Double tops for Egypt
By NATHAN CLARKE
After becoming the first Egyptian woman ever to win the prestigious PSA Women’s World Championship yesterday, 20-year-old Nour El Sherbini has today been confirmed as the new Women’s World No.1, overtaking England’s Laura Massaro, who she beat to take the crown in Kuala Lumpur, to top the official PSA World Rankings.
Since securing her first ever PSA World Series title at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in January the Alexandria-native has been the dominant force on the Women’s Tour, reaching the Windy City Open final and winning the Allam British Open prior to clinching the most prestigious title of all in a victory that sees her leapfrog Massaro, who held the No.1 position unopposed since January 1st, 2016.
“I am extremely happy to become World No.1,” said El Sherbini. “To win the World Championship and become World No.1 at the same time – that is huge for me. I didn’t think it would happen this early in my career.”
El Sherbini’s rise to the top, dislodging Massaro, means that Egypt again has both world number ones with Mohamed Elshorbagy powering ahead on top of the PSA men’s list.
Nouran Gohar, the 18-year-old World Junior champion who lost out to El Sherbini in the British Open final, is the other mover inside the top ten, moving up one position to her highest ever ranking of World No.6.
Elsewhere inside the top 20, England’s Sarah-Jane Perry and India’s Joshna Chinappa are the only other upwards movers, both rising one place to World No.12 and No.13, respectively, overtaking Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb who drops two places to No.14.
Picture by PATRICK LAUSON