Egyptian Ashour spoils Pakistan's hopes to lift title
By Imran Naeem Ahmad
ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: Egypt's Ramy Ashour, who had looked threatening all along, on Sunday effectively spoilt Pakistan's party by winning the individual crown in the 13th PIA World Junior Squash Championship.
Ashour, who twice underwent knee surgery over past two years, posted a 9-5, 10-8, 9-3 victory over Pakistan's Yasir Butt at the Mushaf Squash Complex. His win shattered the host nation's hopes of regaining the individual title for the first time in 18 years.
No home player had achieved that feat since Jansher Khan's triumph in 1986 and all eyes were therefore on Yasir to do the needful but sadly he faltered. Although he lost, the eventual complexion may well have been different had the crowd not begun applauding prematurely in the crucial second game with the scores tied at 8-8 and Yasir 0-1 down in the match.
That upset Yasir's concentration as Ashour kept his nerve to clinch the game and a take a big stride towards the title. And it was not long before he actually had it in his bag with a quick wrap-up of the third game in which Yasir made costly mistakes.
"This is my finest hour. I had set myself a goal of becoming the world junior champion when I took up squash, and I am happy that I have been able to achieve that today," a beaming Ashour told journalists.
The victory sparked immediate celebrations in the Egyptian camp as the officials hugged and kissed the boy who had made them and their country proud. Ashour, who became the fourth Egyptian after Ahmed Barada, Ahmed Faizy and Karim Darwish to claim the individual title, said that when he beat Farhan Mahboob in the quarterfinals, he knew he could go all the way and land the title. "That win really got me going."
Pakistan coach Rehmat Khan said that Yasir played nervously and had he not done so, it would have been a close final. "He had been told to play an attacking game but his nervousness let him down."
Yasir blamed the crowd for upsetting his concentration. "Although I made mistakes here and there, the spectators' untimely cheers had their affect on my game." Ashour, led from start to finish in the first game, executing his shots intelligently, as he gained an early lead.
However, Yasir threw away a 5-0 lead in the second game, allowing his rival to come back and level the scores. Both players then went neck and neck and were 8-8 when a section of the crowd spoilt it all for the home player.
Yasir, who also led in the third game, erred again hitting the tin at least four times to let his advantage and the match slip away. Also watching the final was Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who later gave away gold medal to Ashour while announcing Rs 3 million for the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).
The championship trophy was presented to the winner by PSF president Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat. The World Squash Federation (WSF) trophy was presented to Ashour by its chief Jahangir Khan.
A special prize went to Amir Atlas, the find of the championship who lost to Ashour in Saturday's semifinal. Meanwhile, sports minister Rais Munir Ahmed declared open the world team championship that is due to begin from Monday. The colourful opening was marked by a march-past by teams of the 22 participating countries which was followed by folk dances.
