Maria enters semis of Bahria Squash

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Maria Toorpakai Wazir upset second seed Egyptian Nadine Shahin in four games to earn a place in the semi-finals of the 2nd Bahria Town International Women Squash championship here at Safari Club Bahria Town squash courts.
In quarter-finals of the $10,000 event on Thursday, Maria outwitted Nadine 11-5, 12-14, 11-7, 11-4. Maria’s movement in the court was excellent as she put the Egyptian under pressure right from the word go.
After Maria won the first game with ease, Nadine was seen playing for everything in the second. The neck-and-neck battle in the second game found Nadine pinning down a couple of excellent drop shots. Maria was also in attacking mood but was unlucky to have lost it.
The Pakistan girl was in exceptional form in the next two games with Nadine failing to match the tempo. Her cross-court and down the line shots from top of the court sometimes left the Egyptian stunned.
“It is one of the best results of my career. I tried hard in the match knowing well that I have got a chance here,” Maria said. “It was offensive strategy that brought fruits for me,” she added.
Nadine was all praise for Maria. “She seemed to be in good form. Maria played well and deserved the win,” she said.
Maria will now meet Teh Min Jie (MAS) who defeated her compatriot
Rachel Arnold 7-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 in another quarter-final. Their fight last 46 minutes.
Top seed Siyoli Waters’ (RSA) ruthless form continued with another easy win, this time against Indian qualifier Sachika Ingale 11-5, 11-8, 11-7.
She took just 22 minutes to win against the Indian who failed to match the tempo at the outset.
Waters will now meet 3rd seed Liu Tsz-Ling of Hong Kong, who put curtains on Farah Abdel Meguid (EGY) with a 11-4, 14-12, 12-10 victory.
Tsz-Ling will take on Waters in the first semi-final on Friday (today) at 3pm. The second semi-final will see Teh Min Jie (MAS) playing Maria Toorpakai Wazir an hour later.