The QTerminals Qatar Classic Squash Championship 2026, organized by the Qatar Sports Federation, opened yesterday on the courts of the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, from the twelfth to the eighteenth of this September.
The opening match witnessed the loss of the star of our national team, Abdullah Al-Tamimi, to the Egyptian Karim Abdel-Gawad in the round of 32 matches, with a score of 3-1, after a strong match with a score of 11-7, 15-13, 5-11, and 11-8.
In the men’s competition, Egyptian Mostafa Assal, ranked first, began his campaign with a quick victory over Swiss Nicholas Muller 3-0, 11-6, 11-6, 11-4, in 26 minutes.
As for Peruvian Diego Elias, the third seed, he only lost to American Timmy Brunell, with a score of 3-2, 5-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7, in a match that lasted 57 minutes.
Englishman Marawan El-Shorbagy, seeded seventh, won over Spaniard Bernat Jaume 3-0, while the confrontation between Swiss Yannick Wilhelmi and Scot Greg Le Pen witnessed one of yesterday’s most prominent comebacks, after Wilhelmi came back from two periods behind to win 3-2 in a marathon match that lasted 85 minutes.
Frenchman Baptiste Masotti also defeated Colombian Khawar Vargas, 3-2, and Egyptian Mohamed Abu El-Enein defeated Englishman Declan James, 3-0, while German Rafael Kandra lost to Egyptian Mohamed Zakaria, ranked sixth, 3-1.
In the women’s competition, Egyptian Hania El Hamami, seeded first, began her campaign by defeating her compatriot Hana Moataz 3-1, while her compatriot Nouran Gohar, seeded fifth, achieved a quick victory over Kenzi Ayman 3-0.
Malaysian Sivasangari Subra Maniam, seeded fourth, defeated Egyptian Sanaa Ibrahim 3-1.
Egyptian Malak Khafaji defeated Malaysian Ayra Azman 3-2.
Abdullah Al-Tamimi: My absence from the competitions made it difficult to return
Our squash team player, Abdullah Al-Tamimi, confirmed that his participation in the Qatar Squash Championship, despite his loss to Egyptian Karim Abdel-Gawad in the opening match, represents an important step in his preparation for the upcoming events, the closest of which is the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, pointing out that the tournament witnesses the participation of an elite group of the best players in the world, which makes the competition very strong.
Al Tamimi said: “Thank God for everything. The tournament is very strong, especially as it witnesses the participation of a large number of world champions and ranked players, so I knew that the competition would not be easy. “I faced a great player like Karim Abdel-Gawad, who is one of the players with experience and high level, and therefore the match was an important opportunity for me.”
He added: My absence from competitions during the last period made it difficult to return, but I believe that participating in this tournament represents the best preparation for me for the next stage.
He continued: “My main ambition is the Asian Games in Japan, and I hope to be in the best preparation to compete strongly and achieve a medal. I know that the path will not be easy, but I have the desire and ambition, and I will work with all my strength during the coming period to reach the level that qualifies me to achieve this goal.”
Al-Tamimi concluded his speech by saying: “My absence for an additional year made me have a greater desire to return and achieve victories, and this absence motivates me more to work, work hard and not give up.”
Karim Abdel Gawad: My hope is to reach advanced positions
Egyptian player Karim Abdel-Gawad expressed his happiness with the victory he achieved over Al-Tamimi in the opening of the Qatar Squash Championship, stressing that his return to competition after the injury period was an important factor for him, and that facing Al-Tamimi was a good and useful test at the beginning of his career after his return.
Karim said: “I am very happy to return to playing again after the injury, and I believe that playing a strong match against a distinguished player like Al Tamimi is a good thing for me, especially since I needed such confrontations to regain my level and self-confidence.
He added: “I thank everyone for their attendance and support, and I thank the fans who created a wonderful atmosphere during the match. Qatar is one of the best countries that organizes sports tournaments, and the organization here is always at the highest level.”
Karim continued: “I hope to start the season strong, and to appear in a distinctive way during the coming period, and I hope to present the level that befits the tournament, and to continue developing match after match.”
A dinner party in honor of the tournament participants
The organizing committee of the QTerminals Qatar Classic Squash Championship 2026 held a dinner party in honor of the male and female players participating in the tournament, on the eve of the start of its competitions, which are held within the Platinum category tournaments on the Professional Squash Players Association tour. The ceremony was held at the Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay Hotel, in the presence of an elite group of the most prominent squash players in the world, as well as a number of officials, members of the organizing committee, representatives of sponsors and guests of the tournament.
The ceremony witnessed the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Mr. Tariq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation and tournament director, along with members of the Federation’s Board of Directors, members of the organizing committee, and a number of personalities and guests.
The stars of the tournament participating in the ceremony presented the Egyptian Mustafa Assal, ranked first in the world, the New Zealander Paul Cole, the defending champion, and the Egyptian Hania El Hamami, along with a number of the most prominent male and female performers, and the star of the Qatari national team, Abdullah Al Tamimi.
During the evening, the players exchanged conversations about their previous participations and experiences, and they also expressed their aspiration for the upcoming competitions in this year’s edition, whose total prize money exceeds 480,000 US dollars.