All-Egyptian Finals at Chicago’s Squash World Championships

By Maydaa Abo El-Nadar

CHICAGO, MAR.2 (SEE) - Four Egyptians qualified for 2018-19 PSA Squash World Championships’ finals taking place in Chicago, US. The players are: Ali Farag, Tarek Momen, Nour El Sherbini, and Nour El Tayeb. The championship is sponsored by Walter Family.

Momen, world ranked 3, defeated his compatriot Mohamed El Shorbagy, world number 2, in the semifinals by 3-2 (8-11/11-6/8-11/11-4/11-8).

El Shorbagy and Momen’s wife Raneem El Welily were the champions of the last year’s edition. In this regard, Momen expressed, “Raneem winning this title last year gave me something to aim for all year, and now I’m in the final!”

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In a 46 minutes’ match, World number 1 Farag foiled Germany’s Simon Rosner, world ranked 5, by 3-0 (11-2/11-9/11-3).

Farag mentioned “Winning the second was crucial. Three-nil is always a good score against Simon.” Commenting on the final against Momen, Farag said, “Tarek played out of his skin today so tomorrow will be really tough.”

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Moving to the women semifinals, the defending champion and World number 1 El Welily was dethroned by her fellow citizen El Tayeb 3-2 (6-11/11-6/11-8/7-11/13-11).

The winner, world ranked 3, mentioned: “I have no idea how I won that, I was just hanging in, and hanging in!” She added, “She’s the best in the world for a reason and she makes very hard and I can’t believe it. I’m in the final of the World Championships – wow!”

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El Tayeb is going to meet El Sherbini, world number 2, who qualified to the final after winning over France’s Camille Serme, world ranked 4, by 3-2 (11-8/11-6/6-11/5-11/11-6).

“At 2-0 up I started thinking about the final, playing Nour. I’m really glad that I managed to focus again, regroup, and come back in the fifth stronger.” Said El Sherbini.

The tournaments’ finals are scheduled to start today at 19:00 (Chicago time).