Egyptian stars shine in QTerminals Qatar Classic quarter-finals action

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October 1, 2025
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1-October-2025

Egyptian stars shine in QTerminals Qatar Classic quarter-finals action

Doha: Egyptian squash stars dominated the opening day of quarter-final action at QTerminals Qatar Classic 2025, with world champion Mostafa Asal, Fares Dessouky, Hania El Hammamy and Amina Orfi, all on Wednesday booking their places in the semi-finals of the event at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.

World No.1 Mostafa Asal stormed into the last four after completing his eighth successive win over fellow Egyptian Youssef Soliman on the PSA Squash Tour.

The pair met at the same stage of the CIB Egyptian Open in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza earlier this month, with Asal emerging the victor after three straightforward games.

Soliman put Asal under more pressure, initially holding an 8-5 lead in the opening game and amassing a game ball in the third. But Asal was always able to move up the gears at critical moments as he raised his accuracy to complete an 11-8, 11-4, 12-10 victory.

“He’s a very solid player, a fighter,” said Asal. It was a fair and good battle today, I like it when things are calm and there is respect between us, he’s a good friend. I’m really looking forward to the next one.”

Egypt’s World No.15 Fares Dessouky reached his first major PSA Squash Tour semi-final in over four years after he upset World No.10 Youssef Ibrahim earlier in the day.

Injury problems have seen Dessouky slip down the rankings and fall out of contention for the sport’s biggest honours in recent years, but he put in a masterclass of accuracy to announce his return to the last four of a Platinum-level event.

“I’m so happy to be back at this stage again,” said Dessouky. “I played very well today and hopefully I can in the next match. He’s in the top 10, so I was the underdog today. I used to play with these guys a lot, so I’m used to dealing with them.

“I’m going to play my best squash, but I have to focus and make it as clean as possible. I hope it will be a good match for both of us.”

Dessouky will play in his first Qatar Classic semi-final since 2020 and will take on World No.1 Mostafa Asal for a place in the title decider.

On the women’s side, World No.2 Hania El Hammamy booked her spot in the semi-finals for a third year in succession in Doha after laying down a marker with a convincing win over World No.7 Sivasangari Subramaniam.

El Hammamy madę a winning start to the season after taking the CIB Egyptian Open title earlier this month and picked up where she left off in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza with an 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 victory.

It was a masterful display from the 25-year-old Egyptian, who recovered from 7-4 down in the opening game to take seven points unanswered as she ramped up the pace to test the Malaysian.

Siva began the second game well too, getting in front of El Hammamy and attacking on the volley, but El Hammamy had the superior accuracy in the back corners and was able to hit her targets to take momentum away from her opponent.

The third game swiftly followed for the Egyptian, who will move on to play either Egyptian Open runner-up Amina Orfi or Malaysia’s Aira Azman in the last four.

“I have my visuals of what I want to do this season and I hope this is not the end. It’s a prestigious event and I love it here in Qatar, we’re always getting pampered by the organisers. I’m very excited and hopefully I can produce a good level of squash,” said El Hammamy.

World No.5 Amina Orfi continued her strong start to the season as she claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Malaysia’s Aira Azman to set up a nail-biting semis clash with World No.2 Hania El Hammamy.

The 18-year-old picked off loose shots from her opponent in the middle of the court and hit her targets in all four corners of the court to book her spot in the last four in Doha for the first time.

“I’m excited to make the semis of these Platinum events, it feels great,” said Orfi.