Squash Challenger Cup - Round 2 - Ipswich Sports Club

Day Two : Seeds skittled in Round Two

Seeded players were scattered like skittles at the Ipswich Sports Club PSA 12k Challenger second round last night.

CRASH: Down went the men’s #1 and #2 seeds Viktor Byrtus and Mohamed Zakaria, victims of Ameeshshenraj Chandaran and Darren Pragasam.

BANG: Out went the women’s second and third seeds Millie Tomlinson and Asia Harris, despatched by Egypt’s Nour Heikal and Wales star Lowri Roberts in front of another full house.

WALLOP: Men’s fourth seed Noor Zaman from Pakistan became the latest victim of England wonder kid Jonah Bryant. It took the teenager from Shorham on Sea just 27 minutes to send Zaman on his way.

And just for good measure, highly fancied seventh seeds, Alison Thomson and Aqeel Rehman from Austria were both packing their bags early.

Women’s top seed Katie Malliff looked strong despite dropping a game to French player Lea Barbeau. Her path to the ultimate PSA title was made slightly easier by the shock defeat by Tomlinson. Heikal looked sharp and determined as she laid out her stall to match anything Tomlinson could throw at her.

Pragasam’s victory over Egyptian teenage sensation Zakaria was equally unexpected but well deserved on the night. Ditto, Chandaran’s win over top dog Byrtus. Few people saw that coming. Bryant look composed and confident as he followed up his first round win over a seeded player by doing the same on night two removing Zaman 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 in 27 minutes.

Declan James had a 50-minute tester against Brice Nicholas as he returns from an ACL injury last year. Dec came through 3-0 and is getting stronger. An eye injury didn’t help Brice’s cause although he was always up against it against the more experienced Englishman.

Local player Owain Taylor delivered for the home crowed who were in good voice all evening. The atmosphere was cranked up a few notches as Owain took on New Zealand hope Elijah Thomas. Owain’s 3-0 win was deserved albeit never easy.