Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy justified his top billing in the Macau Open when he beat Frenchman Thierry Lincou, the No2 seed, in the final of the PSA World Tour International 50 squash event at the Centro de Bowling do Complexo Desportivo Internacional de COTAI in Macau, China.
The 20-year-old world No8 from Alexandria recovered from a game down – as he had done in the previous three rounds – to shake off veteran Lincou, the 35-year-old former world champion ranked two positions lower, 11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 in 60 minutes.
“I’m glad to win the championship,” said the jubilant Egyptian at the trophy presentation. “Thierry and I have known each other for quite a long time, so we know quite well the way each other plays.”
With smile on his face, the humorous El Shorbagy added: “I think one of the reasons I won is because I’m much younger than Lincou – he’s in his middle age, but I’m still young!”
The triumph – marking El Shorbagy’s fifth career Tour title – will be a major boost on the eve of the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open, the seventh PSA World Series event of the year which gets underway in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
PSA International 50 Macau Open, Macau, China
Final:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (60m)