‘Here I am, I’m back’, hailed Mostafa Asal as he admitted that the controversy in the run-up to the tournament had weighed on his mind before he coasted to a first men’s world title victory in Chicago.
“Emotionally I am out of this world,” said the still world No.1 as he beat Ali Farag 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 on Saturday night and maintained his clean sweep of three-game matches this week.
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Asal was runner-up at this tournament last season, but dismantled four-time World Champion Farag to get his hands on the men’s trophy at the biggest tournament in professional squash.
Victory was a 15th title win for an Egyptian player this century as the No.1 nation continued their stranglehold across the men’s and women’s finals.
What a moment for @mostafasal_ and what a celebration from the ‘Raging Bull’! 😤 #PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/I41c1R8ReM
— PSA Squash Tour (@PSASquashTour) May 18, 2025
The win means he now holds both the PSA World Championships and British Open titles as well as the World No.1 spot – a position he would have conceded to Farag had he lost.
But, under the guidance of coach James Willstrop who was beside his charge throughout in Chicago, Asal was in sublime form.
“Mentally a lot of things have happened this last week but just to regroup and do it is something unbelievable,” said Asal.
He added that he had held discussions with Willstrop over the recently-published videos which had gone viral pre-Chicago.
Asal said: “This is the kind of mentality everyone should have. Throw away all the messages, take the positives and the negatives and those things are not going to let you focus on what you are doing.
“Here I am, I’m back,” he signed off.