International Squash Magazine - Allam British Open Issue

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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
ALLAM BRITISH OPEN The people need a new rivalry and hopefully we can both give the people what they want and what they will enjoy MOHAMED ELSHORBAGY 2019 Allam British Open, Hull Men’s Final: [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [1] Ali Farag (EGY) 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9 Women’s Final: [7] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Camille Serme (FRA) 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 INTERNATIONALSQUASHMAGAZINE June 2019 | 07 www.isportgroup.com/InternationalSquashMagazine
Page 1: INTERNATIONAL JUNE | 2019 ISSN 2042
Page 4 and 5: World Amateur Champion (aged 15) Yo
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 and 22: DPD OPEN CHAMPIONS ALIFARAG&RANEEME
Page 23 and 24: EL GOUNA INTERNATIONAL Farag, who f
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

International Squash Magazine - Allam British Open Issue

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