|
The
Final:
[2] Raneem El Welily 3-0 [7] Omneya Abdel Kawy
11/6, 11/5, 11/9 (35m)
 Raneem
is the Champion
Alexandria's own Raneem
El Welily provided a home winner of the inaugural Alexandria
International as she beat compatriot Omneya Abdel Kawy in
straight games in front of a packed crowd at the Bibliotheca
Alexandrina.
A FRIENDLY AFFAIR
If the final was slightly late, after an exhibition between
Local Hero Mohamed Elshorbagy and Greg Gaultier, then a great
original concert with percussions, synthesiser and violin, the
crowd didn’t go anywhere until it started!
 It
was always going to be a short affair, wasn’t it…. Both girls
love their attacking squash! Once again, I am proven tonight how
I know so little about squash. I did believe that Raneem was
going to be nervous at the start, thinking what Omneya just been
through recently, and how she would hate to break her heart
again and she is her best friend, and and and…
 But
today, Raneem put all those mental demons in the cupboard where
they belong. And those two girls were just superb professional
on court, around 6 decisions, with one absolutely knackered both
physically and mentally – Omneya – having had not only long five
setters, but also extremely emotional wins, Alison Waters and
her Nemesis Nicol David, who she hadn't beaten since 2002!!!
Basically, Raneem was the boss on court tonight. Omneya did her
best, but really, there was only going to be one winner…
 A
typical Raneem game that opener was, from 1/2 down, she scores
her usual 7 points in a row within seconds, helped by a pretty
tin-prone Omneya (5 UE in that game only), to reach 7/3. Omneya
will stay in touch, but Raneem is on the war path, just in
control of the court, 8/5, 11/6.
The second will be much closer, 2/2, 4/4, 5/5, but it’s obvious
that Omneya is struggling physically, she loses that one again
pretty quickly, 11/5.
But as she knows how, she just gives it a big push in the 3rd, a
sort of “if not now, when?” And that game is really good, the
pace is fast, the rallies are long, Omneya playing her clever
squash, and Raneem moving very well, and finding some excellent
length and counter-attacks. A very close affair it is, 2/2, 3/3,
4/4, 6/6, 7/7, 8/8, but Raneem is just too accurate and intense
tonight.
 She
scores the big points, 10/8 match ball, with Omneya saving one
with a deep straight drive that Raneem can only touch, and
finally takes the match, 11/9.
And the Show started, with violin, fireworks – I mean, fire
works as in FIRE, kids shouting, loud music and colourful
closing ceremony.
Another normal final day in Egypt Squash Events…
Mohamed
Elshorbagy 2-1 Gregory Gaultier
11/9, 9/11, 11/7
PREVIEW: All Egypt in Alexandria
 It's
all Egypt tonight as Alexandria's Raneem El Welily and Cairo's
Omneya Abdel Kawy bid to become the first Alexandria
International Champion.
In nine years' competition on the WSA tour they've met fourteen
times, Omneya winning the first seven, Raneem the next seven!
All we know is that it's going to be a great celebration of
Egyptian squash, in Egypt ...
|
the
pre-final show
Verryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy happyyyyyyyyy
with this win. Very grateful.
Couldn't have done it without my people, those around me this
week, my husband, my family, the whole family my coaches Ahmed
Faragallah and Bassem Makram who came to be with me but most my
coach who couldn't be here this week, Haitham Effat. This one
goes out to you.
Well done Omneya, my sis...
And thank you to my friends after family ... And the sponsors Wadi Degla
especially Karim Darwish, AQP for the continuous support and
last but not least Harrow sports Mark Hayden and the entire team
Shorbagy v Gaultier
Happy
Family
PHOTO GALLERY
|
