Squash: Sherbini breaks Jahangir’s record

LONDON: Egyptian Nour El Sherbini, aged 16, became the youngest finalist – men’s or women’s – in the 90-year history of the British Open when she overcame Raneem El Weleily 14-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8 in the semi-final. Sherbini reached the final more than a year younger than the legendary Pakistani Jahangir Khan, who was 17 when he played Australia’s Geoff Hunt in a famous final back in 1981. Sherbini is seeded 16th and had to confound the rankings three times to reach this stage. In the second round, she beat Madeline Perry, the fourth-seeded former British Open finalist from Ireland, then overcame Annie Au, the seventh-seed from Hong Kong, and now beat a fellow Alexandrian who is seeded eleven places higher.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2012.