World No 5 Marwan El Shorbagy has said he is “honoured” to have the opportunity to compete at Dubai Opera as the Egyptian joins his brother, world No 3 Mohamed, at the season-ending PSA Dubai World Series Final.
The top eight men and women in the Road to Dubai standings will qualify for the tournament, taking place June 6-10.
Hosted in Burj Park last year, the PSA Dubai World Series Final will this year be contested inside Dubai Opera — the first time a sports event will be held at the venue.
Having missed out in 2016, El Shorbagy is determined to make the most of his chance and has arrived in Dubai to scope out the facilities.
“The PSA Dubai World Series Finals is the climax to the international squash season, the biggest moment of the year for squash players and we were thrilled when the event came to Dubai last year,” El Shorbagy, 23, said.
“While I didn’t qualify last year, my brother Mohammed told me how amazing it was, and since then I’ve worked hard to make sure I finished in the top eight in the rankings and qualified for the event.
“After looking at some of the amazing venues around Dubai over the last two days, I feel honoured that we will be the first sportsmen and women to compete in such an iconic place as the Dubai Opera, and we are very excited about what this will do for the sport of squash.
“Dubai has an incredible reputation for hosting world-class events, and we are pleased to be part of this. We know there is a rich history of squash in Dubai and we are excited about playing a part in its future.”
The women’s field has already been finalised, following the conclusion of the Allam British Open last month, while the men’s line-up will be confirmed after the El Gouna Squash International in Egypt on April 7-14.
With equal prize purse of $160,000 (Dh588,000) on offer in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, the five-day is structured in a round-robin best-of-three series for place in the knockout semi-finals.
Tickets for the season-ending 2017 PSA Dubai World Series Finals are available to purchase via www.dubaiopera.com or from the Dubai Opera Box Office.
For further information on both the PSA World Series and the PSA World Tour, please visit www.psaworldtour.com.
ROAD TO DUBAI STANDINGS
Men’s:
1. Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
2. Gregroy Gaultier (FRA)
3. Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
4. Nick Matthew (ENG)
5. Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY)
6. James Willstrop (ENG)
7. Ramy Ashour (EGY)
8. Simon Rosner (GER)
Women’s:
1. Camille Serme (FRA)
2. Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
3. Laura Massaro (ENG)
4. Raneem El Weilly (EGY)
5. Nouran Gohar (EGY)
6. Nicol David (MAL)
7. Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
8. Amanda Sobhy (USA)
* Agencies
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