Adnan Hamdan
Doha, Qatar- Champion Abdullah Al-Tamimi will be the leading home players along with Egyptian squash star Mohamed El Shorbagy during next month’s Qatar Classic squash, event organisers said yesterday.
The PSA World Series event will be played from October 27 to November 2 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
Al-Tamimi, who broke into the world’s top 30 rankings after his stunning victory at the $35,000 Malaysian Open in July, will be joined by compatriots Syed Azlan Amjad (146) and Abdulrahman Al Malki (242) at the six-day event.
Amjad and Al Malki are wild card entries in the tournament.
Three-time winner El Shorbagy of Egypt will be leading a star cast of the world’s top players, who have confirmed their participation in the Qatar Classic 2018, the 16th edition of the tournament.
Around 50 players, including the world’s top 30, will battle for points on the PSA World Series Standings at the $177,750 tournament considered to be one of the richest in the series.
Tournament Director Tareq Zainal said: “Once again, we are proud to host the world’s top players in Doha. It has always been our tradition to organise a tournament whose memories will linger on for a long time in the minds of all participants.”
“This year’s edition is no exception. Squash is growing in leaps and bounds in Qatar and we are proud of what we’ve been able to achieve over the years. All hands are on deck to ensure the best tournament ever,” he said.
Defending champion El Shorbagy won the tournament for the third time last year after a 3-1 win over Egypt’s Tarek Momen, a surprise finalist.
El Shorbagy, 27, won the Qatar Classic in 2013, 2015 and 2017 and also appeared in the final of the 2012 and 2014 PSA World Championships, in Doha.
The Egyptian will look to keep his superb run going in Qatar but is expected face resistance from the likes of World No.2 Ali Farag, 2011 winner Gregory Gaultier and the in form Simon Rosner and Miguel Angel Rodriguez as he looks to take the lion’s share of the prize purse.
Historically, England’s Peter Nicol secured the tournament’s first title in 2001 after defeating Australia’s David Palmer in the final. He repeated the same feat the following year against the same opponent.
Former World No.1 duo, Lee Beachill and James Willstrop, kept the title in English hands either side of a short break in 2004 while the World Championship was held in Qatar before Egyptian trio Ramy Ashour, Amr Shabana and Karim Darwish took up the mantle of the Qatar Classic champion over the next three tournaments.
Tickets for the six-day event will soon be on sale in selected malls and locations across Qatar, organisers said in a statement yesterday.