International Squash Magazine - Allam British Open Issue

ALLAM BRITISH OPEN
MOHAMEDELSHORBAGY
&NOURANGOHARWIN
2019ALLAMBRITISHOPENTITLES
Egyptian duo Nouran Gohar and Mohamed ElShorbagy were
crowned 2019 Allam British Open champions following impressive
victories over Camille Serme and Ali Farag in their respective finals
staged at the Allam Sport Centre in Hull.
The British Open is the sport’s longest-running tournament,
and Gohar, the two-time former World Junior Champion,
put her name in the history books with a sensational
dismantling of Serme as she powered to an 11-3 11-8 11-3
victory in just 30 minutes to win the women’s event.
Gohar, the hard-hitting 21-year-old who was runner-up to
Nour El Sherbini in 2016, stormed to a comfortable victory
over 2015 winner Serme to lift her first PSA World Tour
Platinum title since the Hong Kong Open in August 2016.
“It means so much to me, especially because it is the British
Open,” said an emotional Gohar after lifting the seventh
PSA World Tour title of her career.
“I feel very comfortable. The environment, the city itself, it
feels a bit like home. It is very cosy here and it really helps
me to feel good on court. To have the accuracy, you have
to be both relaxed and focused. I feel this attitude and
environment really helped me.
“This morning after my hit, I started crying. I never did that
before. Even in Hong Kong, I didn’t do that. I think I was
very young, so maybe I couldn’t really comprehend how
much it meant to me to be in the final of a major event. My
mum kept telling me to enjoy the occasion and to relax. She
told me to take the chance and if I played my best then I
would take the win.
“When I won the Hong Kong Open, she [her mother] was
there as well. I think she might be my lucky charm, and
there is also someone who is not always with me, but he is
the main reason for what I have. My dad is the reason why I
play squash because he loves it so much,” added Gohar who
earlier in the championships had defeated Nour El Tayeb
and World No.1 Raneem El Welily en-route to her second
British Open final.
The men’s final saw ElShorbagy capture the third British
Open title of his career after he overcame World No.1 and
World Champion Farag 11-9 5-11 11-5 11-9 in 66 minutes to add
to his 2015 and 2016 triumphs.
ElShorbagy, who also finished as runner-up 12 months ago,
had lost three of his four matches with Farag this season,
but a fired-up performance from the 28-year-old saw him
earn the win in the latest instalment of their rivalry.
Whilst Farag came through a brutal 77-minute semifinal
with New Zealand’s Paul Coll in the semi-finals,
his opponent hadn’t dropped a game throughout the
championships, which ultimately proved decisive in allowing
Elshorbagy to become the first Egyptian since Abdelfattah
AbouTaleb in 1966 to win a trio of British Open crowns.
“I have such respect for Ali. What he achieved this season is
unbelievable,” said ElShorbagy.
“Our last match last season in Dubai, he told me that what
I did last season was inspirational. This time is it my turn
to say that what he has done this season was inspirational.
Normally, winning the US Open, Hong Kong and British
Open in one season would be enough to keep me at No.1.
“Ali just showed consistency throughout and he was the
toughest I had to face. We are going to improve each other
for the rest of our careers and after a lot of great players
have retired, I think squash now needs a new rivalry. The
people need a new rivalry and hopefully we can both give
the people what they want and what they will enjoy.”
It means so much to me, especially because it
is the British Open
NOURAN GOHAR
06 | June 2019 INTERNATIONALSQUASHMAGAZINE
www.isportgroup.com/InternationalSquashMagazine