[Q] Heba El Torky (EGY)
5/11, 11/7, 11/8, 11/5 (42m) [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
El
Welily And Gaultier Take China Open Titles
Newly
crowned PSA Women’s World No.1 Raneem El Welily got her tenure as
squash’s top ranked female player off to the perfect start by
defeating compatriot Nouran Gohar 3-0 in the final of the 2015 Stars
On The Bund China Open PSA W50 tournament.
Gohar had reached the final after a succession of upset victories,
including an impressive 3-1 win over former World No.1 Nicol David,
but El Welily reinforced just why she now tops the rankings with an
assured performance that sees her collect a fourth major title so
far in 2015.
The 26-year-old from Alexandria overcame her 17-year-old challenger
in just 32 minutes to take the title for the loss of just one game
during the entire tournament.
“I’m vert glad with how I started the season and how I was focused
and steady throughout the tournament,” said El Welily.
“I won today against a real fighter that will soon break into the
top 10 and make Egypt proud as well as my other team mates so I’m
very pleased.
“It’s been a crazy time lately so thanks to everyone who sent me
messages and wishes.”
In
the men’s tournament World No.3 Gregory Gaultier saw off Marwan
Elshorbagy to pick up the 30th tour title of his career courtesy of
a comfortable 3-0 victory.
“I’m very happy to win the first tournament after the summer
training break,” said Gaultier.
“Thanks to my team back home for the work they have done for me
during the summer to get me ready for the season, my family,
sponsors and all the people who supported me and the event.”
Just 24 hours after knocking out former World No.1 Nicol David in
the 2015 Stars On The Bund China Open, 17-year-old Egyptian talent
Nouran Gohar has booked her place in the final courtesy of a
comfortable 3-0 defeat over World No.3 Camille Serme.
Gohar came from a game-down to see off Malysian star David and
continued her emphatic vein of form to dominate from the start
against 2015 British Open winner Serme - taking the match 11-8,
11-9, 11-8 as she demonstrated her world class potential on the
all-glass court at the spectacular Shanghai Peninsula.
The 2015 World Junior Champion will now take on the current reigning
World No.1, compatriot Raneem El Welily, in the showpiece finale
after the 26-year-old dispatched American Amanda Sobhy with ease,
running out an 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 winner.
In the men’s PSA M100 tournament Marwan Elshorbagy, younger brother
of World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy who suffered a shock first round
exit, upset compatriot and World No.6 Omar Mosaad to move into the
biggest final of his career to date where he will line up against
World No.3 Gregory Gaultier.
In a tense and nervy affair both players pushed each other to the
limit physically and after eventually taking the fourth game to
force a decider, Mosaad felt the effects and was forced to retire
midway through the last game, ensuring Elshorbagy of his place in
the title-decider.
“That was the toughest and longest match of my career by far,” said
Elshorbagy afterwards. “Unfortunately had to end that way though.
“Being in the final of a big tournament feels great but it’s time to
recover now and refocus for a big match tomorrow against Gaultier -
I can't wait!”
Gaultier said: “All credit to Leo for how he played this week but I
played fast today to take control of the match as I knew coming all
the way from qualification and winning against top ten players would
take its toll on him.”
Preview
Mohamed Elshorbagy Is Aiming For
Triumphant Season
World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy will
be aiming to get his 2015/16 season off to a triumphant start when
he tops the draw at the 2015 Stars On The Bund China Open, PSA M100
tournament while World No.1 Nicol David will be the star attraction
in the women’s competition.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Shanghai’s iconic bund on the
terrace of The Peninsula Hotel, the 2015 China Open will be the
first ever M100 tournament on the PSA World Tour, offering prize
money of $100,000 to the 16-man field, and will get underway on
Thursday September 3 – when Elshorbagy will be aiming to pick up
where he left off after winning the prestigious Allam British Open
at the end of the 14/15 season.
In what will be the first competitive tournament of the season for
many of the world’s best players, Elshorbagy is set to face a stiff
challenge as he hopes to add to his collection of 14 PSA titles,
with dynamic World No.3 Gregory Gaultier and German World No.7 Simon
Rösner chief contenders amongst a tough field.
After reaching the final in nine of his last eleven tournaments,
Elshorbagy will begin his bid to make it to a fourth consecutive
title-decider against Hong Kong’s Max Lee while younger brother
Marwan Elshorbagy could lay in wait at the quarter-final stage
should he overcome Tarek Momen.
In the women’s event David, the incumbent World No.1 for the past
nine years, will face a stern challenge from World No.2 Raneem El
Welily – the dazzlingly talented Egyptian who finds herself just a
handful of points behind David in the world rankings.
A likely match-up in the title decider could have massive
ramifications in the battle to be No.1, with David knowing she will
have to be at her very best in order to maintain her place at the
top, however progress to the final will not be straightforward for
either player with the likes of Allam British Open Champion Camille
Serme and dangerous American talent Amada Sobhy amongst the
challengers in what promises to be a thrilling event.
“This is the second year that world-class squash, ‘the preferred
sport on Wall Street’, will be appearing on the Bund, historically
known as the Wall Street of Asia”, said Mr. Sheng Li, CEO of SECA,
investor and organizer of the China Squash Open.
“We are committed to bringing the world’s best squash players to
China and to give squash a new world-class stage in which to
showcase itself. Thanks to our Stars On The Bund we are fully
delivering these promises.”
“The China Squash Open is growing bigger every year and this
reflects the efforts we are making to develop squash in this highly
potential market,” added Franco Amadei, China Squash Open Tournament
Director and SECA Squash Academy COO.
