Doha: Egyptian world No. 1 Mostafa Asal advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 QTerminals Qatar Classic Squash Championship after defeating compatriot and world No. 8 Aly Abou Eleinen three games to one on Tuesday.
According to Qatar News Agency, Asal overcame Abou Eleinen in the quarterfinals 11-5, 11-4, 12-14, 12-10 in a grueling 91-minute encounter on the main glass court at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. The world No. 1 will face England's world No. 7 Marwan ElShorbagy in the semifinals on Thursday. ElShorbagy secured his place after defeating France's Gregoire Marche three games to two, 11-5, 11-9, 1-11, 3-11, 11-7, in 52 minutes.
In the women's competition, Egyptian world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy continued her title defense in Qatar, advancing to the semifinals without taking to the court after compatriot Nouran Gohar withdrew due to injury. El Hammamy will face a difficult test in Thursday's semifinal against in-form Malaysian world No. 4 Sivasangari Subramaniam, who also advanced without playing after her Belgian opponent Tinne Gilis withdrew due to injury.
The Malaysian has produced strong performances in recent years, winning the gold medal at the most recent Asian Games. She also claimed the 2024 London Classic title after defeating several of Egypt's leading players and won the Australian Open in 2026.
The remaining quarterfinal matches will conclude on Wednesday, with New Zealand's world No. 2 and defending champion Paul Coll facing France's world No. 5 Victor Crouin, while Egyptian world No. 4 Karim Abdel Gawad will take on compatriot Youssef Soliman. In the women's draw, Egyptian world No. 2 Amina Orfi will face compatriot and world No. 6 Fayrouz Aboelkheir, while Malaysia's world No. 25 Rachel Arnold will take on England's Jasmine Hutton.
Arnold had eliminated world No. 3 Nour El Sherbini, an eight-time world champion and the 2024 Qatar Classic champion, in the second round in one of the tournament's biggest upsets.
Following his victory and qualification for the semifinals, world No. 1 Mostafa Asal told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that his match against Aly Abou Eleinen had been difficult, describing his compatriot as a highly skilled player. He said he had nevertheless managed to take control of the match and secure the victory, and expressed hope that he would be able to claim the Qatar Classic title this year.
Regarding the Qatari PSA Squash Tour Platinum event, Asal noted that the Qatar Classic represented an ideal and strong start for him as he seeks to defend his position at the top of the world rankings, adding that winning the tournament would give him significant momentum for the remainder of the World Tour. He expressed his great satisfaction at playing at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, describing the competitive atmosphere at the Qatar Classic as particularly close to his heart and saying it made him feel as though he was playing at home, given the exceptional organization provided by the association in cooperation with the Qatar Squash Federation.
For his part, England's Marwan ElShorbagy expressed his delight at winning and advancing to the semifinals. Speaking to reporters, he said his match against France's Marche had been extremely difficult and competitive, noting that the Frenchman was one of the best and most experienced players in the world. ElShorbagy also expressed his great appreciation for the opportunity to be and play in Qatar. He praised the continued support and warm welcome extended to players at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex and highlighted the passion for the sport shown by both spectators and organizers.
Concluding his remarks, ElShorbagy particularly praised the exceptional organization of the Qatar Classic, describing it as one of the best tournaments in the world. He also commended the hospitality and facilities provided to the players, including accommodation at top hotels, transportation and outstanding services, which he said helped players focus and perform at their highest level on court.
Meanwhile, world No. 1 and defending champion Hania El Hammamy expressed hope of retaining the title for a second consecutive year. However, she noted that entering the tournament at the top of the women's world rankings placed additional responsibility on her and presented a significant challenge, adding that competition this season had been intense, with very little separating the players in the world's top 30.
El Hammamy described playing in Doha as particularly special and close to her heart following her triumph in last year's edition. She said the atmosphere, warm welcome and support from the fans in Doha gave her additional motivation to produce her best performance and progress deep into the tournament.