RIYADH: Saudi Arabian wildcard Nada Abo Alnaja put up a brave fight before being beaten by No.2 seed Camille Serme of France at the inaugural Saudi PSA Women’s Squash Masters. Serme eventually eased into round two of the tournament in Riyadh with an accomplished display, dispatching Alnaja by three sets to love — 11-1, 11-3, 11-2.
The Saudi Women’s Masters is the first professional women’s squash tournament ever to take place in Saudi Arabia and offers up to $165,000 in prize money in addition to vital points for the PSA Women’s World Series Standings, where players battle for a top eight place which will guarantee them a coveted spot in June’s PSA World Series Finals.
Following recent initiatives from the General Authority of Sports in Saudi Arabia to increase sporting participation and awareness across the country, the $165,000 tournament will play a crucial role in inspiring a new generation of Saudis to become active within sport.
The staging of the tournament comes hot on the heels of the Saudi General Sports Authority approving three football stadiums to allow women to attend Saudi Professional League matches for the first time.
Meanwhile, Egyptian world No.1 Nour El-Sherbini (pictured above) will take on fellow Egyptian Hania El-Hammamy for a place in the quarterfinals.
KSA wildcard Nada Abo Alnaja bows out of Saudi Women’s Masters
KSA wildcard Nada Abo Alnaja bows out of Saudi Women’s Masters
