By Sports Reporter/Doha
The main draw of the Qatar Circuit II, a PSA M15 tournament, begins today at the Khalifa Tennis & Squash Complex and sees Egyptian World No 35 Omar Abdel Meguid lead a competitive field for what is the last PSA World Tour event of 2015.
With nine PSA World Tour titles to his name, Meguid is one of the most successful players in the draw but, after failing to lift silverware so far in 2015, is running out of time to prevent this year from being a barren one.
The 27-year-old has reached three finals in the past 12 months but has been unable to convert any of those appearances into PSA World Tour titles as yet.
Meguid faced wildcard and local player Syed Azlan Amjad in the opening round as he bids to kickstart his tournament with a win.
Qatar’s top player Abdulla Mohd al-Tamimi, seeded sixth, will take on a qualifier in his opening clash today.
Malaysian Ivan Yuen is also looking to get in on the title winning-act. He has captured two PSA World Tour titles this year with his most recent coming at the Malaysian Tour Squash XI last month.
Yuen lines up against compatriot Addeen Idrakie in the first round as the pair meet for the first time on the PSA World Tour.
World No. 73 Danish Atlas Khan is also one of the forerunners for the crown. Khan won his sole PSA World Tour title of 2015 two months ago at the Life Time Fitness Chicago Open. The 21-year-old failed to make it past the quarter-final stage of the President Gold Cup International Squash Tournament on his last PSA World Tour appearance, however, and will be looking to bounce back in Qatar.
Khan, who has eight career PSA World Tour titles, takes on Ammar Altamimi in round one as he aims to end the year on a high.
New Zealand’s Martin Knight is a dark horse for the event but the 31-year-old is one of the most experienced participants with 13 years behind him on the PSA World Tour. Like Meguid, Knight is yet to claim any silverware this year but did reach the final of the Wasatch Funds Salt Lake City Open in October. He is set to meet a qualifier for a place in the next round.
The quarter-finals will be played tomorrow, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
Main Draw
[1] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) v [WC] Syed Azlan Amjad (QAT)
[Qualifier] v [8] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK)
[6] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) v [Qualifier]
Ammar Altamimi (KUW) v [3] Danish Atlas Khan (PAK)
[4] Martin Knight (NZL) v [Qualifier]
Robert Downer (ENG) v [5] Jens Schoor (GER)
[7] Mazen Gamal (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Addeen Idrakie (MAS) v [2] Ivan Yuen (MAS)
In focus: Qatar’s Abdulla al-Tamimi
