Gohar Shocks Sherbini In World Opener by Howard Harding December 15, 2014
- While defending champion Laura Massaro claimed her anticipated place
in the second round of the Wadi Degla Women's World Squash Championship
in Cairo, Egypt's 2013 championship runner-up Nour El Sherbini failed
to survive today's opening round of the 2014 Women's Squash Association
championship at the Wadi Degla club in the Egyptian capital after a
shock four-game defeat by unseeded compatriot Nouran Gohar.
With three world junior titles to her name, and final appearances in
both the World Championship and British Open as a teenager, El Sherbini
is one of the sport's most acclaimed players. But the 19-year-old world
No.4 from Alexandria was outplayed by Cairo prodigy Gohar, the
17-year-old world No.19 making her debut in the championship.
Gohar became one of three unseeded players to make the last 16 round
when she beat the No.4 seed 11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 13-11 in 58 minutes.
"It's the first time I've ever played Nour - not even in practice - so
I was not expecting anything," said Gohar (pictured above, left, with
El Sherbini) later. "When I was 10-8 down in the second, I thought,
'what about if I just play my squash and see what happens'.
"The next thing I know, I get four points in a row and I'm 2/0 up!
"I'm really lost for words!"
Gohar was one of four Egyptian winners on day one - led by Raneem El
Welily, the third seed who beat fellow countrywoman Habiba Mohamed
11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7.
Emily Whitlock became the only qualifier to break into the last 16 when
she upset English compatriot Jenny Duncalf, the No.13 seed and 2011
runner-up, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5.
The 20-year-old from Colwyn Bay in Wales - making her maiden appearance
in the event's main draw - will now face top seed Nicol David for a
place in the quarter-finals.
David, the world number one from Malaysia bidding to win a record
eighth world title, eased past Egyptian qualifier Yathreb Adel 11-9,
11-6, 11-3.
India will be represented by two players in the last 16 for the first
time ever after unseeded Joshana Chinappa upset Madeline Perry, the
12th seed from Ireland, 14-12, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7.
In her first appearance in the second round, Chinappa, the world No.22
from Chennai, will face Malaysian Low Wee Wern, the No.7 seed who
survived a five-game battle with Guyana's Nicolette Fernandes.
India's 14th seed Dipika Pallikal, winner of the Commonwealth Games
Women's Doubles gold medal with Chinappa earlier this year, recovered
from two games down to overcome experienced Mexican qualifier Samantha
Teran 9-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 in 75 minutes to reach the second
round for the fourth year in a row.
RESULTS: Wadi Degla Women's World Championship, Cairo, Egypt
