was making in the early stages and cut down the errors, which worked."

World No.1 Mostafa Asal booked his spot in the quarter-finals after a straightforward win over Frenchman Gregoire Marche. Asal, who reached the final last year and won the CIB Egyptian Open earlier this month alongside El Hammamy, will play fellow Egyptian Youssef Soliman next.

"He's 35 years of age and he's a legend," said Asal.

"He's a warrior, a fighter, and he gives 100 percent inside the court to entertain us. I've been watching him since he was very young and he's played his 500th match this tournament, which is absolutely superb. It was a tough match, but I adapted to the court and atmosphere."