Shabana
& Ashour in Edmonton
21 Feb 2008 - Jeff Sneyd reports
On the front page of Thursday mornings
'Edmonton Journal' sports page was a large photograph of Ramy
Ashour setting up for wicked backhand drive with World Champion Amr
Shabana waiting on the T.
With the Oilers (NHL hockey team) slumping, this picture was a
seemingly better front page news article for Edmonton sports fans.
With nearly 200 spectators in the gallery, Royal Glenora
squash members witnessed one of the best exhibition matches of all
time. High caliber rallies, powerful Ashour forehands, amazing
Shabana lobs, the crowd was in a frenzy. At one point one fan
(Jeremy Main, close friend of Shabana) yelled "come on old man" to
Shabana to give him an extra push in the fifth and deciding game and
Shabana literally pulled up his shorts and went on to win the match
11-9 in the final game.
Another highlight in the match saw both Shabana and Ashour use their
racquet handles to hit the ball for a good 30 seconds. Some talent!
These guys were dazzling the crowd with their Egyptian style of play
--- going for nicks, counter drop after counter drop, jump shot
overhands and real crowd pleasing pounding hard drives.
Before the exhibition Royal Glenora junior players took part in a
junior squash session with technical tips and on court play with the
number 1 and number 2 squash players in the world.
Shabana
& Ashour in Edmonton
