Squash: Former champ Ashour survives scare

DOHA: Former champion Ramy Ashour fled from the arena and hid himself away after suffering a third round 11-13, 12-10, 11-2, 14-12 scare in his bid to regain the world title in Doha. The brilliantly in-form Egyptian endured a bout of the jitters during the contentious four-game encounter with compatriot Omar Mosaad, which for 40 minutes looked as if it was yo-yoing towards a major upset. Only after Ashour had saved game points in the second game and fourth games – preventing him from going two games down and then avoiding being taken to a decider – did he escape from trouble. “I have nothing to say,” said Ashour. “It was a good match. He played superb squash. And put a lot of pressure on me, so all credit to him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2012.