Egypt’s Ramy Ashour has been honored as PSA Player of the Year for the second year in a row at the annual World Squash Awards.
The presentation took place at the PSA World Series JP Morgan Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
Ashour has become one of the biggest draws on the PSA World Tour over the past few years. Twice a winner of the PSA Young Player of the Year award, the two-time world junior champion rapidly made his mark on the senior tour, becoming World No. 1 for the first time in January 2010, at age 23.
After an injury-affected 2011, the gifted 25-year-old from Cairo enjoyed the best year of his professional career in 2012, becoming the first player for almost two decades to reach the final of all events he played in—winning five titles and capping the year by clinching the PSA World Championship crown for the second time and regaining the world’s top ranking in January.
After following in the footsteps of Mohamed El Shorbagy by winning a second World Junior Championship title last year, teenager Marwan El Shorbagy is now emulating his older brother by becoming ‘Young Player of the Year’—an award won by Mohamed in both 2009 and 2010.
“It’s an honor to be awarded the ‘2012 PSA Young Player of the Year’,” tweeted El Shorbagy later. “Thanks to everyone who has supported me through all this year.”
The 19-year-old from Alexandria, the youngest player in the world top 50, began 2012 in stunning style—becoming the first qualifier for ten years to reach the quarterfinals of the PSA World Series Tournament of Champions in New York. Continuing success took the UK-based teenager to a career-high World No. 26 in September, a month before making the semifinals of the Dayton Open in Ohio, unseeded.
“This year’s Player of the Year award was probably the closest it has ever been, with many candidates all having their claim. But we felt the run of event wins, which culminated in being crowned World Champion and getting back to World No. 1, was enough to secure Ramy’s second award,” said PSA COO Lee Beachill.
“Obviously James Willstrop was another notable contender having spent all of 2012 at No. 1; Omar Mosaad had a fantastic year and reached the top-10 for the first time; Borja Golan has fought back from a career-threatening injury (ACL tear) to make the top-10 again; and Mohamed El Shorbagy had an incredible World Championship, reaching the final and finishing the year at No. 5,” added Beachill.
“The Young Player of the Year was a slightly easier decision due to the remark- able breakthrough of Marwan El Shorbagy. As well as having several notable results against highly-ranked opposition, Marwan also won the World Junior Championship and has positioned himself perfectly for a big 2013.
“All these achievements signify the immense depth of talent we currently have on the PSA World Tour and we all look forward to a highly competitive 2013 season,” Beachill concluded.
Founded in 2005 by Eventis Sports Marketing, the World Squash Awards are endorsed annually by the World Squash Federation (WSF), the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the Women’s Squash Association (WSA).
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