Waters sails into quarter-finals

ISLAMABAD: Siyoli Waters started her campaign in the $10,000 2nd Bahria Town International Women Squash championship in blistering fashion, clearing the first hurdle in style at the Bahria Town’s
Safari Club courts here on Wednesday.
Top seed South African downed Zulhijjah Binti Azan of Malaysia
11-3, 11-9, 11-4 to make it to the quarter-finals of the WSA Tour 10 tournament.
She was quick on her feet and showed aggressive intent when it really mattered to rattle her opponent in all three games. Though the Malaysian did make some adjustment in the second game, she was unable to crack Waters’ stranglehold on the match.
The world No 34 Waters will now meet Indian qualifier Sachika Ingale, who struggled to beat Slovakia’s Linda Hruzikova in an epic five-game thriller 8-11, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8.
After going down 1-2, last year’s champion Ingale fought back to win two of the next three games to advance to the quarter-finals.
Maria Toorpakai Wazir emerged as the lone Pakistani survivor in the tournament as Sadia Gul and Moqaddas Ashraf (both qualifiers) lost their first round matches.
The world No 71 Maria disposed of Hong Kong’s Vanessa Chu in four
games, winning the match 12-10, 12-10, 8-12, 11-9. It took Maria 46 minutes and a lot of effort to overpower Vanessa.
The Pakistani, who now resides in Canada, however, faces a tough challenge in the quarter-finals where she will meet second seed Nadine Shahin of Egypt.
Nadine proved too good for Moqaddas, taking just 17 minutes to win 11-4, 11-4, 11-7.
Malaysia’s Deputy High Commissioner Aiuob was the guest of honour on Tuesday.
He was received by Bahria Town’s Vice Chief Executive Commodore (r) Mohammad Ilyas on his arrival at the Safari Club.
Results (x denotes seeded player): Siyoli Waters (RSA x1) bt Zulhijjah Binti Azan (MAS) 11-3, 11-9, 11-4; Sachika Ingale (IND) bt Linda Hruzikova (SVK) 8-11, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8; Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG x3) bt Sadia Gul (PAK) 11-4, 11-5, 11-4; Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) bt Carmen Lee (HKG) 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5; Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt Amina Yousry (EGY) 11-9, 11-3, 3-11, 11-3; Teh Min Jie (MAS) bt Cheyna Tucker (RSA x4) 11-9, 11-6, 11-9; Maria Toorpakai Wazir (PAK) bt Vanessa Chu (HK) 12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9; Nadine Shahin (EGY x2) bt Moqaddas Ashraf (PAK) 11-4, 11-4, 11-5.
Quarter-finals line-up: Siyoli Waters (RSA) v Sachika Ingale (IND), Liu Tsz-Ling (HK) v Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY); Rachel Arnold (MAS) v Teh Min Jie (MAS); Maria Toorpakai Wazir (PAK) vs Nadine Shahin (EGY).