17-Apr-08:
Ramy Inspires New PSA Super Series
Platinum Event In Egypt

The meteoric success of young Egyptian squash player Ramy Ashour has inspired the launch of a new Super Series Platinum event on the PSA Tour in his homeland.

The SKY Petrosport Open, boasting a $130,000 prize-fund, will take place at the luxurious new SKY Club in Cairo, from 13-20 June.  The 2008 championship will be the first of a planned series of three annual events.

The event has been initiated by Ashour's coach Ahmed Matany, in conjunction with Petrosport, the first Petroleum company in the sports marketing business in Egypt and the Middle East.

"This is wonderful news for the ever-growing men's squash tour and highlights not only the status of squash in Egypt, but also the major impact Egyptian squash is having on the world stage," said PSA Interim Chief Executive Ted Wallbutton. 

The SKY Petrosport Open becomes the eighth PSA Super Series event of the year, and the fifth to offer prize money in excess of $100,000.

Only 20 years old, Ramy Ashour made history in July 2006 when he became the first person to win the biennial Men's World Junior Championship for a second time.  Within three months, he had reached his first Super Series event final at the Hong Kong Open - since when he has leapt to number two in the PSA world rankings with eight major title wins from 13 final appearances.

Egypt currently boasts four players in the men's world top ten - led by world champion Amr Shabana at No1 - and 12 in the top 50.