Hong Kong qualifier Leo Au made full use of home advantage in today's first round of the inaugural HKFC Meco Invitational when he upset third seed Ong Beng Hee to claim a surprise place in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
The 22-year-old Hong Kong number two, ranked 75 in the world, battled for 70 minutes to hold off the experienced Malaysian before finally clinching his shock 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9 victory over the 32-year-old former world No7.
Au now progresses to face Amr Khaled Khalifa for a place in the semi-finals. Egyptian Khalifa, ranked 25 places higher than the local hero, despatched Indian qualifier Harinder Pal Sandhu 11-5, 11-8, 11-6.
There is continuing Hong Kong interest in the lower half of the draw too where fourth seed Max Lee saw off fellow countryman Dick Lau 11-4, 11-4, 11-2.
Lee will now also face a Malaysian when he takes on Muhd Asyraf Azan. The unseeded 23-year-old from Kuala Lumpur survived an 83-minute marathon against Shaun le Roux, finally beating the South African qualifier 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9.
The event's top two seeds overcame their first round hurdles in contrasting styles: Favourite Omar Mosaad needed 67 minutes to quash fellow Egyptian Andrew Wagih Shoukry 11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 13-11, while flying Finn Olli Tuominen, the No2 seed, brushed aside Australia's Matthew Karwalski 11-6, 13-11, 11-7 in just 35 minutes.
RESULTS: PSA International 25 HKFC Meco Invitational, Happy Valley, Hong Kong China
1st round:
[1] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 13-11 (67m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [Q] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 (50m)
Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) bt [Q] Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 (43m)
[Q] Leo Au (HKG) bt [3] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9 (70m)
[4] Max Lee (HKG) bt Dick Lau (HKG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 (25m)
Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt [Q] Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (83m)
Siddharth Suchde (IND) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 11-6, 13-11, 11-7 (35m)
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
[Q] Leo Au (HKG) v Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY)
[4] Max Lee (HKG) v Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS)
[2] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v Siddharth Suchde (IND)
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