appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Mike Chan

England’s rising star Jonah Bryant said he was ready to take over the baton for a new generation of players after knocking out compatriot and former world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy at the Hong Kong Squash Open on Tuesday.
Bryant, 20, recorded a 3-1 victory over the 34-year-old El Shorbagy at Hong Kong Squash Centre to reach his third platinum quarter-final this season.
“I am really happy; it’s always a big match coming through against a legend of the sport like that,” world No 14 Bryant said. “He’s been a legend of our game for the past 10 years.
“Obviously, I know he’s nowhere near what he was 10 years ago in his prime, but still really happy to get the win today. I’m over the moon to win over an idol in squash.”
After conceding the first two games, El Shorbagy took the third but it was Bryant – having reached a career-high ranking of 13 in the world only last month – who took the 11-7, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5 win to square the ledger with the former Egyptian representative, having lost in the London Classic in September.

“At the start, I was on the winning end of the short rallies, which was, I think, the big difference,” Bryant said. “I managed to get the first game started well, in the second again, and then the third was much more level.
“I was pretty disappointed with the end of the third the way I played, but I think I did all right to regroup in the fourth and come back.”
Bryant and El Shorbagy were teammates when England won the European Team Squash Championships in Wroclaw, Poland, in May, and the younger player said he had been learning a lot from the legendary player.
“From the very start, I watched him when he was at the top of the game, winning all the tournaments, definitely someone I’ve looked up to,” said Bryant, who was born in Brighton in 2005.
“He’s given me plenty of advice on the psychological aspect of the game, but also the squash side: how to handle yourself in certain situations and off the court.”
Currently sitting five places behind El Shorbagy, things could change for Bryant – playing for the first time in Hong Kong – if he keeps winning.
“That’s the plan [to take over the baton], hopefully. I don’t want to stay behind him forever,” he said. “But I just take it match by match and see where we end up.

“I am just not too focused on the results. It’s more behind the scenes. You know, the day-to-day process of getting everything you need to get done in a day, training hard, doing everything I can to maximise my ability.”
Next up for Bryant is a Thursday quarter-final – in the glass court at Ocean Park Entry Plaza – against world No 12 Leonel Cardenas. The Mexican walked into the last eight after Joel Makin of Wales forfeited his match because of a knee injury and has returned home for surgery.
“It’s a massive chance for both of us, so he’ll give it everything, I’ll give it everything, and we’ll see it comes out on top,” said Bryant, who had won both previous meetings against Cardenas.
“I’ve had a big break between the US and here; I had a six-week block of training, so I put a lot of hard work in, spent a lot of hours on court, and we’ll see; hopefully that will shine through this week.”
Makin was not the only player to withdraw on the second day, with Mazen Hesham of Egypt also pulling out with injury, sending compatriot and reigning champion Mostafa Asal through to the third round.
In the women’s event, Egyptian duo Hania El Hammamy and Nour El Sherbini, as well as Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia, all won their ties to advance to the last eight.


Hong Kong Squash Open: Egypt stars Nour El Sherbini and Mostafa Asal crowned champions

Hong Kong Squash Open: El Sherbini ‘not done yet’ after toppling world’s best El Hammamy

Hong Kong Squash Open: Japan’s Watanabe summons grit to shock teenager Orfi

Hong Kong Squash Open: Mostafa Asal 2 wins from title but misses facing retired Farag

Hong Kong Squash Open

Hong Kong Squash Open: Jonah Bryant ready to carry baton for next gen after win over idol

England’s Jonah Bryant (right) knocked out teammate and former world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy on Tuesday. Photo: Handout

Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam (right) beat France’s Melissa Alves. Photo: Handout

Hania El Hammamy (front) beat Wales’ Tesni Murphy and will next face Subramaniam. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong Squash Open: Henry Leung lauds new coach despite narrow defeat to world No 13

Henry Leung said he was happy to “play a close game” against Briton Jonah Bryant. Photo: Handout

Tomato Ho wore black in tribute to the victims of the Tai Po fire. Photo: Mike Chan

Hong’s world No 50 Tong Tsz-wing (right) also lost in the first round. Photo: Handout

Kai Tak Arena curfew that made Hong Kong a snooker joke to be scrapped, official says

Neil Robertson celebrates winning the World Grand Prix in March at Kai Tak Arena. Photo: Dickson Lee

Spectators watch the first round match between eventual runner-up Stuart Bingham and Mark Williams. Photo: Elson Li

Sport

Hong Kong

Other Sport

World No 14 beats England teammate and former world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy to reach his third platinum quarter-final of the season


World No 14 beats England teammate and former world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy to reach his third platinum quarter-final of the season.


Hong Kong Squash Open: Jonah Bryant ready to carry baton for next gen after win over idol

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}World No 14 beats England teammate and former world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy to reach his third platinum quarter-final of the season

World No 14 beats England teammate and former world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy to reach his third platinum quarter-final of the season