World #1 Farag withdraws

World No.1 and World Champion Ali Farag has unfortunately been forced to withdraw from the upcoming MARIGOLD Singapore Squash Open Gold event, set to start in just five days time.

Farag has not recovered from the knee injury that he picked up at the U.S Open last month, which forced him out of the final against Diego Elias after just 2 points.

Compatriot and World No.3 Mostafa Asal now becomes the second seed for the event and after receiving a bye in round one will face either compatriot Omar Mosaad or England’s Patrick Rooney in round two.

QTerminals Qatar Classic and Oracle NetSuite Open Champion Mohamed ElShorbagy has moved into a top-four seeded position and will await either German #1 Raphael Kandra or event wildcard Samuel Kang in the second round.

France’s Victor Crouin will look to continue his excellent start to the season as he moves into the top eight and after his round one bye will play either compatriot Gregoire Marche or Egypt’s Mohamed ElSherbini for a place in the quarter finals.

French No.3 Baptiste Masotti is now a 9/16 seed and plays dangerous Egyptian Moustafa El Sirty in round one, whilst fellow Frenchman Sebastien Bonmalais takes the available spot in the draw and will play former British Open Champion Miguel Rodriguez for a spot in round two.

Update 11-Nov : Egypt’s Omar Mosaad has also withdrawn, replaced by India’s Ramit Tandon, who will meet Patrick Rooney in Round One.