The world’s best squash players will gather at Egypt’s Red Sea city, al-Gouna, to compete for the Gouna International Squash Open title, which is set to return for the seventh edition next month.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Egyptian Tourism Authority, the Gouna International Squash Open will be bringing together the top 112 players from 17 countries.
This year’s edition will offer equal prizes of USD $165,000 each awarded to both men and women competitors.
“This year, we will introduce an equal prize money for Men and Women competitors for the first time in Egypt, following suit with the major international squash tournaments like the PSA World Squash Championship and the British Open who moved to prize parity in 2017,” Naguib Sawiris, the main sponsor of the tournament said.
According to a press release, the men’s entry list has 23 from the top 34 in the main draw, with champion Gregory Gaultier expected to play against to World Champion and world number one Mohamed el-Shorbagy in the final.
As for the women’s entry list, the world’s top 16 are confirmed in the draw for next month, with World’s number one, Nour El Sherbini set to meet World Champion Raneem El Welily in the final.
“We are happy to sponsor the Gouna International Squash Open, which has succeeded to become one of the biggest seven International Squash Tournaments in the world, and has thus put Egypt on the yearly calendar of players and fans alike,” Sawiris said.
“We also take pride that the Gouna International Squash Open is playing a significant role in boosting a sport where Egypt and Egyptian players have recognized a leading position worldwide,” he added.
Qualifications take place on April 18-19 at the Gouna Squash Complex, and the main draw runs from April 20-27 at the complex and on the Glass Court at Abu Tig Marina.
The tournament is organized by I-Events in partnership with Orascom Development Egypt, and sponsored by the Arab African International Bank (AAIB), CI Capital, Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding (OTMT), Ayia Napa Marina, El Gouna Film Festival, platinum sponsors are Carrier and Pier 88, silver sponsors are Moods, Miele.
