by Ian Marshall, Editor

In 2012 and 2014 on both occasions in Cairo, as well as two years ago in Agadir, she won the Mixed Doubles title in partnership with Egyptian colleague, Omar Assar; this year in Port Louis, she partners Ahmed Ali Saleh.

The top seeds, the duo booked their place in the penultimate round courtesy of a quarter-final success in opposition to Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun and Offiong Edem (11-9, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6), the stage at which matches became best of seven games, as opposed to best of five games in the earlier rounds.

Success for Ahmed Ali Saleh and Dina Meshref, it was the same for colleagues Mohamed El-Beiali and Farah Abdel-Aziz, as well as for Khalid Assar and Yousra Helmy, the respective third and fourth seeded pairings.

Similar to Ahmed Ali Saleh and Dina Meshref, the early rounds safely negotiated, at the quarter-final stage both pairs halted South African ambitions. Mohamed El-Beiali and Farah Abdel-Aziz overcame Theo Cogill and Simeen Mookrey (9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9); Khalid Assar and Yousra Helmy accounted for Kurt Lingeveldt and Danisha Patel (11-9, 11-3, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6).

Medals reserved for Egypt, it was the same for Nigeria, who fielded the one pair that had previously won the Mixed Doubles title at an African Championships. Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike, the no.2 seeds and winners in 2002 in Bizerte reserved their place on the medal podium by overcoming Algeria’s Sami Kherouf and Kynda Loghraibi (11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6).

At the semi-final stage, Ahmed Ali Saleh and Dina Meshref meet Khalid Assar and Yoursa Helmy; Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike oppose Mohamed El-Beiali and Farah Abdel-Aziz.

The semi-finals and finals of the Mixed Doubles event will be played on Friday 7th September.

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Monday 3rd September

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Tuesday 4th September

2018 ITTF African Championships: Newsletter – Wednesday 5th September