Egyptian Trio Make Women's World Championship Semis

For the first time since Australia's success in 1997, three players from the same country will contest the semi-finals of the Women's World Squash Championship after the Egyptian number one Nour El Sherbini despatched home hero Nicol David in the 2016 championship at Bukit Jalil in Malaysia.

El Sherbini will be joined by compatriots Raneem El Welily and surprise semi-finalist Nouran Gohar, the 18-year-old eighth seed from Cairo appearing in only her second championship

David, after whom the arena hosting the event is named, stormed into a 10-7 lead over El Sherbini in the opening game and, despite letting El Sherbini back in to triumph on the tie-break, she battled to victory in the second game to level proceedings in her country's National Squash Centre.

But El Sherbini - the only player to boast a superior head-to-head advantage over David - displayed her full range of attacking artistry in the next two games as she hit some sensational cross court nicks to break Malaysian hearts, claiming an 14-12, 4-11, 11-3, 11-7 victory to send her through to the semi-final and extend her winning streak over the eight-time World Champion to five matches.

"This is the fifth time I've played Nicol this season and I think that this was the best match we have played against each other," said El Sherbini.

"I always think match by match and I try not to look forward, I just want to focus on the next match. Of course, I definitely want to win the tournament and everyone wants this, but I'm just going step by step.

"We Egyptians are in good form this season and we're all getting good results, Raneem, Nouran, Omneya, all of us. This is the only title we have never won in Egypt so hopefully it's going to be an Egyptian winner."

Up next for El Sherbini is an exciting fixture with 18-year-old World Junior Champion Nouran Gohar in a repeat of last month's Allam British Open final in which El Sherbini triumphed.

Gohar came out on top against France's world No.4 Camille Serme in a thrilling five-game spectacle and took a two-game lead, only to see it crumble as a resilient Serme fought back.

After going 7-4 down in the fifth, Gohar looked as if she was heading out of the tournament but she gave it one last push to secure an 11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 5-11, 11-8 victory in a brutal 75-minute clash, which has sent her through to her maiden World Championship semi-final.

"I can't believe I won the match," said Gohar.

"When I was 2/0 up I was playing very well, but she came back very strongly. She was playing like she wasn't tired, like we had just started the match. I thought she was in total control in the last game, but my parents and coaches gave me an extra boost to push. I'm really glad I didn't give up, pushed for the win and I'm really happy to win."

World No.1 Laura Massaro is the only non-Egyptian left in the tournament after the England number one beat Omneya Abdel Kawy to progress.

Massaro cantered to the opening game and, a second game defeat aside, looked in strong form as she swatted aside her opponent courtesy of an 11-3, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7 scoreline to set up a semi-final showdown with Raneem El Welily after the world No.3 saw off US No.1 Amanda Sobhy.

"Omneya is a quality opponent so I knew to expect a good level of her today," said Massaro.

"I felt like it was a high pace, we were both trying to get in front of the other one and keep it off each other's volley. I think both of our strengths are on the volley so I was trying to keep her away from the middle, particularly on that backhand volley drop where she likes to be so much. It was tough on there but I'm glad I managed to sneak it in four in the end."

World Championship image courtesy of Alex Wan