Four-time World Champion Amr Shabana Retires by Nathan Clarke
photo squashpics.com
August 27, 2015
- Egyptian four-time World Champion Amr Shabana, the man known as the
‘Maestro’ on the PSA World Tour, has retired from competitive
professional squash with immediate effect, bringing to an end an
illustrious 20-year career.
The 36-year-old, who turned professional in 1995, hangs up his PSA
World Tour racket as one of the most decorated players in the history
of the sport, claiming a total of 33 PSA World Tour titles and having
topped the World Rankings for a total of 33-months - the fifth longest
reign in history.
Competing in over 180 tournaments and playing over 500 matches, Shabana
has been a consistent face inside the world’s top ten for 140
consecutive months but will now dedicate his time to other pursuits
within the squash community.
“After spending 20 years as a competitive pro athlete in the beautiful
sport of squash I have decided that this is the perfect time for me to
step down and relinquish my spot in the top 10 and retire from the
PSA,” said Shabana.
“I am now going to focus on my other passion which is to help people
worldwide realise their hidden potential and find their inner strengths.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank first and foremost all
of you fans around the world, I have been extremely humbled by your
immense support over the years. To all the amazing athletes I have had
the pleasure to compete against, thank you for the memories. To the
squash media, thank you for your continued support and off course last
but not least to my wife and family thank you for your unconditional
love and devotion especially when it got tough.”
PSA Chief Operating Officer Lee Beachill said: “Amr Shabana’s presence
will be sadly missed from the professional circuit as he is a player
who is admired across the sport, from amateur players to his fellow
pros.
“Shabana has been a joy to watch throughout his 20 years on the
professional circuit and on behalf of the whole squash community I
would like to wish him well in his future endeavours.”
