At 6:30 p.m. on October 30, 2024, the China Squash Open officially reignited after a five-year hiatus, taking place at the iconic "Moon Bay" arena in the SPD Oriental Sports Center. 

Highlight Matches:

Wildcard Entry Zhou Penglin vs. Omar Mosaad 

In a highly anticipated first-round match, Chinese rising star Zhou Penglin, competing on a wildcard, faced former world No. 3 and current No. 40-ranked player Omar Mosaad from Egypt, a powerhouse in squash. Despite being only 22 years old and facing an experienced opponent, Zhou showed no signs of intimidation. 

“This is a great opportunity for Chinese athletes to gain experience. Competing against top players at home is a learning process. I’ll stay relaxed and give it my all, treating every rally seriously,” Zhou said before the match. 

Although Zhou eventually lost 0-3, his tenacity throughout the game captured the crowd's admiration. The scores of 6-11, 7-11, and 9-11 showed his gradual improvement across the match, signaling great promise for the future of squash in China. 

Wildcard Entry Zhou Penglin vs. Omar Mosaad 

At 8:15 p.m., Liu Ziyi, another Chinese rising star, stepped onto the court for her debut match against Nadine Shahin, currently ranked No. 41 in the world. Liu, the national champion in both the U17 and U19 categories, was making her first appearance for the national team in front of a home crowd during a PSA tour event. 

“I’m honored to face such a great player and excited to see how my skills measure up. It’s a valuable learning experience,” Liu said in a pre-match interview. 

Despite her 0-3 loss, Liu's resilience was evident, with the final game ending in a narrow 9-11, proving she can compete at a high level. 

Wildcard Entry Zhou Penglin vs. Omar Mosaad 

One of the day’s most anticipated matches featured Mohamed Zakaria, the reigning Junior World Champion, against Chinese national team member Li Haizhen. Zakaria made history in October 2023 as the youngest-ever PSA title winner at just 16 years old. Now, at 17, he aims to make his mark at Moon Bay. 

A large crowd, including many young squash enthusiasts, gathered to watch Zakaria in action. Despite facing a formidable opponent, Li exuded confidence: “We are all human; everyone makes mistakes and has weaknesses. My focus is to play my game and stay in the moment.” 

Li struggled in the opening game, losing 1-11 as he tried to find his rhythm. However, he adjusted his strategy in the second game, winning a long rally that lasted nearly a minute, earning the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers. Zakaria secured a 3-0 victory and will face Sweden’s fifth seed, Dimitri Steinmann, in tomorrow’s match — a thrilling encounter to look forward to. 

Strong Performances from Hong Kong China Players 

Tomaato Ho, Leung Chi Hin Henry and Tsz Kwan Lau advanced to the next round, where they will compete against seeded players for a spot in the quarterfinals. 

Advancements by International Players 

In other men’s matches, Simon Herbert from the UK, Jonah Bryant from Spain, and Egyptian stars Mohamed Abouelghar and Yahya El Nawasany all advanced to the second round. 

On the women’s side, Nour Aboulmakarimand Salma El Tayebfrom Egypt, Joelle King from Australia, and Ainaa Amani from Malaysia also secured their places in the next round. 

Seeded Players to Compete Tomorrow 

Tomorrow, all seeded players will make their tournament debuts, promising another day full of action-packed and thrilling matches. 

From: FindingSquash