Nour El Sherbini raises her arms in celebration at winning the CIB Black Ball Squash Open in Egypt ©PSA

Women’s world number one Nour El Sherbini of Egypt said she was glad to finally win the CIB Professional Squash Association (PSA) Black Ball Squash Open following two previous runner-up finishes at the tournament.

During her previous encounters in the final of the PSA World Tour Platinum event, held at the Black Ball Sporting Club in Cairo, El Sherbini has been beaten by compatriots Raneem El Welily and Hania El Hammamy however she went one better in the showpiece match today.

El Sherbini ran out a four game winner against world number six Amanda Sobhy of the United States, with the victory for El Sherbini a reversal of their previous meeting in the quarter-finals of the tournament in December 2020, when Sobhy was triumphant.

El Sherbini took a tight first game 13-11 before taking game two 11-5.

Sobhy kept the match alive by taking game three 11-6 as she appeared to get on top physically, however El Sherbini was not to be denied and took the fourth game 11-7 to secure an emotional victory in 42 minutes.

Victory is El Sherbini’s second title on home soil this season following her win at the Egyptian Open in October.

Her latest triumph puts her top of the Road to Egypt standings, and secures her place at the PSA World Tour Finals, scheduled to take place in June.

Nour El Sherbini (black top) defeated Amanda Sobhy in four games to win the PSA Black Ball Squash Open in Cairo ©PSA
Nour El Sherbini (black top) defeated Amanda Sobhy in four games to win the PSA Black Ball Squash Open in Cairo ©PSA

Speaking after the match El Sherbini said: "I’m really glad that I finally won the Black Ball Open.

"It’s one of the biggest tournaments and a very special one in Egypt. I’m definitely really happy to finally win this tournament.

"I’d like to dedicate this tournament to a very special person that passed this year.

"Hany Hamouda has been one of the main supporters for me and he attended all four World Championship wins.

"I’m really sorry we lost him, he was a very special person to me, so I’d love to dedicate this trophy to him."

Hamouda, President of the Squash Federation of Africa and a member of the World Squash Federation’s Executive Committee died at the age of 64 in January after contracting coronavirus.

He also served as a Board member of the Egyptian Squash Federation between 2008 and 2017.

The men’s CIB PSA Black Ball Squash Open is scheduled to begin at the same venue tomorrow with first round action.

Egypt’s Ali Farag starts the tournament as top seed, with all eight seeded players entering the event at the second round stage.