KUALA LUMPUR: Nour El Sherbini became the youngest woman and first Egyptian to win the world squash championship when she overcame top-ranked Laura Massaro of England 6-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8 in the final on Saturday.

Second seed El Sherbini, who lost to Massaro in the 2013 final, took more than an hour to prevail. She will replace Massaro as world number one next month.

The 20-year-old Sherbini’s road to the title included beating eight-time defending champion Nicol David on her home court in the quarter-finals, and compatriot and world junior champion Nouran Gohar in the semi-finals.

She has won 19 of 20 matches this year, and was the first Egyptian woman to win the British Open last month.

“I’m dreaming right now, I didn’t imagine I could win this match,” El Sherbini said. “Laura is a very tough player, and even until the end I didn’t think I could do it.”

For Massaro, it was her second loss in three finals, as she was beaten by David in 2012.

“I’m obviously disappointed to lose but she played an amazing match from 2-0 down,” Massaro said.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2016