RESULTS: WSF World Junior Squash Championship, Herentals, Belgium
Final:
[2] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [5/8] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (45m)
Marwan El Shorbagy Wins Historic World Title
Two years after his older brother won the title for the second time, 17-year-old Marwan El Shorbagy clinched the 2011WSF Men’s World Junior Individual Squash Championship crown at the Flemish Squash Centre in the Belgian town of Herentals.
Marwan and Mohamed El Shorbagy, currently ranked nine in the world, are the first brothers in the sport’s history to win world individual titles.
In the second successive all-Egyptian climax of the World Squash Federation championship in Belgium, El Shorbagy junior beat close friend Mohamed Abouelghar, a 5/8 seed, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 in 45 minutes.
“I’m so happy right now – I’ve been dreaming of this since I’m 10, and when I saw my brother getting his first title in Switzerland, I wanted so much to win too,” explained the new champion to www.squashsite.co.uk at the presentation ceremony. “You know, I had a terrible night last night, I just couldn’t sleep at all.
“This was a very difficult match mentally, as Mohamed and myself are best friends, and we know each other’s game so well, we’ve been playing each other since we were 10,” added the No2 seed.
“There are so many Egyptian world juniors champions, we keep it going, and teach each other the game of squash!!!
“I have one more year to year to go, and next year will be in Egypt, so I so want to win it, because it will be in my own country. But it will be hard..
“How can I thank Jonah (Barrington) – how can I express all of what that man has done for me. I owe him so much. And I would like to dedicate this title to my dad, whose always been there for me. I need to thank my mum for coming here, and being there with me, and supporting me, and my brother Mohamed for being the best big brother ever.”
Abouelghar, who made his breakthrough in the semi-finals where he defeated defending champion Amr Khaled Khalifa, had mixed feelings afterwards: “I’m disappointed with the result of the match, but not with this tournament.
“I didn’t perform at my best today, I was really tired from yesterday, I didn’t have much left in the tank when I started. And he played well, he made the rallies last, and that was not good for me, I just didn’t have enough energy to play again five long games But that’s all part of the learning process.
“I want to congratulate Marwan, he is a great player. But I’ll be back next year!”
Semi-finals:
[5/8] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [1] Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) 9-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9 (70m)
[2] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [9/16] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (34m)
El Shorbagy & Abouelghar To Contest World Final In Belgium
Mohamed Abouelghar and Marwan El Shorbagy will contest the final of the WSF Men’s World Junior Individual Squash Championship at the Flemish Squash Centre in Herentals in Belgium in the second successive all-Egyptian final of the World Squash Federation championship in its 18th year.
Abouelghar, a 5/8 seed, produced the upset of the tournament when he beat top seed Amr Khaled Khalifa 9-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9 in 70 minutes – denying the defending champion the chance to become only the third player in history to win the title for a second time.
“I’m very happy, but I really cannot really let my emotions out, as there is still tomorrow to play,” said the delighted 17-year-old from Cairo to www.squashsite.co.uk later. “In the beginning, I was over excited, I really went for my shots too early, and made too many errors. Then I started playing serious squash, and I was accurate at the back.
“My dad told me right before the fourth to keep the ball going, that I had nothing to lose, and that’s what I did. I told myself not to make any errors until I reach five. But at 5/2, my mind was too much set on winning, winning, and that led to play too early again.
“This was a match where fitness was really important, so I want to thank my fitness coach, Fery, and my Dad.”
A downcast Khalifa said: “It’s so hard, that pressure, you have to be number one, if you are number two, you are nothing. He played better than me today. I worked so hard in the first game, running after his shots. In the fifth, I didn’t have much left.”
Marwan El Shorbagy is one match away from making squash history by becoming the first brother of any world individual title to become a world champion.
The 17-year-old from Alexandria – whose older brother Mohamed El Shorbagy is a two-time winner of this trophy – took just three games to despatch fellow Egyptian Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry, a 9/16 seed, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 in 34 minutes.
“I spoke with everybody – Mum, Jonah (Barrington), my brother, Ian – and I knew I had to be relaxed today, play squash, not talk to the ref, that’s all I had to do,” explained the exuberant No2 seed.
“I think I played the right game, I didn’t go for silly shots, I was patient, and was waiting for him to make errors, as he goes for a lot of shots.
“He is extremely talented, definitely one of the most talented juniors in Egypt, and I’m pretty sure he’ll put his name on the trophy one day.
“I’m so happy I’m in the final for the first time. Everybody wants the title, I’ll have to be at my 100%, but above everything, I’ll try and play my best squash, and enjoy the moment.”
The final will be a repeat of the 2010 British Junior U17 Open climax, won by El Shorbagy.
Quarter-finals:
[1] Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) bt [5/8] Ramit Tandon (IND) 11-7, 11-7, 17-15 (51m)
[5/8] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [5/8] James Earles (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (33m)
[9/16] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt [5/8] Declan James (ENG) 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (39m)
[2] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [9/16] Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8 (62m)
Egyptians Take Over World Semi-Finals In Belgium
A dramatic day of quarter-final action in the WSF Men’s World Junior Individual Squash Championship in Belgiumhas led to an all-Egyptian semi-final line-up at the Flemish Squash Centre in Herentals.
It is the first time that one country has dominated the last four of the World Squash Federation event since England achieved the feat 21 years ago.
It was outsider Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry, a 9/16 seed in his maiden appearance in the championship, who sealed his country’s impressive rout when he recovered from a game down to upset England’s 5/8 seed Declan James 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 in 39 minutes.
“In the first game, I was really scared – to the point of feeling dizzy,” explained the 17-year-old from Cairo towww.squashsite.co.uk later. “And Declan played really well in that game. I’m happy that I train very hard with my fitness, because I needed it to pick up all his shots!
“After the first game, I calmed down, and was able to concentrate on my shots, so I gradually played better.”
James, who arrived in Belgium fresh from success earlier in the month in the Pioneer Junior Open in Germany, admitted that he had not been playing at full strength: “I should have been 100% to be able to beat him today, but I was only 70%, as I strained my hamstring yesterday playing against Dylan,” said the 18-year-old from Nottingham.
“How to beat the Egyptians? I think that Nick Matthew showed us the way. I don’t think our juniors have got that winning instinct that the Egypt juniors seem to have from a very young age, their ability to fight for every single shot. We seem to catch up gradually as we get older, but it’s a bit too late by then most of the time.
“Mazen is a perfect example of how talented Egyptians players can be. He has an exceptional talent, and he showed tonight what he can do. And it was close – but not close enough.”
Sabry will now face Marwan El Shorbagy, the second seed from Alexandria who survived the longest match of the day when he beat India’s 9/16 seed Mahesh Mangaonkar 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8 in 62 minutes.
“I was really nervous from the start, and to be honest, I can’t remember what happened on there, only that I nearly lost, and that I’m glad I won,” explained El Shorbagy, the 17-year-old brother of two-time champion Mohamed El Shorbagy.
“Too much pressure I think, I’m not sure why – I guess I put the pressure on myself. And also, all the players, when they play me, they have nothing to lose – and they play their best squash. And Mahesh played really well today.”
Defending champion Amr Khaled Khalifa eased into the semi-finals following an 11-7, 11-7, 17-15 win over India’s 5/8 seed Ramit Tandon.
Bidding to become only third player in history to win the title for a second time, Khalifa will now face Cairo compatriotMohamed Abouelghar, who beat fellow 5/8 seed James Earles, of England, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7.
Semi-final line-up:
[1] Amr Khaled Khalifa (EGY) v [5/8] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
[2] Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) v [9/16] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY)
Official event website: www.wjm2011.be
Further coverage on: www.squashsite.co.uk/wjm11