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Egyptians and Brits dominate FISU Squash

September 10, 2014

Mazen Sabri (EGY) and Camilla Tomlinson (GBR) covered themselves with glory after emerging victorious in the men’s and women’s sections respectively of the 8th World University Squash Championship at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai, India.

In terms of a contest these finals fizzled out but there was no doubting the high standards that came on view. Cool and collected Camilla appeared to see through the game of the top seed Olga Ertlova of the Czech Republic. Normally a swift mover with a good touch with the racket Olga never looked the fighting player she was, Camilla ensured that with her testing returns and perfect placements. Trailing in each game, Olga gave in to the resilient British girl in less than 40 minutes. “I must say this is one of my biggest wins. This is a world level title. I am truly happy,” said Camilla of her achievement.

In the men’s final, two Egyptians gave a glimpse of the high-quality squash they are used to at the international level. It did not matter that Mazen and Zahed came from the same background. Both are friends off the court, but on court no quarter was given and none asked. Both played with immense concentration. Where Mazen was different, was his ability to get the ball to strike where he wanted, just above the tin and with consistency. Be it in the drops or the forehand blasts, Mazen virtually had his opponent skidding and gliding to great lengths. “I am familiar with Zahed’s game and that helped,” said Mazen in the end as he rose to take the gold medal in just 35 minutes of play.

In what was a final that went to the wire, Egypt managed to down reigning champion Great Britain 2-1 and grab the gold medal in the mixed team event on Sunday 7 September. This is the third time that Egypt is lifting the team title in this FISU squash championship, the last being in 2008. Malaysia beat South Africa 2-1 to settle for the bronze.

The next edition (9th) of the FISU World University Squash Championship will be hosted in 2016, in Malaysia.

Men’s Medal Podium

Women’s Medal Podium

Mixed Team Medal Podium

About FISU

Founded in 1949, FISU (International University Sports Federation) is an organisation dedicated to university sport and the promotion of excellence in mind and body. Balancing elite sport competition and academic studies, the student-athletes participating in FISU events are today’s stars and tomorrow’s leaders. FISU has three core sport properties: the Summer and Winter Universiade and the World University Championships. The Summer and Winter Universiade are international multi-sporting and cultural festivals held every two years, gathering student-athletes aged 17-28 from over 170 countries. FISU’s other major sporting events are the World University Championships (WUC), single-sporting events which are held in the years between the Universiades. In 2014 there will be a total of 29 Championships in 23 countries and for the first time American Football will be on the programme. In addition to our existing broadcast agreements, FISU’s long-term multimedia partnership with Eurosport will bring live HD broadcast for each Summer Universiade and Winter Universiade across Europe and Asia-Pacific and greater exposure for all FISU properties through the monthly TV magazine CAMPUS. FISU’s partnerships with Eurosport covers all events through 2017. The 2015 editions of the Universiade are in Granada, ESP (winter) and Gwangju, KOR (summer), 2017 in Almaty, KAZ (winter) and Taipei City, TPE (summer) and 2019 in Krasnoyarsk, RUS (winter) and Brasilia, BRA (summer).