International Squash Magazine - Allam British Open Issue

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EL GOUNA INTERNATIONAL ALIFARAG&RANEEMELWELILY WINELGOUNAINTERNATIONALTITLES Ali Farag and Raneem El Welily continued their dominant form on the PSA World Tour by taking the honours at an all-Egyptian finals night at the El Gouna International as they beat Karim Abdel Gawad and Nouran Gohar in their respective finals at the spectacular Abu Tig Marina to collect the silverware in successive international tournaments. 22 | June 2019 INTERNATIONALSQUASHMAGAZINE www.isportgroup.com/InternationalSquashMagazine
EL GOUNA INTERNATIONAL Farag, who finished runner-up to compatriot Marwan ElShorbagy last year, avenged his defeat to Gawad in December’s Black Ball Open by winning the PSA World Tour Platinum event. The World No.1 built on a strong start to record an impressive 11-9 12-10 11-3 victory over his compatriot who had his opportunities, leading 9-7 in the first game and 6-2 in the second, before Farag came back both times to take a two-game lead. An ankle injury suffered by Gawad restricted the former World Champion’s movement in the third and Farag made no mistake in collecting his maiden El Gouna crown and first title on home soil since February 2015. “I’ve played Karim in so many great finals in Egypt,” Farag said after winning his 17th PSA Tour title. “It was really a shame what happened at the end of the second and in the third. I’m sure if he was better physically, it would have been a totally different story. I think he had an amazing week, he’s playing well this season, and it’s great to have him on tour. “This season has been amazing for me, I couldn’t have asked for a better one. I might have won a lot of big titles, like the World Championships and claiming that No.1 spot at the Tournament of Champions, but this one is a very special one as I’m sharing it in front of my people.” Women’s World No.1 Raneem El Welily successfully defended her El Gouna International title after overcoming fellow Egyptian Nouran Gohar to lift her third successive PSA World Tour trophy. El Welily beat World No.2 Nour El Sherbini in last year’s final and was up against the woman who ended El Sherbini’s run in this tournament at the quarter-final stage. The 30-year-old took the opening game, despite being under immense pressure from her hard-hitting opponent. Gohar, nine years El Welily’s junior, struck back in the second as El Welily went walkabout to surrender a 5-2 lead to lose 9 of the next 11 points as Gohar levelled. The momentum swung back in El Welily’s favour as she came back to take the third 12-10 on the tie-break and their battle continued into the fourth game where Gohar, sporting heavy strapping on her left knee, required an injury break after a lunge into the front corner to send El Welily 8-6 up. Gohar returned to court but lacked the same explosivity in her movement and El Welily closed out the win to earn the 22nd PSA Tour World title of her career. “I think that the blood injury break turned me down a little bit, so I’m glad I managed to come back after being 6-2 down in the third,” said the defending champion. “It’s definitely hard pushing yourself this way, but when you’re in a final of such a great tournament, you do your best to stay in, and you do your best to win. That’s what I was thinking at that point. “It’s always special here in El Gouna and I think I speak for the players when I say we really enjoy being here. Not just for the organisation, but also for the good weather, the great crowd, and there’s nothing better than playing in front of your home crowd.” 2018 El Gouna International Men’s Final: 1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-9, 12-10, 11-3 Women’s Final: [1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 11-8, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6 INTERNATIONALSQUASHMAGAZINE June 2019 | 23 www.isportgroup.com/InternationalSquashMagazine
Page 1: INTERNATIONAL JUNE | 2019 ISSN 2042
Page 4 and 5: World Amateur Champion (aged 15) Yo
Page 6 and 7: ALLAM BRITISH OPEN MOHAMEDELSHORBAG
Page 8 and 9: INVEST IN THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE
Page 10 and 11: PSAWORLDTOUR.COM/TV EUROSPORTPLAYER
Page 12 and 13: MORE THAN BUILDING FOUR WALLS EXPER
Page 14 and 15: RAMY ASHOUR RETIRES RAMYASHOURRETIR
Page 16 and 17: THE BIG PICTURE: JAHANGIR KHAN WINS
Page 18 and 19: LAURA MASSARO RETIRES LAURAMASSAROR
Page 21: DPD OPEN CHAMPIONS ALIFARAG&RANEEME
Page 25 and 26: MELIOR SQUASH MELIORSQUASH Three ye
Page 27 and 28: MOHAMED ELSHORBAGY CROWNED GRASSHOP
Page 29 and 30: MEN’S PSA WORLD RANKINGS EGYPT 1

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