Ashour eyes British Open title defence
HULL, United Kingdom, May 11, (AFP): Ramy Ashour is looking to put an injury-plagued year behind him and become the first Egyptian in 50 years to defend the British Open title in Hull starting on Monday.
The past year has been an uphill battle for the charismatic 26-year-old from Cairo who relinquished his World Open title six months ago because of the latest of many injuries.
But Ashour credited his ‘genius’ fitness coach Paul Sciberras and Thierry Lincou, the retired former world number one from France, with getting him back on track.
“I was kind of lost when I got injured again and wanted to find a solution once and for all,” said Ashour, whose successes at the World Series finals in March and the El Gouna Open in April have suggested he is back in form.
“I believe they are the ones who made the difference in my movement and my physicality. I have to thank them both.”
As a result Ashour may now be unofficial favourite for the world’s oldest squash title, even though his three-month absence from competition has caused him to slip to number three in the seeds.
“It’s such an honour to be associated with such a respectful, down to earth, humble legend like Thierry, and I am very grateful for his time, effort and passion,” Ashour said.
“He spoke to his genius professor, Paul Sciberras, and for the first time I have someone who helps my body and my fitness in a deliberate, precise, academic way.”
This may help Ashour to parade the skills which extended a magnificent unbeaten run to 49 matches last year.
However another Frenchman, Gregory Gaultier, could make life difficult.
Already the only player from France ever to have won the British Open, Gaultier overcame Ashour in the Windy City Open final in Chicago in March, and should face him again in Saturday’s semi-finals. their tires and preparing a final fight at the end of the race to decide which driver would leave the other as runner-up.
The two opted for different pit stop strategies, with Hamilton pitting first to change to a faster pair of medium tries before Rosberg went in to get a second set of slower, but more resistant, hard tires.
It appeared Rosberg’s tactics to then finish on his set of faster tires was going to pay off as Hamilton’s advantage evaporated, but Hamilton kept his nerves in check and his vehicle in front until the 66th and final lap.
Hamilton led all of the way, but he asked his team for help on several occasions — as well as complaining about the tire strategy — after never being able to shake Rosberg.
And although this race didn’t see any close calls between the drivers, as happened in Bahrain earlier this season, they were close right down to the last turn as Hamilton crossed 0.6 seconds ahead of Rosberg.
“I think if I had had one more lap I could have given it a go,” Rosberg said. “I could have gone for a kamikaze move, but that wouldn’t have made sense. I will try to get that little extra bit and edge him out next time.”
Only two cars failed to finish, Caterham’s Kamui Kobayashi and Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso.
Vergne retired during the 26th lap due to an exhaust problem. That put an end to an error-plagued weekend for Vergne, who was penalized 10 places when his wheel flew off in Friday’s practice. Earlier on Sunday, the vintage car that was supposed to ferry him through the pre-race drivers’ parade puttered to a stop, forcing Vergne to hitch a ride with Marussia’s Max Chilton and his chauffeur.