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[2] Marwan El
Shorbagy bt [5/8] Mohamed Abouelgar
11/6, 11/6, 11/8 (45m)
MARWAN, SOLID MATCH
It must have been anything but easy to start this match for
Marwan. One, the crowd wanted to see the boy that ousted the
Champion do well. Two, never easy to be the favourite. Three.
Not easy to be the Brother of a Two Time World Champion.
Yes, that was a lot to carry around for those shoulders.
 For
Mohamed, though, not that easy either. Yes, no pressure
whatsoever, no expectations, but a lovely 70m match a few hours
before, plus, the gigantic emotional excitement/drain of beating
the reigning champion…
As I expected it to be honest, it all came down to unforced
errors. Marwan, 3. Mohamed, 15.
First game, nothing between the players, up to 4/4. Very long
rallies, that went straight to Mohamed’s legs. From 4/4, 6 tins
in 7 points, giving the favourite 5 game balls, 10/5. Mohamed
saves one with a lovely volley drop shot reflex, but Marwan ends
the game with a stunning backhand boast, 11/6.
 Again,
nothing much between the players up to 3/3, then Marwan
capitalises on his opponent errors to get quickly to 8/4. Some
lovely disputed rallies, with Mohamed attacking at will, and
Marwan retrieving beautifully, but then Marwan getting complete
control of the T, and Mohamed, doing an awful lot of running…
Same score in the second, 11/6.
The third could have been a walk in the park, and it started
like it, 5/0 for Marwan. But bless him, Mohamed just clawed in,
cutting down the errors, and came back to 6/6. 7/7. The crowd
was quite rightly behind the youngest, they want to see more of
this.
But if Marwan didn’t control his emotions that well at the start
this tournament, at this crucial time, he does. He keeps on
playing a mature squash, patient, he is lucid, he builds his
rallies, applying more and more pressure on Mohamed that is
giving his all.
 But
his “all” won’t suffice, and as Mohamed couldn’t get to a
backhand drop shot, Marwan raised his arms in the air, embraced
his mate, fell on his knees to kiss the floor and thank God for
this victory.
A few long seconds there, then he went out of
court, and found his mum in the crowd to share this very
emotional moment with her.
Today, History was made I believe, as I do not remember two
brothers winning Junior Championship titles at two years interval
on top of that!
Not to mention that at SquashSite, we do remember a little boy
approaching us years ago, to write reports for us – that Steve
spent hours rewriting of course, as his English was a bit
approximate at the time, bless him – and who is today World
Junior Champion.
Can’t help being a bit emotional, sue me.
 You
know, I had a terrible night last night, I just couldn’t sleep
at all….
This was a very difficult match mentally, as Mohamed and myself
are best friends, and we know each other’s game so well, we’ve
been playing each other since we were 10!
There are so many Egyptian world juniors champions, we keep it
going, and teach each other the game of squash!!!
I’m
so happy right now, I’ve been dreaming of this since I was ten,
and when I saw my brother getting his first title in
Switzerland, I wanted so much to win too…
 I think that today, I played a better game than he did, he was
probably tired from his 70m match against Khalifa yesterday.
I
think I played the right tactic, and I didn’t make many errors I
think…
I have one more year to year to go, and next year will be in
Egypt, so I so want to win it, because it will be in my own
country. But it will be hard.
I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it.
How
can I thank Jonah, how can I express all of what that man has
done for me. I owe him so much. And I would like to dedicate
this title to my dad, whose always been there for me.
 I need to thank my mum for coming here, and being there with me,
and supporting me, and my brother Mohamed for being the best big
brother ever.
Also, Ian Thomas, and our National coach Amir Wagih, who made us
work hard to prepare for those championships, and of course, our
Egyptian Federation….
I’m so happy, I can’t believe it.
 "I
have never seen in my life my brother playing that well ... he
actually played the match of his life ... I am so happy right
now I was in tears once he won ...
This is just the best gift we could give our parents to what
they do for us ... having two sons who won the world juniors
which is something that has never been done before ...
I hope this is a new start for his squash career BUT still if he
tries to beat me one day I am going to KILL HIM!!!"
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I’m disappointed with the result of the match, but not with this
tournament.
I didn’t perform at my best today, I was really tired from
yesterday, I didn’t have much left in the tank when I started.
And he played well, he made the rallies last, and that was not
good for me, I just didn’t have enough energy to play again five
long games… But that’s all part of the learning process.
I want to congratulate Marwan, he is a great player…
I’ll be back next year!
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