by Ian Marshall, Editor
In the second phase of proceedings, for players who had secured first and second positions on day one, Youssef Abdel-Aziz finished ahead of Libya’s Habeb Alajaebi, Cameroon’s Yaoussou Ahmed Nenba and the Ivory Coast’s Bri André Philippe Bly.
A place in the quarter-finals reserved; he accounted for Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke (9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8, 13-11) and Algeria’s Abdelbasset Chaichi (11-2, 11-1, 11-3, 11-6) to reserve his place in the final where the good form continued. He overcame Tunisia’s Youssef Ben Attia, the no.2 seed (11-1, 11-7, 11-2, 11-4) to secure the top prize.
Earlier, Youssef Ben Attia had concluded matters in first place in his second stage group ahead of Azeez Siolanke, Morocco’s Salim Karam and Angola’s Alberto Fernando José Tchihengo. Successfully through to the last eight, he accounted for Habeb Alajaebi (11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4) and Gabon’s Andy Bringald (11-6, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4) to reserve his place in the final.
Impressive from Youssef Abdel-Aziz, it was the same from Marwa Alhodaby.
She reserved top spot in her second phase group matches ahead of Ethiopia’s Kenean Getu Mekonnen and Morocco’s Diana Noha Arangay. In the main draw, she recorded wins over the Ivory Coast’s Aniouvi Bertine Rebecca Houngue (11-3, 11-2, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7), Nigeria’s Esther Tosin Oribamise (5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7) and Tunisia’s Manel Baklouti, the no.3 seed (11-8, 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7) to reserve the top step of the podium.
Defeat for Manel Baklouti but it was a most praiseworthy effort. She had secured first place in her second phase group ahead of Aniouvi Bertine Rebecca Houngue and Burundi’s Mamounata Derra, prior to accounting for Kenean Getu Mekonnen (11-5, 11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9) and Nandeshwaree Lilowtee Jalim of Mauritius (11-9, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7) to reserve her place in the final.
Notably one round earlier Nandeshwaree Lilowtee Jalim had beaten Algeria’s Loubna Djedjk, the no.2 seed (11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9).
Play in the individual events concluded; the Mixed Team competitions commence on Monday 23rd July.
