Aly Hussein was one of two Egyptians to claim surprise victories today to reach the men’s quarter-finals at the World Squash Federation Junior Championships ©WSF

Egypt’s Mostafa Asal and Aly Hussein both claimed surprise victories today to reach the men’s quarter-finals at the World Squash Federation Junior Championships in New Zealand.

But there was disappointment for compatriot Nada Abbas who suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of unranked American Marina Stefanoni at the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre in Tauranga.

Asal beat the higher-seeded Kyle Finch of England 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, while Hussein became the only unseeded player in the last eight after overcoming India’s Adhitya Raghavan 11-3, 8-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3.

Next up for Asal is number two seed Mohammad Al Sarraj, bidding to become the first Jordanian to win a world squash title.

Al Sarraj ended the giant-killing run of unseeded Colombian Matias Knudsen, beating the 17-year-old 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10.

"That was close, he plays proper squash and made me work hard," the world number 89 said.

"I didn't play my best, but I needed that level of intensity to get properly into the tournament and to get used to the court.

"I'll be ready tomorrow."

Awaiting Hussein in the quarter-finals is Frenchman Victor Crouin, an 11-6, 11-6, 11-0 winner over Malaysia’s Darren Rahul Pragasam.

Egypt’s Youssef Ibrahim and Marwan Tarek have also progressed, meaning the country has four representatives in the men’s quarter-finals for the first time in seven years.

The United States' Marina Stefanoni claimed a shock win over Egypt's Nada Abbas ©WSF
The United States' Marina Stefanoni claimed a shock win over Egypt's Nada Abbas ©WSF

In the women’s draw, world number 37 Abbas lost 10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 9-11 to Stefanoni.

"I'd never played her before, but I watched her play yesterday and saw how her opponent was winning points so I tried to replicate that," Stefanoni said.

"I started well but she fought back and I had to try to catch up again.

"At 6-1 in the fourth I lost a bit of focus, thinking it would be pretty cool to be in the quarters, but at 7-6 down I knew I had to get back to my game.

"It feels great to be in the quarters, really excited about that."

Stefanoni is now due to play Japan’s Satomi Watanabe.

She defeated England’s Lucy Turmel 11-8, 11-4, 11-6.

An Egyptian semi-finalist is assured in the bottom half of the draw with Amina Yousry and Zeina Mickawy meeting in the last eight.

Yousry beat Hong Kong's Lui Hiu Lam 11-2, 4-11, 11-8, 11-2 and second seed Mickawy overcame Malaysian Aifa Azman 12-10, 13-11, 11-7.

"She's an up and coming player and she's going to be something, so all the pressure was on me," said Mickawy of her 15-year-old opponent.

"Happy to get through that in three."