For the second year running, Grinham wins the Hurghada squash championship. Inas Mazhar reports from the Red Sea This year's final of the Hurghada women's squash championship in the Red Sea was a repeat of last year's. World No 1 Rachel Grinham took on Egypt's world No. 10 Omneya Abdel-Qawi. And, as was the outcome last year, the Egyptian lost. Abdel-Qawi came close to changing the result of last year, but still there was no cigar. Abdel-Qawi had been leading the two games 9- 1 and 9-2 in the final match on Sunday when she was blistered in her foot at the beginning of the third set. The injury proved the turning point as the Australian came from behind, packed with her experience, to win the next three sets 9-4 9-3 and 10-8 to claim the title for the second consecutive year. The final set was the toughest. Abdel-Qawi was close to winning, leading 8-7 when a stroke was awarded to Grinham to level the score at 8-8. Grinham went on to win two straight points for a 3-2 game victory. "My injury was the only reason behind me losing the match," the 20-year- old Abdel-Qawi said. "I had done a lot of effort in the first two games but when I was injured I couldn't follow up with her because Grinham played very well. And though I treated my foot, and went on playing the game, I wasn't lucky. I really wanted to win but I was unlucky this time. I felt I was so close." The 28-year-old Grinham, who confirmed her top ranking just weeks ago, spoke to the spectators from the court after receiving her prize. "I'm glad I won for the second year in a row and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me here." She did not forget to thank the squash officials of the Egyptian Federation and of Heliopolis club where she has played as a pro for almost four years. Grinham strengthened grip on the world No. 1 ranking for the 10th successive month in the May women's world squash rankings. Grinham, from Toowoomba in Queensland, made certain of holding off her nearest rival Vanessa Atkinson after winning last month's Qatar Airways Challenge, the WISPA Grand Prix event in Doha in which Atkinson was a surprise second round casualty. The event was Grinham's first WISPA title win of the year, which took her career haul to 18 titles in seven years. En route to the final, Grinham beat Italy's Mauela Manetta 3-0 in just 33 minutes in the first round. She then defeated England's Stephanie Brind 3-0 in the quarter-finals and England's Laura Lengthorn 3-0 in the semis. Abdel-Qawi beat fellowwoman Eman El-Amir 3-0 in the first round, then Malaysia's Ahron Wee 3-0 in 27 minutes and England's Alisson Waters 3-0 in the semi-finals. For the first time, the Hurghada championship saw five Egyptians playing among the top 16 players. Two were already in the main draw, Abdel-Qawi and Injy Khairallah, while the rest, Eman El-Amir, Amnah El-Tarabolsi and Raneem El-Weleili qualified from the two- round preliminary round held at the Cairo Stadium indoor complex three days before the main draw began. Only Abdel-Qawi made it to the final while all three Egyptians made an early bye to the championship. The eighth seed, Khairallah was beaten by England's Rebecca Botwright. Unseeded El-Tarabolsi was beaten by England's Alisson Waters while El-Amir was defeated by the second seed and eventual runner up Abdel-Qawi. El-Weleili, who received a special award from the WISPA, the Women International Squash Professional Association, for being this year's most improved junior, lost in the opening to Malaysia's Sharon Wee. The venue was also new. It was the same glass court but this year it was erected on the newly constructed pedestrian pavement, in the middle of the main road of Hurghada. People didn't have to enter the hotel and reach the island through a bridge or by boat. Everyone was able to watch. The glass court was surrounded by the stands, while two large screens were erected from behind so that all passers-by can be able to watch the world champions as they display world-class squash. A photo gallery of ancient and modern Egypt as well as Al-Ahram's sponsored events, squash, tennis, billiards, handball and futsal, was set up along the pavement. The pictures of Egypt were donated by photographer Samir El-Ghazouli. Even the concert, held the last three years at Hurghada's main square, Al-Sakkala, was different. Almost 100,000 nationals and foreigners attended the event. There were two superstars on hand, pop singer Tamer Hosni and the former world junior champion and world No. 3 Ahmed Barrada who retired four years ago. The 28-year- old Barrada has now taken up singing and acting. The Hurghada concert was his first live show.
