Gohar Downs El Hammamy In Four To Reach Paris Squash Title Decider 

World No.2 Nouran Gohar delivered a confident and powerful performance as she battled past arch-rival Hania El Hammamy in four games to book her spot in the Paris Squash 2024 final. 

Gohar, who came into the match having won their three previous meetings on the PSA Tour, extended this run with a 11-6, 11-1, 9-11, 11-6 victory over the World No.3.

The current World Champion flew out of the blocks in typical ‘Terminator’ style, finding her targets to devastating effect and managing to push El Hammamy deep in the court.

After taking a the opening game in just eight minutes, an even more dominant second would follow, with Gohar winning ten unanswered points in a flash. Despite El Hammamy avoiding a second-game whitewash, Gohar moved into a 2-0 lead after 23 minutes of action. 

A resurgent El Hammamy returned to the court after the game break, hunting down the ball to greater effect and putting Gohar under pressure with some heavier hitting into the back two corners. ‘The Leopard’ traded points with Gohar up to the end-phases of the third and managed to pull away at just the right time, reducing the deficit to 2-1. 

A day after twice coming from behind to defeat Fayrouz Aboelkheir in five games, El Hammamy was eying up another comeback victory, as she stayed in touch with Gohar into the mid-phases of game four. 

However, the comeback wasn’t to be, with the No.2 seed moving to match ball after 71 minutes of action, and converting the victory at the first time of asking.

After the match, Gohar said: “Hania is such a fighter. I think I played really well in the first game and I was hitting my targets really well, my shot game was on point. 

“Sometimes it is too good to be true, though. She had nothing to lose at 2-0 down, and she was going to go for her shots as well. I think in the third I didn’t follow my gameplan as well as I had before, but all credit to her, she made it tough. I’m really proud of my mental game and my tactical work as well. I think it is a match that has set me up well tomorrow.”

Result: 

[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-1: 11-6, 11-1, 9-11, 11-6 (71m)