Ramy Ashour

Ramy Ashour (born September 30 1987, in Cairo Egypt) is an internationally renowned Egyptian squash player. Ashour won his first major international title in 2004, when he became the youngest player ever to win the Men's World Junior Squash Championship at just 16 years old. He also led Egypt to a second-place finish in the team event in 2004, losing to England in the final. In July 2006, he became the first player in history to win the World Junior Championships twice. He defeated his junior compatriot Egyptian Omar Mosaad. He also led Egypt to 2-1 victory over Pakistan in the final of the team event. By his victories, Egypt captured the first three positions in the individual players event and the team event title which was a feat no team has ever accomplished in the history of the tournament.

He reached his first major final at the Cathay Pacific Swiss Privilege Hong Kong Squash Open 2006 where he lost to the eventual World No.1 fellow Egyptian Amr Shabana. En Route to the final, he beat World No.10 John White, World No.3 Thierry Lincou and World No.2 David Palmer.

He won his first major professional title in January 2007, when he defeated David Palmer 3-0(11-7, 11-3, 11-4) in 32 minutes for the PACE Canadian Squash Classic.

In April of 2007 he won both the Sheika Al Saad Kuwait Open, the richest squash event in the world, by defeating Egyptian compatriot and World No.1, Amr Shabana, 11-5, 11-3, 12-10, in 34 minutes, after a 10-6 deficit in the third and, the Qatar Classic in Doha by again defeating World Open Champion David Palmer, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6, in 66 minutes.

Also in 2007, Ramy won the ATCO Super Series Finals event, held in August, by competing against other top points winners of the season. Only the top 8 players are invited to this prestigious event. The only player to go undefeated in his first 3 matches, Ramy then met French sensation Gregory Gaultier in the final. After a 62 minute battle, Ramy took the title 3-1 (12-10, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4).

To quote squash legend and writer Malcolm Willstrop, "Ramy Ashour is something else - his movement is better than anyone in the game, and allied to his unique racket skills and vision, he lights up the sport. Not only that but his modesty, and engaging smile make him a rare commodity."

Ashour's older brother, Hisham Mohd Ashour, also plays on the PSA tour and has a career high ranking of No. 21 in the world (Feb '08).

Ramy is known to have a badminton grip, which helps power (through the wrist).

PSA Tour Titles

PSA Tour Finals

External links

* [http://www.psa-squash.com/entry/ranking.php?player=T03237 Profile at psa-squash.com]
* [http://www.squashinfo.com/player-774 Profile at squashinfo.com]
* [http://www.squashsite.co.uk/ramy.htm The emergence of Ramy Ashour at squashsite.co.uk.com]
* [http://www.squashplayer.co.uk/features/ramy_ashour.htm 'Ashoured of Success' at squashplayer.co.uk]
* [http://www.mensvogue.com/health/regimen/articles/2007/12/pair_of_aces_videos 'Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour Highlights' at mensvogue.com]
* [http://www.mensvogue.com/health/regimen/articles/2007/12/pair_of_aces 'Pair Of Aces' at mensvogue.com]