Playing in Egypt lifted my spirits says El Sherbini
By SEAN REUTHE in El Gouna
Egypt’s first ever female squash World Champion Nour El Sherbini successfully defended her Orascom Development PSA Women’s World Championship title after defeating compatriot Raneem El Welily to take the honours on home soil in El Gouna.
Held at the New Marina against the backdrop of Egypt’s Red Sea, El Sherbini – who defeated Laura Massaro 12 months ago to become the youngest Women’s World Champion of all time – was in spell-binding form to dispatch a slightly nervy El Welily, who was appearing in her second World Championship final.
The 21-year-old hit her targets well and never allowed fellow Alexandrian El Welily to get into her game, with El Sherbini closing the win out by an 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 scoreline to etch her name into the history books once more.
El Sherbini’s victory brings a six-month title drought to an end and it is her first major title since she lifted her first World Championship title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia a year ago.
“I’m over the moon, two or three months ago I wouldn’t have imagined that I would have won because I haven’t won a [major] title this season,” said El Sherbini.
“It felt like like I wasn’t going to win this season any more, but once I knew that it was going to be in Egypt, I was so excited and I wanted to come and play in El Gouna.
“I’m really happy to win in front of my home crowd and it’s never easy to play Raneem. I’ve grown up learning a lot from her and she’s told me a lot of things off court and on court. She’s the best ‘sister’ I could ever have besides my squash career and I am really thankful for everything she did for me.”
Orascom Development PSA Women’s World Championship, El Gouna, Egypt.
Final:
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (40m)
Pictures courtesy of PSA