Chifunda Checks Out First PSA Tour Title In Atlanta

Chifunda Checks Out First PSA Tour Title In Atlanta

US-based Zambian Patrick Chifunda celebrated his maiden PSA Tour squash title in fine style when he beat Mexican Jose Angel Becerril in the final of the DragonDoc Championship at Midtown Athletic Club in Atlanta, USA.

The Richmond-based 33-year-old reached the final of the $5,000 Tour event after surviving an 80-minute five-game semi-final against unseeded Brazilian Tiago Cabral.

Second seed Becerril, 23, from Mexico City, claimed his fifth Tour final appearance in somewhat easier circumstances - despatching unseeded Canadian Dane Sharp in straight games in just 35 minutes.

But favourite Chifunda twice had to battle from behind before beating Becerril 7-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 in 71 minutes to celebrate his PSA breakthrough.

"It was a wonderfully competitive match, each of Chifunda’s three winning games could easily have gone the other way," commented event spokesman Thomas Rumpler.

Final:
[1] Patrick Chifunda (ZAM) bt [2] Jose Angel Becerril (MEX) 7-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 (71m)

Men's final:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [3/4] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6

Third place play-off:
[2] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [3/4] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2

Women's final:
[2] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 3-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9

Third place play-off:
[3/4] Alana Miller (CAN) bt [3/4] Emma Beddoes (GBR) w/o

Ashour & El Weleily Celebrate
World Title Hat-Tricks In Cairo

Egyptians Ramy Ashour and Raneem El Weleily emerged triumphant in the individual finals of the 6th World University Squash Championships at the Cairo International Stadium in Cairo. The outcome produced not only the first national 'double' in the 12-year history of the event, but also enabled both champions to celebrate their third world squash titles!

The men's event concluded in an all-Cairo final, in which 20-year-old Ramy Ashour beat surprise opponent Tarek Momen, a 3/4 seed who is also 20. But Ashour, ranked four in the world and a student at the Naval Academy, dropped his first game of the tournament before overcoming his compatriot 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6.

The triumph brings Ashour's world title haul to three after the teenager made history in July 2006 by becoming the first man to win the World Junior Championship for a second time.

There was a major shock in the women's final when second seed Raneem El Weleily twice came from behind to beat experienced fellow Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy, the top seed ranked 10 in the world, 3-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9.

It was the 19-year-old from Alexandria's first international win over Abdel Kawy in five meetings since June 2006.

With title successes in the Women's World Junior Championships in 2005 and 2007, the upset gives world No26 El Weleily her third world crown.

In the play-offs for third places, Egypt's second seed Omar Mosaad made up for the disappointment of not making the men's final by beating Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 - while the sick Briton Emma Beddoes conceded the women's match to Canada's Alana Miller.

Players will now focus on the World University Team Championship, in which 50 players from 11 nations will compete. Hosts Egypt have been named as top seeds, followed by Malaysia two; Great Britain three; and Canada four.