by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

In the opening round and the next, the quarter-finals, she emerged successful by the very minimum two point margin in the deciding fifth game.

She recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Sally Obama (5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9), prior to causing an upset of note by overcoming Malamatenia Papadimitrou of Greece, the top seed (8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 12-10).

A semi-final place against the odds for Alaa Yehia, it was the same for her compatriot, Shad Sameh. In the group phase of proceedings, she had unexpectedly concluded her itinerary of matches in first place ahead of Malamatenia Papadimitrou. A direct entry to the quarter-finals, she accounted for Sohaila Medhat, also from Egypt (11-7, 11-2, 11-4) to be assured of a place on the podium.

Two surprise semi-finalists, two as expected; Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci, the no.2 seed, likewise directly through to the quarter-finals, accounted for the host nation’s Meral Khaled (11-5, 11-7, 11-8); Farida Badawy after beating compatriot, Sara El-Hakem, the no.4 seed (9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6), ended the hopes of Hana Mahmoud, also from the host nation.

At the semi-final stage Shad Sameh faces Farida Badawy, Alaa Yehia opposes Fadwa Garci.

Meanwhile, in the penultimate round of the Cadet Girls’ Doubles event, Farida Badawy and Malamatenia Papadimitrou oppose Egypt’s Hend Fathy and Alaa Yehia; in the lower half of the draw it is the Egyptian pairing of Nada Hashem and Rawan Zakaria in opposition to Fadwa Garci and Hana Mamoud.

Proceedings conclude in Sharm El-Shiekh on Sunday 15th October.