EGYPT'S Nouran Gohar became the third Egyptian woman to become world junior squash champion more than once, retaining the title with a straight-game victory over Rowan Al-Arabi in the sixth successive all-Egyptian final. Raneem Al-Weleili and Nour Al-Sherbini were the other Egyptian women who became world junior champions more than once. Al-Arabi, two years Gohar's junior and playing in her first world juniors, acquitted herself well, staying with the world number five for the early part of each of the games, but Gohar's extra pace and experience told as she made clear in all three sets. “I can't believe it,” Gohar said after the match. “To win it more than once and join the legends who have done this before, it's a dream come true. It was a tough match. Rowan played well but I'm just so happy to finish my junior career with this win.” The men's final featured the runners up from last year, who had met four times in the final stages of the British Junior Open over the years. Malaysia's Eain Yow Ng went into the final winning three of those encounters, but Egypt's Saadeddin Abou Aish had won the most recent one this January. Ng started well and raced through the first game, but Abou Aish was equally impressive in taking the second. With the packed crowd at Enjoy Squash and Gym getting involved in every rally, it was the Malaysian whose inventive play allowed him to take, and keep, the upper hand in the next two games. After retaking the lead Ng built a lead at the start of the fourth, which Abou Aish couldn't quite close, and when the Egyptian's drop shot hit the tin on the first match ball Ng became the second Malaysian man – after Ong Beng Hee – to become world junior champion. “It's unbelievable,” said a delighted Ng. “Becoming world junior champion is something I've dreamed about since I started playing squash but to actually do it, it's like a dream. “I went into the match not thinking about winning or losing, just about playing my game and seeing what happens. I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends, family and coaches, so thanks to all of those.”
