Ashour Aiming for Triumphant Return Ahead of 2015 World Championship by Sean Reuthe November 8, 2015
- Three-time winner Ramy Ashour is facing a race against time to be fit
for the 2015 Men’s PSA World Championship and insists he is doing his
best to return to defend his title ahead of the showpiece tournament
which begins on Sunday November 15 at the Meydenbauer Center in
Bellevue, Washington.
The Egyptian maverick defeated compatriot and World No.1 Mohamed
Elshorbagy in last year’s climactic final to add to the World
Championship crowns he picked up in 2008 and 2012 - the latter being at
the expense of Elshorbagy again
However, after limping out of last months Delaware Investments U.S.
Open second round clash against Mathieu Castagnet with a hamstring
problem, Ashour heads into the World Championship with injury issues
having missed the entirety of the on-going Qatar Classic - a situation
that draws parallels with his 2014 triumph.
“It absolutely feels like deja vu,” said Ashour, who will be keeping an
eye on Elshorbagy’s clash with another World crown contender, Gregory
Gaultier, in the final of the Qatar Classic in Doha today (Nov 6).
“I am doing my best to get back and do what I love most. It's harder
than anyone can imagine. It’s [the World Championship] now more
important than the Olympics to me.”
‘The Artist’ is on the opposite side of the draw to Elshorbagy and,
should he beat Australia’s Cameron Pilley in the opening round, will be
on course for a repeat of last year’s epic finale.
