Massaro crowned new world champion

English squash player downs Sherbini in Penang.

GEORGE TOWN: World number two Laura Massaro was crowned the new world women’s squash champion Sunday after edging Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini in a thrilling final.

Massaro downed Sherbini 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 in front of a full house in the Malaysian island of Penang.

Massaro, who banished the memoirs of her loss in the 2012 World Open final, attributed the victory to her never-say-die attitude.

“It was an emotional battle for me today [Sunday],” she said. “I felt really nervous, but I feel this whole tournament has been based around being mentally strong,  and that’s what I’m most proud of.”

Massaro was also relishing the prospect of a hero’s welcome back home.

“It’s going to be amazing going back with this title. Winning the British Open last year was huge, so it’s going to be special to say that I’m both the British Open champion and the world champion.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2014.

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