World No. 1s Nouran Gohar and Mostafa Asal have both emphatically booked their places in the finals of the SmartCentres PSA Squash Tour Finals, following impressive semi-final victories at Toronto’s Revival Film Studios. Both top seeds will now eye the coveted titles in what promises to be thrilling conclusions to the tournament.
Nouran Gohar, the dominant force in women’s squash, secured her spot in the final after a hard-fought 2-1 (11-6, 7-11, 11-4) win over Japan’s Satomi Watanabe in a 38-minute battle. Gohar, who had a perfect record against Watanabe in their previous five encounters, started strong, establishing a significant lead in the first game.
Watanabe, making history as the first Japanese player to reach the semi-finals of this tournament, mounted a spirited comeback in the second game. She adjusted her tactics, lengthening rallies and utilizing the back of the court more effectively, eventually pulling away from a 6-6 tie to level the match.
However, Gohar showcased her championship pedigree in the decider. The Egyptian quickly adapted her strategy, taking an early lead that sapped the momentum from her Japanese opponent. Gohar then powered through to clinch the third game and set up a highly anticipated final clash against USA’s Olivia Weaver.
“She played well today and I was happy to get tested before the final,” said Gohar, reflecting on her match. “It’s going to be a big final and I think I need to make some tweaks for tomorrow. I’m happy I dug deep and found a way, even if it wasn’t the best squash.”
Despite missing half the season, Gohar expressed immense pride in her performance, reaching the final of every event she’s competed in this year, aside from the World Championships. Addressing the absence of rivals Nour El Sherbini and Hania El Hammamy due to injury, Gohar dismissed notions of an “easy event,” emphasizing the need for consistent intensity.
In the men’s draw, World No. 1 Mostafa Asal continued his remarkable run, reaching the SmartCentres PSA Squash Tour Finals title decider for the fifth consecutive year. Asal delivered a commanding performance against 2019 winner Karim Abdel Gawad, sweeping past his compatriot 2-0 (11-4, 11-5) in just 22 minutes.
Asal displayed superior intensity and purpose throughout the match, dropping a mere nine points across both games as he dominated the proceedings. The 2021, 2022, and 2023 champion has faced a diverse range of opponents in his previous finals, only faltering once against Ali Farag.
“Gawad is a legend for me,” Asal stated warmly after his victory, acknowledging his opponent’s storied career. “I grew up watching him at the same club… His personality off the court is amazing and I’m really proud to share the court with him again.”
Looking ahead to the final, Asal will face the winner of the semi-final clash between World No. 2 Diego Elias and Welshman Joel Makin, the World No. 4. Asal acknowledged the formidable challenge ahead, particularly if he faces Elias. “Diego is an amazing player and he’s very skilful and very dangerous. He got the better of me the last few times and there are no excuses. He was the best player on the day.”
Squash enthusiasts can now eagerly anticipate a thrilling day of finals as Gohar and Asal look to cap off their impressive runs with the SmartCentres PSA Squash Tour Finals titles.
