Injury Curtails Bad-Tempered Asal v ElShorbagy Clash in CIB Egyptian Open quarter-final

In a bad-tempered conclusion to the last match of the quarter-finals of the CIB Egyptian Open, Egyptian No.3 seed Mostafa Asal moved through to the semi-finals after England’s No.8 seed Mohamed ElShorbagy retired hurt in game two.

In a first game interrupted by decisions and arguments, Asal moved into the lead with an 11-8 win.

Emotions threatened to boil over in game two, with both players handed conduct strokes: ElShorbagy for his reaction to what he perceived to be dangerous play from Asal, and Asal for his reaction after winning a hotly-contested point against ElShorbagy.

With the score at 6-2 to Asal in game two, there was confusion when ElShorbagy appeared to shake hands with Asal, later clarifying that he was leaving the court to seek physio treatment.

After returning from treatment, the players shook hands again, with the a recurrence of an previous hamstring injury preventing ElShorbagy from continuing.

Afterwards, Asal said: “It’s an absolute shame it’s going that way at the moment. I didn’t like it at all and I don’t want to win like this.

“Last year, I improved a lot and am playing simple squash, but then it gets intense with Mohamed. I don’t think Mohamed was in good order today, there were lots of things happening, exchanging words.

“I responded like ‘come one!’ but I’m always respectful, always trying to say with respect. I didn’t, like when I got the conduct stroke or something, I screamed, I finished the shot and he was into my face.

“Respect yourself [is what I said to Mohamed] and respect me. This is what I said, and then the exchange that was said.

“When someone exchanges words or does not say to you anything, not responding when I’m saying ‘sorry’ or something about a shot and he’s not responding and the show start to continue.

“This was absolutely not [the old Mostafa]. I didn’t even… even when he was falling, I absolutely did nothing. There was one shot, I stood on it, but I didn’t even block, I stood on it and Roy [Gingell, match referee] didn’t even give a penalty. He said a little bit, but I would not go to the old Mostafa because I didn’t do anything. I played pure squash and it was really great exchanges but then he suddenly…

“Anyone who will be here tonight will maybe be aggressive in the way of talking to Mohamed or something. Actually, a second father was there, he’s a big doctor and a big guy and he said to him ‘shut up, shut up’.

“I don’t know what was happening today, where he was outside the game or something like this, but I don’t think this would have happened if we were playing on the glass court. But it is what it is. That’s it.

“I’m not sure, I’m trying to be calm as much as I can. I have proved last season I was very very calm. When I screamed, it was for a reason. I finished my shot and he was face to face. And then I screamed. That’s why I want to say something, because I couldn’t say to someone bigger than me something. Exchange any bad words or something, to be motivated that I want to win, but with respect. I’m not sure, I guess this is what needs to be done and think about the next tournament.” 

Result: CIB Egyptian Open Men’s Quarter-Final
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [8] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 6-2 ret. (30m)

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