Elias Upstages Tamimi to Dash Home Hopes in Qatar Classic No
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Ian Botham hits out at Covid impact on Lords debut PAGE 15 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020 Elias upstages Tamimi to dash home hopes in Qatar Classic No. 1 Farag flies past Englisman Fallows AGENCIES DOHA WORLD No. 7 Diego Elias of Peru ended home hopes at the 2020 Qatar Classic, PSA World Tour Platinum event, on Tuesday preaviling over Qatar’s squash ace Abdulla Al Tamimi at the Khalifa In- ternational Tennis & Squash Complex. Elias had never beaten Al Tamimi in three attempts prior to this match but came through to win 11-9, 11-4, 11-8. The No.5 seed was also helped by a hamstring strain sustained by Al Tamimi, who was forced off court for an injury break during the third game while 8-6 down. Elias will take on fellow South American Miguel Rod- riguez in the next round. Co- lombian Rodriguez overcame USA’s Shahjahan Khan in straight games. “We’ve played all of our lives,” said Elias following the match. “I think the first time World No. 7 Diego Elias of Peru chases the ball during the match against Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi during their second round Qatar Classic 2020 clash at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on we played I was 14 and he was Tuesday. Elias won 11-9, 11-4, 11-8. 16. We played a couple of times in juniors and he beat me there to be certain of retaining the Platinum event for the third also, it’s the first time I’ve beat World No.1 spot which is under time in four events after the Results him here. He is really hard to threat from three-time cham- World No.31 took out Eng- Second Round play, he has so many different pion Mohamed ElShorbagy, land’s Declan James with a 3-Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Youssef Soliman shots from the front and I nev- who relinquished the ranking to terrific 3-0 victory. (EGY) 3-1: 13-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-5 (56m) er know what he’s going to do. Farag two days ago. Yow is ranked seven places James Willstrop (ENG) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) “With Miguel, we’ve played “We’ve never played before, below James in the PSA World 3-1: 11-7, 13-15, 11-7, 11-7 (59m) Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Tom Richards (ENG) four times in PSA but maybe but I know how talented Richie Rankings but put in a peer- 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (57m) 35 times in South American is,” said Farag afterwards. less performance to win 13-11, 8-Joel Makin (WAL) bt Mohamed Abouelghar tournaments and Pan Ameri- “This is a unique court in 11-7, 11-8, earning him a third (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (33m) can tournaments. I’ve only a good way in that it takes the round meeting with Farag. 5-Diego Elias (PER) bt Abdulla Mohd Al beat him once in like 30 times, ball in very easily, so any bad “Once the tour was sus- Tamimi (QAT) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 (43m) so it’s always a really tough shot and you’re penalised im- pended (due to COVID-19), I Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt Shahjahan Khan match. I’ve been watching him mediately. All credit to Richie, knew it would not be be pos- (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (45m) since I started playing, so I’m he played really well. In the sible to break in to the top 20,” Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Declan James (ENG) 3-0: 13-11, 11-7, 11-8 (42m) really looking forward to that first two I couldn’t really find Yow said. 2-Ali Farag (EGY) bt Richie Fallows (ENG) 3-0: match and I’m feeling good.” my range, and in the third I Elsewhere in the draw, 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (28m) Meanwhile, Egypt’s Ali was happy I was able to find former World No.1 Willstrop WEDNESDAY ORDER OF PLAY Farag began his second reign the corners I was intending to” put in a vintage display to beat 11am: 6-Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Raphael at World No.1 with a comfort- Reigning World Champion Scotland’s Greg Lobban, while Kandra (GER) able victory over England’s Tarek Momen made his return Welshman Joel Makin, Colom- 11.45: Borja Golan (ESP) v Fares Dessouky (EGY) Richie Fallows, winning 11-9, to the venue where he won World No. 1 and defending champion Ali Farag of Egypt in action against Englishman Richie Fallows. bia’s Rodriguez and France’s 1.30pm: Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Paul Coll (NZL) 11-8, 11-3 in 28 minutes, the the biggest trophy in men’s Farag won 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 in 28 minutes. Lucas Serme also claimed wins. 2.15: Lucas Serme (FRA) v 8-Joel Makin (WAL)3- shortest match of the round. squash 12 months ago with a Round three begins Tarek Momen EGY) v James Willstrop (ENG) 4pm: Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v 2-Ali Farag (EGY) Farag is the defending hard-fought 3-1 win over fel- Championship final, wasn’t at tory which will see him play lot together and that made it Wednesday at 11:00hrs 4.45: 1-Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Youssef champion in Qatar after beating low Egyptian Youssef Soliman. his best against a dogged Soli- former World No.1 James difficult today,” Momen said. (GMT+3) and will be shown Ibrahim (EGY) Germany’s Simon Rosner at the World No.3 Momen, who man, but did enough to book Willstrop in the next round. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s live on SQUASHTV and the 6.30: 3-Tarek Momen (EGY) vs James Wilstrop (ENG) 2018 tournament and needs to beat New Zealand’s Paul Coll his place in the last 16 courtesy “The issue is we are play- Eain Yow Ng has earned his official Facebook page of the 7.15: 5-Diego Elias (PER) v Miguel Rodriguez (COL) reach the final in Doha this week in last year’s PSA Men’s World of an 13-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-5 vic- ing partners and so we play a spot in the third round of a PSA World Tour. Substitute Brahimi’s brace brings up first win for Al Rayyan took the shot on the volley. a drab draw. six points. In the next 10 minutes, Meanwhile, Sailiya are two close chances went waste Sadd, seeking first win, fourth in the group with four when Ahli’s Hazem Shehata meet Al Khor points. Although The Per- unleashed a powerful shot On Wednesday, Group will egrines have the same number from the edge of the box and see holders Al Sadd face Al of points as Qatar SC, the lat- his shot kissed the crossbar Khor, Al Duhail take on Qa- ter are placed above on goal TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK and flew away. Moments later, tar SC, and Al Sailiya meet Al difference. DOHA Rayyan’s Ibrahim Masoud Wakrah. Wakrah have two victories also muffled a shot from close Reigning champions Sadd to their credit. They beat Al A brace from substitute Ya- range as Al Ahli goalkeeper are placed fifth in the group Khor 2-1 in Round 2 and Al cine Brahimi saw Al Rayyan quickly moved in to kill the with only one point that they Duhail 3-1 in Round 3, having register a 2-0 win over Al Ahli angle of the shot. earned from their 4-4 draw opened their campaign with a in Round 4 of the Ooredoo Soon after the first wa- with Sailiya in Round 3. The 1-1 draw against Qatar SC. Cup at the Al Arabi Stadium ter break on the half-hour Wolves lost their opener 2-3 Reigning QNB Stars on Tuesday. mark, Boli produced a snap- against Qatar SC in Round 2, League champions Al Duhail This was also Al Rayyan’s header from close range, but after leading by two goals. are lying last in the group. They first win and they moved on to his deflection was smartly The Al Sadd vs Al Duhail have yet to open their account, four points in Group B, while blocked by Al Ahli goalkeep- game in Round 1 was post- having lost 1-3 to Al Sailiya in Ahli remained on one point er Yazan Naim. poned owing to both teams’ their opener in Round 2 and suffering their third defeat. On the hour mark, Ab- campaigns in the 2020 AFC then to Al Wakrah by the same Rayyan wasted a number dulrahman Al Harazi was Champions League. It has scoreline in Round 3. of chances before Brahimi benched and in walked Brahi- Yacine Brahimi propelled Al Rayyan to a 2-0 win over Al Ahli in the Group B Round 4 clash of Ooredoo Cup now been scheduled for this The Red Knights will defi- converted a penalty in the mi. In the 65th minute, Franck at Al Arabi Stadium on Tuesday. Saturday. nitely look for a win when they 85th minute and then pro- Kom produced a neat slip pass Al Khor had started off take on Qatar SC, who are duced a deft finish for his to Brahimi, who failed to out- alert to the situation and dived surprise shot. the 61st minute, before Umm their campaign in grand style third in the group with four second goal of the match a duel his marker within strik- to his left to collect the ball.