Two Women’s seeds crashed out of the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open in the first round completed on Wednesday Nov 28.
No. 2 seed Laura Massaro of England lost to Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt, who is working her way back up the rankings after being away because of injury. She is currently ranked No. 22 in the world, but has been as high as No. 4. Kawy was originally No. 1 seed in the Qualifying Draw, but was promoted to the main competition as Jaclyn Hawkes of Australia withdrew.
Kawy summed up her performance explaining that she was confident even though she had never beaten her higher ranked opponent.
“I felt good inside the court. Playing well. Moving well. I haven’t played Laura and won [before], but we have had close matches in the past,” Kawy told The Epoch Times.
“I tried to take advantage as we have just won the World Team Event, so I am a bit confident and she is higher ranked than me so she had more pressure. I was enjoying it.
“It’s good to think I have beaten a top 10 player” she concluded.
The other seed to fall is Hong Kong’s No. 1, Annie Au, who was expected to progress well into the final stages of the completion. It was an impressive performance by 26-year-old Joshana Chinappa from Bombay, India, who won the deciding fifth game 11:5. She currently holds a world No. 32 ranking as opposed to Au’s No. 9. The loss was a huge disappointment to the Hong Kong crowd.
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