Nouran Gohar Explained

Nouran Gohar
Fullname:Nouran Ahmed Gohar
Country:Egypt
Residence:Stamford, Connecticut, USA
Birth Date:30 September 1997
Birth Place:Egypt
Height:167 cm
Weight:59 kg
Retired:Active
Plays:Right Handed
Coach:Omar Abd El Aziz, Karim Darwish
Racquet:Technifibre
Event:Women's singles
Highest Ranking:No. 1
Date Of Highest Ranking:October 2020
Current Ranking:No. 2
Date Of Current Ranking:July 2024
Worldopenresult:W (2023–24)
Updated:June, 2021

Nouran Ahmed Gohar (Arabic: نوران أحمد جوهر; born 30 September 1997 in Egypt) is a professional squash player who represents Egypt. She is the 2023–24 World Champion. She reached a career-high world ranking of No. 1 in July 2020.

Career

She lifted her first Tour title at the Prague Open in December 2013 at 16 years of age, where she played to her seeding to see off Lucie Fialová to triumph. Gohar earned another title the following year at the Irish Open before her victory over Omneya Abdel Kawy in the final of the Monte Carlo Classic elevated her into the world's top 20 for the first time. A quarter-final finish at the Texas Open in April 2015 ensured that Gohar would breach the top 15 in the world.[1]

Nouran Gohar won the prestigious British Junior Open three times: in 2012, 2015, and 2016. She also was a two time World Junior Squash champion, winning two back to back titles in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, she was part of the Egyptian team that won the gold medal at the 2016 Women's World Team Squash Championships.[2]

In 2018, she won her second world team title as part of the Egyptian team that won the 2018 Women's World Team Squash Championships.[3]

During May 2019 Gohar defeated the French fourth seed Camille Serme in the final of the prestigious 2019 Women's British Open Squash Championship, which saw Gohar (seeded seventh) becoming the lowest seed to win the tournament in the modern era. It was a well deserved victory because she beat the number 1 and 3 seeds (Raneem El Weleily and Nour El Tayeb) on the way to the final.[4] This helped propel her toward the number 1 ranking in the world which she achieved in July 2020.

In 2022, she was part of the Egyptian team that won the 2022 Women's World Team Squash Championships. It was her third world team title.[5]

In May 2023, she reached the final of the 2023 PSA Women's World Squash Championship, defeating number 3 seed Hania El Hammamy in the semi final.[6] However, in the final despite being the top seed she was defeated in straight sets by Nour El Sherbini. It was the third consecutive world final that Gohar had been beatean by El Sherbini.[7]

Personal life

Gohar is married to fencer Ziad El-Sissy.[8]

Major World Series final appearances

British Open

6 finals (2 title, 4 runner-up)

OutcomeYearOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Runner-up 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11
Winner 11-3, 11-8, 11-3
Runner-up 9-11, 13-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-2
Runner-up 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 4-11
Runner-up 9-11, 7-11, 1-11
Winner 11-6, 17-15, 3-11, 7-11, 11-4

Hong Kong Open

1 final (1 title, 0 runner-up)

El Gouna International

5 finals (2 title, 3 runner-up)

OutcomeYearOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Runner-up 20198-11, 11-7, 10-12, 6-11
Runner-up 20217-11, 8-11, 5-11
Runner-up 202211-2, 11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 4-11
Winner 202311-5, 11-7, 11-9
Winner 202411-6, 11-13, 11-6, 11-6

United States Open

3 finals (3 titles, 0 runner-up)

OutcomeYearOpponent in the finalScore in the final
Winner 20193–11, 8-11, 14–12, 11–8, 11–7
Winner 20219–11, 11-9, 11–7, 11–3
Winner 20223-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Professional Squash Association Official Biography.
  2. Web site: Egypt Beats England, Winning Women's World Team Squash Championship . Cairo Scene . 20 December 2022.
  3. Web site: Women's World Team Championship squash: Egypt beat England to retain title . BBC Sport . 19 December 2022.
  4. Web site: EGYPTIAN DUO GOHAR AND ELSHORBAGY LIFT 2019 BRITISH OPEN TITLES. PSA World Tour. 8 May 2021.
  5. Web site: Egypt defeat USA in thriller to retain WSF Women's World Team Championship . World Squash . 18 December 2022.
  6. Web site: 2023 World Championship draws . PSA . 10 May 2023.
  7. Web site: FINALS : Sherbini and Farag retain titles . World Squash . 12 May 2023.
  8. Web site: So you think you know Nouran Gohar? . thesquashsite.com . 8 December 2023.