Egypt's Ramy may well sing this song as the city proves lucky for him. Before yesterday's Punj Lloyd PSA masters title, he won at otters club in 2005
Egypt's Ramy may well sing this song as the city proves lucky for him. Before yesterday's Punj Lloyd PSA masters title, he won at otters club in 2005
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Egypt's Ramy Ashour stretches to return against England's Nick Matthew during the Punj Lloyd PSA Masters final at the Bombay Gymkhana's Thunderdome yesterday. Ashour won 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE |
DJ Viraf belted out 'Walk Like An Egyptian' midway through the Nick Matthew-Ramy Ashour final. Maybe, he had a hunch that it would be an Egyptian triumph. Well, he was spot on as Ramy walked tall after outlasting the Englishman to bag the first $152,000 Punj Lloyd PSA Masters Squash title at the Bombay Gymkhana Thunderdome. The 22-year-old prevailed 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9.
It was a fairytale triumph for the World No.5 from Cairo as on his last visit to Mumbai in 2005, he bagged the Herald Maritime Open at Otters Club. "I won as an 18-year-old, but this victory is far sweeter as it has come at a PSA Masters event. The triumph also makes me the new No. 1 (the new PSA rankings will be declared in January 2010),'' gushed the champion.
Not only that, but he takes home a cool $28,000 (Rs 13 lakh) for the effort.
As a final, it was not one for the squash purists. There were errors aplenty from both players' racquets.
Matthew did not mince words later: "We both played rubbish. The player who kept the ball above the tin won the point.''
Ramy won plenty of points with attacking strokeplay. At times, he dominated from the forecourt with volleys and drops.
Matthew let the little things affect him, once he asked for a let when Ramy had already won the point as the Englishman slipped due to the wet court. That was a problem for both players as volunteers had to often enter the arena to wipe the perspiration off the floor.
"Yes, that did affect me u2014 the constant halts u2014 so that the court could be wiped dry. I didn't have any issues with the conduct warnings I received for racquet and ball abuse,'' said the 29-year-old Sheffield Wednesday supporter.
Matthew now heads to the Middle East. "I play Omar Mosaad of Egypt in the first round of the Saudi Arabia Super Series event next week. I will try my best to win that title.''
There were more pearls of wisdom to come from the Egyptian champion. Will he celebrate with champagne after the win? "I don't drink. I may have a couple of pegs of vodka before I go to sleep," he said jokingly.
On whether he has any girlfriends: "I did have one, but we split up. I am looking for a girl. Indian girls are very pretty, Ritwik's girlfriend Neha Dhupia is also very nice and she would make an excellent squash player,'' said the fleet-footed Ramy with a mischievous wink.
Of course, the Egyptian makes his opponents dance on court, but off the court he loves his music.
"My two passions are squash and music. I listen to an Egyptian singer called Amr Diab,'' he stated.
