90 minutes of magic as Ramy Ashour powers past Mohamed Elshorbagy to win his third world title in Qatar thriller
By PSA Media in Qatar
Ramy Ashour, playing his first tournament for six months, produced a devastating finale to win his third world title in an extraordinary battle in Qatar against fellow Egyptian Mohamed Elshorbagy.
Appearing in his first event since May’s Allam British Open, the 27-year-old Ashour defied all those who had written off hic chances as he beat the new world No.1 from Alexandria 14-12 in the fifth game of a thrilling encounter.
Ashour, who has been plagued with injuries since retiring during his 2013 World Championship semi-final, completed a miraculous return to action to come through 3-2, 13-11, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 14-12 in a dramatic 90-minute encounter that saw both players squander match points before Ashour eventually prevailed in a repeat of his 2012 victory over Elshorbagy, at the same Doha venue.
“I’m speechless,” said Ashour afterwards. “It’s an unbelievable feeling and I just can’t believe it.
“I have worked so hard both mentally and physically to get myself ready for this tournament and I have pushed myself so hard – It doesn’t get any better than this.”
In the early stages of the match both players displayed nerves, making uncharacteristic errors, but it wasn’t long before the capacity crowd at the Khalifa Squash centre, with over 1,200 fans in for the all-Egyptian encounter, were treated to some of the most enthralling action ever witnessed in a World Championship final as both players produced squash of the highest standard.
“It was dramatic and it was brutal – it was like a fight. We were both trying to get inside the other’s game but nobody succeeded – we were both producing our best squash,” added Ashour.
“In that last game we both had match balls and it was back and forth between us, we both wanted so badly to be World Champion and winning my third World title means so much to me – this is a very special moment.
“Mohamed is an amazing player and he will win a lot more tournaments but I was very proud of the way both of us represented Egypt in such a great manner today and it makes me proud of my country.”
The watching 2013 world champion, England’s Nick Matthew, had been involved in a war of words before losing his semi-final to Elshorbagy. After watching the final, a spellbound Matthew told Squash Mad: “That’s the most ridiculous match I have ever seen – utterly incredible!”
Result: 2014 Qatar PSA World Championship – Final:
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 3-2: 13-11, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 14-12 [90m]
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Picture courtesy of PSA