The 17-year-old, who is currently ranked 831st in the world rankings, recorded an 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-8 victory to secure first place in his group.

Helmy was one of only two players in the qualification stage of the men’s singles event to possess global status with the other being Nigeria’s Sunday Akomolate, the world number 885.

Just 14-years-old, Akomolate fell to an 9-11, 11-9, 4-11, 7-11, 16-14, 6-11 defeat at the hands of team-mate Nurudeen Hassan in his final group stage contest and consequently failed to progress.

Hassan was one of 11 Nigerian players to book their place in the main draw along with fellow group winners Ahmed Bello, Tobi Falana, Makanjuola Kazeem, Sunday Odunlade, Azeez Olugbenga Jamiu, Kazeem Adeniyi, Hammed Adeyinka, Babatunde Babafemi, Taiwo Mati and Akinwale Fagbamilia.

Russia’s Vasilij Filatov overcame Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo 11-7, 11-1, 11-2, 7-11, 11-8 to top his group with an unbeaten record.

Joining him in the main draw are Portugal’s Diogo Carvalho and Zhao Tianming, and Romania’s Alexandru Cazacu.

In the women’s singles, home hope Ajoke Ojomu beat Congo’s Onyinyechi Nwachukwu 11-5, 12-14, 11-9, 14-12, 11-6 to reach the first round of the main draw.

"I had not played against her before but I knew the significance of playing on the World Tour," said the 16-year-old Ojomu. 

"I wanted to win so that I can make it to the last-16 of the tournament.

"I will take each match as it comes.

"I am so excited that I am progressing."

There was also preliminary round success for European players as Russia’s Tatiana Garnova and Anna Rossikhina, and Portugal’s Olga Chramko all emerged victorious.

Garnova beat Mexico’s Mercedes Madrid 11-3, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8, while Rossikhina defeated Tunisia’s Safa Saidani 12-10, 11-7, 11-3, 11-1 and Chramko ended the hopes of the host nation’s Esther Oribamese with an 11-5, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 win.