Megid ousts Aparajitha to make semis

Farah Abdel Megid from Egypt defeated Aparajitha Balamurukan 11-3, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4 in the quarter-finals to end the Indian challenge in the individual events of the World University Squash Championship at the Indian Squash Academy (ISA) courts here Tuesday.

Aparajitha scripted her own downfall with repeated unforced errors, mostly failing to judge the height of the tin. Although Megid eventually won, Aparajitha did raise some cheer by plucking one game against the run of play.

"She played well and made things difficult," the second seeded Egyptian said, but did not look stretched by it though. A well experienced pro, already having been on the circuit for six years now, Megid looked forward to happy times.

Top seeded in the men's section, Mazen Sabri had to overcome an initial surge of energy and excellence of Sanjay Singh of Malaysia before cruising to victory.

Sabri is no stranger to ISA because he had come to spar with the Indian players recently in the preparation for the World, but he seemed a bit anxious initially before finding his way.

"I think I was lucky to win" said the humble Egyptian of his match while Sanjay said: "I could not sustain the pace. He was so good."

Sabri's compatriot Zahed Mohammad, the second seed, had a tough opponent in the form of Joel Makin of Great Britain. Makin has a good grounding and his movement spoke of his abilities.

The lone Czech in the tournament, Olga Ertlova, the top women's seed, took time to get her touch and even lost a game, but Chloe Mesic (France) could not capitalise much.

The results (quarter-finals):

Men: Mazen Sabri (Egy) bt Sanjay Singh (Mas) 8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8; Eddie Charlton (Gbr) bt Addeen Idrakie (Mas) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5; Zahed Mohammad (Egy) bt Joel Makin (Gbr) 12-10, 11-8, 11-8; Saqib Yousuf (Pak) bt Andrew Martin (Rsa) 11-8, 9-11, 15-13, 8-11, 11-3

Women: Alexendra Fuller (Rsa) bt Zuhijjah Binti Azan (Mas) 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 13-11; Farah Abdel Megid (Egy) bt Aparajitha Balamurukan (Ind) 11-3, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4; Olga Ertlova (Czech) bt Chloe Mesic (Fra) 8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-6; Camilla Tomilinson (Gbr) bt Cheyna Tucker (Rsa) 11-2, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4.