Mohamed Elshorbagy has climbed to the top of the PSA World Tour rankings, overtaking 31-year-old Frenchman Gregory Gaultier to become the fourth youngest player ever to become squash World No.1
“It feels unbelievable right now,” said El Shorbagy.
The 23-year-old Egyptian enters the record books behind only Pakistani legends Jahangir and Jansher Khan, who both topped the charts aged 18, and compatriot Ramy Ashour who became number one aged 22, courtesy of his victory over Gaultier in the semi-finals of the 2014 Delaware Investments US Open.
Egyptian squash player Mohamed Elshorbagy defeated fellow countryman Amr Shabana in the US Open final on Sunday. Elshorbagy needed only 46 minutes to be beat Shabana 3-1 in the final: 8-11, 11-9, 11-3 and 11-3. Shabana, who occupied the World No.1 slot for 33-consecutive months from 2006-2008, was quick to offer his congratulations to El Shorbagy. “Congratulations to Mohamed, it takes a lot of work to become World No.1 but I’m coming into tomorrow focused on beating the World No.1,” Shabana said.
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“Once I knew that I could become No.1 at this tournament I called my mum and told her I needed her out here for the competition and I’m so pleased it has happened.”
The Egyptian squash champion will be heading to the 2014 Qatar Championship in three weeks to play a competitive match against former champion Nick Mathew.
Also the Egyptian Nour El-Sherbini, who surprised the Squash world by reaching the finals, came second after being defeated by Malaysian Nicol David, who won her third US Open title in a row. The 18-year-old Egyptian squash player is touted to become one of the top female Squash players.
