Teenage Phenom Amina Orfi Claims Squash World Title in Giza

Egypt’s Amina Orfi, 18, won the PSA World Championships women’s title on Saturday in Giza, defeating world No. 2 Nour El-Sherbini in a five-game final. At 18 years and 10 months, Orfi became the youngest women’s world champion. She also became the first player to hold the world junior and senior titles at the same time. The victory is the 12th PSA trophy of her young career.

Orfi, ranked world No. 3, edged El-Sherbini 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 14-12 in a thriller that swung repeatedly. Event officials recorded it as the second-longest women’s PSA World Championships final on record and the eighth-longest women’s match of all time. The teenager sealed the deciding game 14-12 after multiple tie-breaks, showing composure in the biggest moment of her career to date.

Her path to the title included a four-game semifinal win over world No. 1 Hania El-Hammamy. Orfi dropped the opening game 10-12 but responded to take the next three 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, eliminating the top seed to reach her first senior world final.

After clinching match ball, Orfi said she was “speechless” and reflected on a season of hard work and close defeats. The milestone confirms the rapid rise of a player who has transitioned from junior champion to the summit of the professional game while still a teenager.

Final swings and historic match records

El-Sherbini held off in bid for ninth crown

El-Sherbini, 31, entered the final as an eight-time world champion and was chasing a record-extending ninth title. She controlled the opener and forced a decider by taking the fourth, but Orfi turned the momentum in the fifth. The Professional Squash Association underscored the scale of the contest in its match records, listing it as the second-longest women’s World Championships final and one of the longest women’s matches ever.

Asal retains men’s world title

Ibrahim reaches first final

In the men’s event, reigning champion Mostafa Asal successfully defended his crown by beating Youssef Ibrahim 11-4, 11-1, 12-10 in 57 minutes. Ibrahim reached his maiden world final with wins over No. 2 seed Paul Coll and former world champion Karim Abdel Gawad in the previous rounds, but Asal controlled the key phases in the title match.

Asal said lifting the trophy at home felt special and praised Ibrahim’s resilience, noting his compatriot has been managing a shoulder issue. The result delivered Asal a second world championship and completed a sweep of the singles titles for Egypt in Giza.

Orfi’s breakthrough and Asal’s successful defense reshape the immediate outlook at the top of the sport. Attention now turns to how Orfi backs up her first senior world crown and how the PSA Tour’s leading contenders respond through the rest of the season.