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Mike Chan

Reigning women’s world champion Nouran Gohar battled back to beat fellow Egyptian Nour El Sherbini in the final of the Hong Kong Squash Open on Sunday – ending an eight-year drought in the process.
Victory will also earn Gohar a return to the world’s top spot, but there was no way through for Ali Farag in the men’s final, with top seed losing 3-1 to Mostafa Asal, leaving him to settle for the runner-up spot again in yet another disappointing outing in the city.
Gohar began her day in fine form, and was leading 6-3 in the opening game before world No 1 El Sherbini reeled off eight points in a row. The world No 2 then regrouped to pull off three straight games to take home the title with a 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 win in 55 minutes.
“I didn’t play badly in the first game but I lost concentration and went off my game plan a bit, the execution was off,” Gohar said. “Going off the first game, I was angry at myself a bit.
“I knew I messed it up, but I knew at the same time that I was playing well, and I had a solid game plan. So I told myself, I need to start the second game very well and work hard digging.”

The 27-year-old last won a title in Hong Kong in 2016, and her win at Edinburgh Place was her second consecutive final victory over El Sherbini, after their US Open Championships final in October.
“It was my first platinum event to win [back then] and I was only 18 years old at that time … since then, I haven’t really reached a final [here],” Gohar said. “To be back in the final was really big for me, and winning it meant a lot for me.”
With the win, Gohar will replace El Sherbini as the new world No 1 when the next rankings are released on Monday.
“This title meant back to the top spot so it has a lot of weight,” Gohar said. “I was out for injury for six months since the end of September 2023, and that was why I missed Hong Kong.
“This time last year, I was actually lying in bed watching my opponents play and thinking, would I ever be able to come back and play at the level I want to play at? So to be able to win it after a year feels like a dream.”
In the men’s final, world No 1 Farag’s effort to overcome previous disappointments in the city were in vain. Having lost all three of his finals in Hong Kong in 2017, 2018 and 2023, Farag found himself on the back foot after dropping the first game.
He took the next game to draw level, but it was world No 2 Asal who had the last laugh, sealing an 11-5, 4-11, 11-8, 11-5 win in 51 minutes, to add to the title he won in 2022.
“It’s a relief [after losing 3-0 to Farag in the semi-final last year], he’s an amazing player, the No 1 in the world and I am really happy to share a court with him,” Asal said. “I loved this place since 2022, I won the tournament here then and it was one of my first few events.
“The atmosphere feels amazing, the crowd is lovely; the court is in the downtown in the city, I couldn’t ask for more … I wish it can be in The Peak though.”


Hong Kong Squash Open: Egypt stars Nour El Sherbini and Mostafa Asal crowned champions

Hong Kong Squash Open: El Sherbini ‘not done yet’ after toppling world’s best El Hammamy

Hong Kong Squash Open: Japan’s Watanabe summons grit to shock teenager Orfi

Hong Kong Squash Open: Mostafa Asal 2 wins from title but misses facing retired Farag

Hong Kong Squash Open

Hong Kong Squash Open: Gohar seals title and world No 1 spot with win, Farag falls short

Nouran Gohar (left) got the better of compatriot Nour El Sherbini in the women’s final of the Hong Kong Squash Open. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Ali Farag (front) came up short in his men’s final against Mostafa Asal. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong Squash Open: World No 1 Farag reveals motivation issues but fired-up for final

Ali Farag hits through a backhand during his semi-final victory over Diego Elias. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Farag is hoping to break his Hong Kong duck on Sunday after losing his three previous finals. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Reigning world champion Elias saw a one-game lead disappear against Egyptian Farag. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong Squash Open: Scottish veteran Lisa Aitken returns wiser after long injury lay-off

Lisa Aitken lost to Egypt’s Rowan Elaraby at the Squash Centre in Admiralty on Tuesday. Photo: Handout

The Open venue will move to Edinburgh Place from the quarter-finals on Thursday. Photo: Handout

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Nouran Gohar beats Nour El Sherbini to claim first title in city in eight years, while Ali Farag’s miserable run continues in men’s final


Nouran Gohar beats Nour El Sherbini to claim first title in city in eight years, while Ali Farag’s miserable run continues in men’s final.


Hong Kong Squash Open: Gohar seals title and world No 1 spot with win, Farag falls short

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Nouran Gohar beats Nour El Sherbini to claim first title in city in eight years, while Ali Farag’s miserable run continues in men’s final

Nouran Gohar beats Nour El Sherbini to claim first title in city in eight years, while Ali Farag’s miserable run continues in men’s final