In the Men's tournament at Honkong Squash Open Egyptian maverick Ramy Ashour marked his return to PSA World Tour action with an entertaining 3-0 win over Indian number one Saurav Ghosal that saw the three-time World Champion moving without any signs of the hamstring issues that have plagued him over the past few years.
Ashour has missed the lion's share of the past two seasons on Tour and has seen his World Ranking plummet to a decade-low No.12, but he looked to have put his demons to rest as he scampered around court in an encounter that saw both men produce fast-paced, entertaining play before Ashour sealed it 12-10 in the third.
"Of course I'm happy to get off to a winning start," said Ashour afterwards.
"It's good to have a purpose. It's been a tough couple of years and I'm looking forward to understanding myself better and being more consistent.
"I think I'm healthy - at least I am up to now. I just want to have a good relationship with my body an keep it that way. It gives you confidence to come through a match - it lets me know I'm doing something right and it's good to be back."
Ashour will face compatriot Marwan ElShorbagy - the man he limped off court against last time out during April's El Gouna International - in the next round after the 23-year-old came through a tough five-game battle with Switzerland's Nicolas Mueller while World Champion Gregory Gaultier got off to a commanding winning start against compatriot Gregoire Marche.
2016 Hong Kong Open – Men’s First Round, Bottom Half Results:
[4] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-2: 11-3, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7 (50m)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 12-10 (47m)
Simon Rösner (GER) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-2 (38m)
[5] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (57m)
[7] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-1: 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7 (53m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (36m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (35m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (40m)
2016 Hong Kong Open – Men’s Second Round Draw
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) v [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) v James Willstrop (ENG)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [WC] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG)
[4] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Ramy Ashour (EGY)
Simon Rösner (GER) v [5] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[7] Ali Farag (EGY) v Max Lee (HKG)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
2016 Hong Kong Open – Women’s First Round, Bottom Half Results:
[4] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) 3-2: 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5 (68m)
[9] Joelle King (NZL) bt [Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (44m)
[WC] Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) bt [14] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 3-2: 1-11, 4-11, 11-7, 18-16, 11-7 (52m)
[6] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 3-2: 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 11-6 (52m)
[5] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [Q] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (29m)
[13] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (36m)
[15] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [Q] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (31m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-2: 11-6, 9-11, 15-13, 7-11, 11-3 (60m)
2016 Hong Kong Open - Women's Second Round Draw:
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [11] Annie Au (HKG)
[10] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v [8] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [12] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[16] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
[4] Nicol David (MAS) v [9] Joelle King (NZL)
[WC] Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) v [6] Camille Serme (FRA)
[5] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [13] Alison Waters (ENG)
[15] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [2] Laura Massaro (ENG)
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