History repeated itself for both players. It was the same event and the same venue. The World Squash Championships, and Doha, Qatar, the host nation. It was the 2012 World Championship which Rami Ashour won. Like many other past editions, the final of that World Championships was an all-Egyptian final. This year it was no different as the Doha World Championships saw the impressive comeback of former world championship Ashour. The 27-year-old Egyptian was playing in his first competitive tournament since May's Allam British Open in which he defied the critics to claim his third world championship crown, beating compatriot Mohamed Al-Shorbagi in a thrilling final. Four years ago, Ashour had ruled the world of squash as the top ranked player. But since being injured during the 2013 World Championships semi-final, he has been plagued by more injuries which prevented him from maintaining his winning streak. It took Ashour 90 minutes to win this year's title in Doha. He completed an extraordinary return to action to beat the new reigning world champion and top ranked Al-Shorbagi 3-2. Ashour took the lead in the first set 13-11 before losing two sets in a row 7-11, 5-11 before coming back from behind 11-5, 14-12 in a spectacular match that saw both players throw away match points before Ashour took control. “I'm speechless,” said Ashour afterwards. “It's an unbelievable feeling and I just can't believe it. I have worked so hard both mentally and physically to get myself ready for this tournament and I pushed myself so hard. It doesn't get any better than this.” Ashour, now the world number five, told worldsquash.org after his victory. In the early stages of the match both players displayed nerves, making uncharacteristic errors, but it wasn't long before the capacity crowd at the Khalifa Squash Centre, which was packed with over 1,200 fans for the all-Egyptian encounter, were treated to some of the most enthralling action ever witnessed in a World Championships final as both players produced squash of the highest standard. “It was dramatic and it was brutal – it was like a fight. We were both trying to get inside the other's game but nobody succeeded. We were both producing our best squash,” added Ashour. “In that last game we both had match balls and it was back and forth between us. We both wanted so badly to be world champion and winning my third world title means so much to me. This is a very special moment. “Mohamed is an amazing player and he will win a lot more tournaments but I was very proud of the way both of us represented Egypt in such a great manner today and it makes me proud of my country.” Despite being the world No 1 in the Professional Squash Association Al-Shorbagi was seeded second while the fifth ranked Ashour was seeded fourth. On the other hand, Egypt, led by world No 3 Raneem Al-Welili, are expected to retain their title in next month's WSF Women's World Team Squash Championship in Canada after being named as top seeds by the World Squash Federation. Teams from 20 nations – featuring all the world's top 10 players – will compete in the 19th staging of the biennial championship at White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, from 1-6 December. Favourites Egypt boast a formidable squad featuring four players in the world top 11 – and are expected to line up against second seeds England in the final for the fourth time since 2006, when they met in the climax for the first time, also in Canada. Winners of the trophy for the first time in 2008, Egypt are looking for a third title, while England, led by reigning world champion Laura Massaro, the world No 2, will be hoping to repeat their most recent win in the 2006 final in Edmonton and claim the crown for the seventh time since 1985. Malaysia are seeded to finish in third place for the fifth time in a row – but world number one Nicol David, supported by a squad including fellow Penangite Low Wee Wern, the world No 7, will be determined to confound the seedings by winning the only major title to have so far eluded her. Hong Kong China are expected to make the semi-finals for the first time and achieve their best-ever finish in their 12th appearance in the championships since 1985. Eighth-place finishers in the 2012 championship in France, the fourth seeds will be led by world No 9 Annie Au. Hosts Canada, who have competed in every championship since the inaugural event in 1979, are named as the 11th seeds and are expected to earn their best finish since 2008. But the players, led by the country's two-time champion Samantha Cornett, the world No 30 from Ottawa, will be hoping that home advantage will steer the team to a first top eight finish since 2000 – and ultimately a repeat of their top four success 35 years ago. There are also high hopes for the 6th seeds USA who will be looking for a repeat of the nation's best-ever finishes in 1979 and 1983.
