Malaysian World No. 1 Nicol David plays a shot against Line Hansen of Denmark in the first round of the Qatar Classic squash tournament yesterday. David won in straight games
Sports Reporter/Doha

The top three women seeds had an easy passage into the second round of the Qatar Classic squash tournament at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday.
World No. 1 Nicol David of Malaysia sent Line Hansen of Denmark packing in straight games to kick-start her campaign for a fifth title in Doha on an emphatic note.
Such was David’s domination over her hapless rival that she took only 25 minutes to complete the 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 rout and issue a warning to the field at the prestigious event.
Second seeded Englishwoman Jenny Duncalf, meanwhile, thrashed Sina Wall of Germany 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 in just 20 minutes
The third seeded Rachel Grinham, of Australia, also had an easy outing, ousting Yathreb Adel of Egypt in 26 minutes. Grinham won 11-8, 11-5, 11-2.
“It’s just the start of another tournament,” said David. “I wanted to come in strong at the start, and I don’t think Line was feeling the court as well as I was, so I tried to take advantage of that as much as I could.”
In the men’s section Peter Barker and Thierry Lincou both made it to the last 16 as expected.
Barker, the seventh seed, started off very comfortably by taking a 2-0 lead but his Malaysian rival Ong Beng Hee fought back to pull a game back to extend the match into the fourth game, with the Englishman finally prevailing 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-2 in 63 minutes.
Frenchman Lincou, however had to rally from two games down before showing the door to Egyptian Hicham Ashour. Lincou won 9-1, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6.
“Anything I was putting in the front ended in the tin, and I couldn’t find any length either as he was twisting and turning me too much,” said Lincou about the first two games. “I was only able to play one rally the whole match where I was in control.”
Meanwhile, Australian David Palmer, playing for the last time in Doha, was given a good workout by Scotsman Alan Clyne. The Aussie eighth seed won 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4 in just under an hour.
“At the end it wasn’t the best,” said Palmer. “But I will take the win. Nowadays I take what I can, but tomorrow I’ll have to play better.”