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 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.

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

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.

The Pool line-ups are as follows:

Pool A - Egypt, Germany, Australia
Pool B - Malaysia, Switzerland, South Africa
Pool C - Great Britain, Czech Republic, USA
Pool D - Canada, Austria