SQUASHTALK TODAY
World Jrs 03 Cairo
English Open 03
PanAm Games
Spanish Open
Qatar PSA & WISPA
Hyder Trophy

RECENT EVENTS
Super Series
Atlanta PSA
SLC WISPA
Kellner Doubles
Irish Open

CURRENT CONTENT
Hall of Fame
News Index
Club Links
Gear Links
E-boast Newsletter
    (sign up now free)

Unseeded Shabana Takes Victory
Egyptian Pair Reign in Spain [draw/results]
By Ron Beck © 2003; all rights of reproduction reserved.
June 30, 2003 

Squashtalk Pro Squash Headlines

Event Engine Squash:
Tourney of Champs
US Open
YMG Capital Classic

World Men's Open
Qatar Classic
Cathay Pacific
Superseries
Qatar Masters '02
British Open
Pakistan Open
Macau Open
Melbourne 01
Al Ahram
Video recordings
Player profiles
Rankings
Calendar

The proud Egyptian squash program stood tall this week in Seville after Egyptians grabbed four of the last eight spots, two semi final positions, and an all-Egyptian final in Spain.

Signalling a determination to regain a position of Egyptian prominence in PSA men's pro squash following Ahmed Barada's retirement two years ago, two young Eyptians, Amr Shabana and Karim Darwish, brought offensive might and stylish excitement to the Spanish event, that had earlier run the risk of a routine result following the absence of Jonathon Power (last minute injury), David Palmer (still in recovery) and Thierry Lincou.

After earlier shock victories over the second and fourth seeds, Egypt's unseeded Amr Shabana saved his best to last when he upset his third-seeded compatriot Karim Darwish in the final of the Seville Spanish Open Squash Championship to join legends Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan as winners of one of the great events on the PSA Tour.

The staging of the $45,000 event on an all-glass court erected in the market square in Seville marked the welcome return of the Spanish Open after a ten-year gap.

Since winning his last PSA title in January 2001 - which also marked his last win over Darwish in the final - 23-year-old Shabana had seen his younger compatriot overtake him in the Egyptian order. Darwish, the 21-year-old former World Junior Champion also from Cairo, currently boasts a world ranking of eight, while Shabana - once 13 in the list - only this month returned to the top twenty after falling to 23.

The pair met just eight weeks ago in the final of a Pakistan Circuit event, with Darwish triumphing in straight games.

In Seville, however, Shabana showed his ability to rise to the occasion. Shaking off the Pakistan result, Shabana rode the momentum and confidence of his earlier tournament wins in a razor-thin margin of victory. In an offensive battle that was close all the way, Shabana was the last Egyptian standing.

Darwish drew level after Shabana won the opening game. The third went to a sudden-death tie-break, which Shabana won, but again Darwish fought back to even the score. The decider was close throughout, but the underdog maintained his focus and, after 84 minutes, Shabana secured his historic 15-13 13-15 15-14 8-15 15-13 triumph to claim his third PSA title in his sixth final.

Seville Spanish Open Squash Championship, Seville, Spain

Final:
Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [3] Karim Darwish (EGY) 15-13, 13-15, 15-14, 8-15, 15-13 (84m)

COLLEGE USA
Schedules
Team previews

DEPARTMENTS
Latest news
Tournament Calendar
Bronstein Global Gallery
Player of the month
Videos
History
Pakistan Squash
School Squash
Camp Index
Features Index
Player Profiles
Worldwide Clubs
Worldwide Links
Rankings
Jobs

More Good stuff:
About Squash
   Just starting
Books
Juniors Squash
Women's Squash
Regional Reports

Squashtalk.com All materials © 1999-2003. Communicate with us at info@squashtalk.com.
Published by Squashtalk LLC, 95 Martha's Point Rd. Concord MA 01742 USA, Editor and Publisher Ron Beck,
Graphics editor Debra Tessier Send comments, ideas, contributions and feedback to the webmaster.
Copyright © 1999-2003 SquashTalk, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form except for one-time personal use.