Bridesmaid No More As Egypt's Hania El Hammamy Finally Crowned World Junior Champion

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Egypt's Hania El Hammamy was finally crowned World Junior champion in her third try after ending up the bridesmaid in the last two championships. The top seed defeated her compatriot, first time finalist Jana Shiha with 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil, here Sunday in a repeat of this year’s British Junior Open final, which Hania won. Both players showed a sterling performance and it was neck-to-neck in the third set but Hania managed to hold on to her lead to win the title. "I felt a lot of pressure before the match, and of course I did not want to lose in the last two editions. I have been watching all the top players on the PSA tour, and all of my favourite players had also won world junior titles," Hania said. Describing the winning as the beginning of a professional career, she aspired to be world number one in the future. Meanwhile in the men's event, top seed Mostafa Asal, also of Egypt retained his title and became the fourth male player to win the title twice after he defeated compatriot Moustafa Elsirty 12-10, 11-3, 11-6 in a repeat of their 2018 semi-final (which Asal won 3-0). "In the first match, I felt the pressure but I overcame it as the first game was so important to me… thank God I won today (Sunday)," he said. The all-Egyptian final in this year's World Juniors was the second in a row. -- BERNAMA