Egyptians claimed half of the qualifying places on offer in the 2011 Qatar Classic as Alexandrian Marwan El Shorbagy and Cairo-based Mohammed Abbas, Mohamed Abouelghar and Omar Abdel Aziz secured slots in the main draw of the sixth PSA World Series squash event of the year at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in the Qatar capital Doha.
Abouelghar recorded the first Egyptian win of the day as the 18-year-old came from a game down to beat France's Yann Perrin in an entertaining four-game tussle. Ranked 109 in the world, Abouelghar becomes the lowest-ranked qualifier in the main draw - where he faces France's sixth seed Gregory Gaultier for the first time in his career.
Abdel Aziz removed England's Jaymie Haycocks in four games, while veteran Mohammed Abbas defeated Farhan Mehboob in three close games, coming from 3-9 down in the second to frustrate the Pakistani.
El Shorbagy junior similarly took three close games against fellow Egyptian Mazen Gamal, winning 11-8, 11-9, 11-9.
"I played well, the right tactic, and tried my best to avoid any silly shots," El Shorbagy told www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards. "I'm really happy with the way I played."
India's Siddharth Suchde recovered from a game down to beat Matthew Karwalski 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 12-10. The Australian, who is being coached by David Palmer in Orlando, threatened to take the match into a decider as he took a 10-6 lead in the fourth, but a final flurry of five points in a row saw the 26-year-old from Mumbai through in just short of an hour.
"I wouldn't say it was a good match," said Suchde. "We were both a bit edgy, but you know what it is, when you're trying to qualify."
In the longest match of the day, Kamran Khan became the only Malaysian to qualify when he beat England's Joey Barrington 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8 in 90 minutes.
"I have nothing to say except that I'm happy - well, relieved, more like," said Khan.
Chris Ryder provided the only English success, getting the better of Malaysia's Muhd Asyraf Azan in a comfortable three games.
Henrik Mustonen also enjoyed a straight games victory, beating Englishman Robbie Temple 11-4, 11-4, 11-4. The Finnish number two's reward is a first round clash with Olli Tuominen, the top-ranked Finn!
"I played better today than I played all season," said Mustonen. "I did a lot of work this summer, but it was not showing on court, so it's nice to finally see some result."
RESULTS: PSA World Series Qatar Classic, Doha, Qatar
Qualifying finals:
Siddharth Suchde (IND) bt Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 12-10 (57m)
Kamran Khan (MAS) bt Joey Barrington (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8 (90m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 9-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-8 (52m)
Chris Ryder (ENG) bt Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (47m)
Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt Jaymie Haycocks (ENG) 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-3 (50m)
Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (31m)
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Mazen Gamal (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (40m)
Mohammed Abbas (EGY) bt Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 12-10, 12-10, 11-7 (38m)
Updated 1st round draw:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK)
Tarek Momen (EGY) v [Q] Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)
Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) v [Q] Siddharth Suchde (IND)
[6] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
[5] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) v Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) v [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN)
[3] Karim Darwish (EGY) v [Q] Kamran Khan (MAS)
[4] James Willstrop (ENG) v [Q] Mohammed Abbas (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER) v [Q] Chris Ryder (ENG)
Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Hisham Mohamed Ashour (EGY)
[7] Peter Barker (ENG) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
[8] David Palmer (AUS) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
Stewart Boswell (AUS) v [Q] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Tom Richards (ENG)
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