While defending champion Laura Massaro claimed her anticipated place in the second round of the Wadi Degla Women’s World Squash Championship in Cairo, Egypt’s 2013 championship runner-up Nour El Sherbini failed to survive the opening round of the 2014 WSA championship at the Wadi Degla club in the Egyptian capital after a shock four-game defeat by unseeded compatriot Nouran Gohar.
With three world junior titles to her name, and final appearances in both the World Championship and British Open as a teenager, El Sherbini is one of the sport’s most acclaimed players. But the 19-year-old world No.4 from Alexandria was outplayed by Cairo prodigy Gohar, the 17-year-old world No.19 making her debut in the championship.
Gohar became one of three unseeded players to make the last 16 round when she beat the No.4 seed 11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 13-11 in 58 minutes.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever played Nour – not even in practice – so I was not expecting anything,” said Gohar later. “When I was 10-8 down in the second, I thought, ‘what about if I just play my squash and see what happens’.
“The next thing I know, I get four points in a row and I’m 2/0 up!
“I’m really lost for words!”
Gohar was one of four Egyptian winners on day one – led by Raneem El Welily, the third seed who beat fellow countrywoman Habiba Mohamed 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7.
Emily Whitlock became the only qualifier to break into the last 16 when she upset English compatriot Jenny Duncalf, the No.13 seed and 2011 runner-up, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5.
The 20-year-old from Colwyn Bay in Wales – making her maiden appearance in the event’s main draw – will now face top seed Nicol David for a place in the quarter-finals.
David, the world number one from Malaysia bidding to win a record eighth world title, eased past Egyptian qualifier Yathreb Adel 11-9, 11-6, 11-3.
India will be represented by two players in the last 16 for the first time ever after unseeded Joshana Chinappa upset Madeline Perry, the 12th seed from Ireland, 14-12, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7.
In her first appearance in the second round, Chinappa, the world No.22 from Chennai, will face Malaysian Low Wee Wern, the No.7 seed who survived a five-game battle with Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes.
India’s 14th seed Dipika Pallikal, winner of the Commonwealth Games Women’s Doubles gold medal with Chinappa earlier this year, recovered from two games down to overcome experienced Mexican qualifier Samantha Teran 9-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 in 75 minutes to reach the second round for the fourth year in a row.
Wadi Degla Women’s World Championship, Cairo, Egypt
First round:[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Yathreb Adel (EGY) 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (31m)
[Q] Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt [13] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (31m)
[16] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (32m)
[6] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [Q] Nouran El Torky (EGY) 11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 (47m)
[7] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 9-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2 (80m)
Joshana Chinappa (IND) bt [12] Madeline Perry (IRL) 14-12, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7 (50m)
[10] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 14-12 (53m)
Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 13-11 (58m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt Habiba Mohamed (EGY) 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 (48m)
[14] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [Q] Samantha Teran (MEX) 9-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (75m)
[11] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) 11-4, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (38m)
[8] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [WC] Mayar Hany Mohamed (EGY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (24m)
[5] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (34m)
[15] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-8, 7-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5 (60m)
[9] Annie Au (HKG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 9-11, 11-4, 13-11, 11-4 (48m)
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 11-3, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7 (50m)
Full coverage on the official site: www.worldsquashchamps.com
