Seeing double: crowning glory for Egyptian pair Nouran Gohar and Ramy Ashour at Hong Kong Squash Open
The 18-year-old Gohar beat American Amanda Sobhy 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, while compatriot Ashour saw off the challenge of fellow Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6
Teenage sensation Nouran Gohar confirmed her talent and Ramy Ashour reminded the world of his as the Egyptian pair lifted the crowns at the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open on Sunday.
It was the maiden World Series title for the 18-year-old Gohar, undoubtedly the rising star of the game, while for the Ashour it was the first since 2013 - and his third in Hong Kong overall – as the 28-year-old put a few years of injury woes well behind him with the victory.
Gohar recovered from a slow start in her final against Amanda Sobhy as the 23-year-old American poured on the pressure early.
But at one game and 10-7 down in the second, the Egyptian steeled herself for battle and ground her way back into the contest before winning 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8.
Gohar had ended the 10-year run in Hong Kong of Malaysian star Nicol David in the semi-finals and she showed flashes of her idol’s composure, not the least in that second game when things were going wrong.
It was testament to Gohar’s talent – and, she said afterwards, the support she had received from someone very close to home – that the world number five was able to refocus, given the enormity of the situation at this stage of her career, and of her life.
