Mostafa Asal & Hania El Hammamy crowned 2025 Optasia Champions
March 27 2025
Egyptian’s Mostafa Asal and Hania El Hammamy claimed the honours at the 2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championships, overcoming Paul Coll and Georgina Kennedy, respectively, at The Wimbledon Club in London, England.
The eagerly awaited men’s final saw Mostafa Asal produce another commanding performance to register an emphatic 54-minute 11-4 11-4 11-8 victory over World No.4 Paul Coll to secure his 19th PSA World Squash Tour title and surpass compatriot Ali Farag to reclaim the coveted World No.1 Ranking.
The Egyptian carried his momentum from a gruelling semi-final comeback against third seed Joel Makin, dictating the tempo from the outset on the all-glass court at the Wimbledon Club. Mostafa’s precision and dominance were evident as he raced through the opening two games with identical 11-4 scorelines. Paul Coll responded in the third by applying early pressure, stepping up the court in an attempt to disrupt his rival’s rhythm. However, the Egyptian top seed remained composed and ruthless, capitalising on even the slightest lapse in length from the New Zealander.
Despite Paul Coll’s resilience in saving two championship balls, Mostafa Asal was unrelenting in sealing another tournament win.
In the women’s final, top seed Hania El Hammamy produced a near-flawless display to defeat England’s No.1 Georgina Kennedy 11-9 11-2 11-3 in just 35 minutes to clinch her 15th PSA World Squash Tour title.
Hania El Hammamy showed remarkable control throughout, overturning an early 9-6 deficit in the first game before methodically pushing the English No.1 deep into the back corners with impeccable line and length. The Egyptian’s dominance grew as the match progressed, conceding just two points in a lopsided second game before storming to seven championship balls in the third with superior shot construction and tactical awareness.
Fittingly, Hania El Hammamy sealed victory with a perfectly executed dying length into the back forehand corner to close-out a dominant performance.
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Men's Final:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [2] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (54m)
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Women's Final:
[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [2] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-9, 11-2, 11-3 (35m)
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Men's Semi-Finals:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [3] Joel Makin (WAL) 7-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-2 (81m)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [4] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) 9-11, 9-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8 (82m)
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Women's Semi-Finals:
[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [3] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 11-5, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6 (61m)
[2] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [4] Nada Abbas (EGY) 11-5, 11-13, 11-5, 11-2 (49m)
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Men's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [5] Karim Gawad (EGY) 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (40m)
[3] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [7] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 12-10, 12-10, 15-13 (78m)
[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) 14-12, 11-7, 11-7 (43m)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 12-10 (79m)
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Women's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [7] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-8 (36m)
[3] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [6] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 4-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (52m)
[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt [8] Mélissa Alves (FRA) 11-5, 1-11, 11-1, 7-11, 13-11 (56m)
[2] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [5] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9 (46m)
UNSQUASHABLE players Iker Pajares Bernabeu and Miguel Rodriguez were beaten by Marwan Elshorbagy and Grégoire Marche respectively in the the 2nd round of the 2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championships, being staged at The Wimbledon Club in England.
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Men's 2nd Round:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Juan Vargas (COL) 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 (36m)
[5] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt Jonah Bryant (ENG) 14-12, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8 (50m)
[7] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt [WC] Charlie Lee (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-5 (37m)
[3] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Curtis Malik (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-4 (77m)
[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] Declan James (ENG) 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8 (68m)
[9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) bt [8] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 11-9, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9 (62m)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 (83m)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 14-12, 11-6, 11-4 (50m)
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Women's 2nd Round:
[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [9/16] Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 11-5, 11-3, 11-7 (27m)
[7] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt [9/16] Hana Ramadan (EGY) 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 (26m)
[6] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Joelle King (NZL) 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5 (52m)
[3] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [9/16] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6 (44m)
[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt [9/16] Katie Malliff (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (33m)
[8] Mélissa Alves (FRA) bt [9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 (43m)
[5] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bt [9/16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-8, 9-11, 16-14, 1-11, 11-9 (71m)
[2] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 11-4, 16-14, 11-6 (33m)
Spanish No.1 Iker Pajares Bernabeu will join fellow UNSQUASHABLE player Miguel Rodriguez in the 2nd round of the 2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championships, being staged at The Wimbledon Club in England, following a 48-minute 11-5 11-9 11-9 win over Wild Card Sam Osborne-Wylde.
The 5-time Spanish Champion will face England’s 6th seed Marwan ElShorbagy in the second round, whilst Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia will play Grégoire Marche after the Frenchman defeated UNSQUASHABLE player Nick Wall 11-9 3-11 11-4 11-5 in their 47-minute 1st round match.
Rising Swiss star Yannick Wilhelmi was denied a place in the 2nd round by compatriot Dimitri Steinmann who closed-out a hard-fought 83-minute 11-9 11-5 4-11 8-11 11-7 victory on the opening day of the championships.
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Women's 2nd Round:
[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v [9/16] Salma Eltayeb (EGY)
[7] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) v [9/16] Hana Ramadan (EGY)
[6] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v Joelle King (NZL)
[3] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) v [9/16] Kenzy Ayman (EGY)
[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) v [9/16] Katie Malliff (ENG)
[8] Mélissa Alves (FRA) v [9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY)
[5] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) v [9/16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[2] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) v [9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY)
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Men's 1st Round:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bye
Juan Vargas (COL) bt [9/16] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 9-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6, 15-13 (66m)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt [9/16] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9 (63m)
[5] Karim Gawad (EGY) bye
[7] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bye
[WC] Charlie Lee (ENG) bt [9/16] Raphael Kandra (GER) 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (32m)
Curtis Malik (ENG) bt [9/16] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 14-12, 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5 (63m)
[3] Joel Makin (WAL) bye
[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bye
[9/16] Declan James (ENG) bt Balazs Farkas (HUN) 10-12, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 (55m)
[9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) bt Nick Wall (ENG) 11-9, 3-11, 11-4, 11-5 (47m)
[8] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bye
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) bye
[9/16] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt [WC] Sam Osborne-Wylde (ENG) 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (48m)
[9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 11-9, 11-5, 4-11, 8-11, 11-7 (83m)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
2025 PSA Optasia Squash Championship, The Wimbledon Club, London, England
Women's 1st Round:
[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bye
[9/16] Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt Hannah Craig (IRL) 11-3, 11-5, 11-6 (24m)
[9/16] Hana Ramadan (EGY) bt Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (29m)
[7] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bye
[6] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bye
Joelle King (NZL) bt [9/16] Grace Gear (ENG) 11-8, 13-11, 9-11, 11-8 (47m)
[9/16] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt Alicia Mead (ENG) 11-6, 3-11, 11-7, 13-11 (35m)
[3] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bye
[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) bye
[9/16] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt Cindy Merlo (SUI) 12-10, 14-12, 11-0 (28m)
[9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt Torrie Malik (ENG) 11-8, 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10 (60m)
[8] Mélissa Alves (FRA) bye
[5] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bye
[9/16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [WC] Lisa Aitken (SCO) 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (30m)
[9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) bt Marie Stéphan (FRA) 11-7, 13-11, 6-11, 13-11 (55m)
[2] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bye
UNSQUASHABLE will be represented at the 2025 Optasia Championships by Miguel Rodriguez, Iker Pajares Bernabeu, Nick Wall and Yannick Wilhelmi follwing the withdrawal of Mazen Hesham, Fares Dessouky, Eain Yow Ng and Sebastien Bonmalais from the tournament.
2025 Optasia Squash Championships Men’s Draw:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bye
Juan Vargas (COL) v [9/16] Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[9/16] Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v Jonah Bryant (ENG)
[5] Karim Gawad (EGY) bye
[7] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bye
[WC] Charlie Lee (ENG) v [9/16] Raphael Kandra (GER)
[9/16] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v Curtis Malik (ENG)
[3] Joel Makin (WAL) bye
[4] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) bye
Balazs Farkas (HUN) v [9/16] Declan James (ENG)
[9/16] Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Nick Wall (ENG)
[8] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bye
[6] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bye
[WC] Samuel Osborne-Wylde (ENG) v [9/16] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP)
[9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) v Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
The 2025 Optasia Squash Championships will be staged at The Wimbledon Club in London from the 25th to 30th March. The fourth edition of the prestigious squash event sees World No.2 Mostafa Asal headline the men’s competition with reigning World Champion Nouran Gohar leading the women’s draw.
In the men’s draw, top seed Mostafa Asal returns determined to go one step further after a semi-final exit last year. With reigning World No.1 and 2022 Optasia Squash Champion Ali Farag absent, Mostafa Asal has a prime opportunity to close the ranking gap and strengthen his bid for the top spot.
Defending champion Paul Coll, who overcame Mostafa Asal in the semi-finals enroute to victory last year, seeks to rediscover his best form after a challenging start to the season. The New Zealand No.1, a four-time title winner in the 2023/24 squash season, will look for back-to-back Optasia Championship titles.
British No.1 Joel Makin has proven a formidable competitor this season, capturing his biggest career title in San Francisco and reaching the semi-finals of the Qatar Squash Classic and Hong Kong Squash Open. However, the Welshman has twice fallen to Mostafa Asal at crucial stages and will likely need to overcome the Egyptian to mount a serious title challenge.
For the first time, the women’s tournament has been elevated from Bronze to Gold status, aligning with the men’s event and attracting the world’s top three female players, Noran Gohar, Nour ElSherbini and Hania El Hammamy.
Nouran Gohar enters the tournament as the World No.1, having enjoyed a dominant 2024 squash season that saw her claim her first World Championship title in May, followed by four major event victories, including the prestigious British Squash Open. Her intense rivalry with Nour ElSherbini, which saw them battle in 10 PSA World Squash Tour finals last year, promises another enthralling chapter in front of an astute Wimbledon crowd.
Seven-time World Champion Nour ElSherbini, widely regarded as one of the sport’s greats, is eager to reclaim the top ranking. Having lost her No.1 status to Nouran Gohar in December 2024, she will be looking to respond strongly after a semi-final exit at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York.
World No.3 El Hammamy endured a difficult 2024, failing to secure a single PSA World Squash Tour title and appearing to lose ground on her two main rivals. However, the 24-year-old roared back to form by defeating both Nouran Gohar and Nour ElSherbini to win the first major event of 2025, the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions. With renewed confidence, she will aim to maintain her momentum and is slated for a potential semi-final showdown with Nouran Gohar.
England’s No.1 Georgina Kennedy, the fourth seed and World No.6, will be keen to impress on home soil. Despite recent injury struggles, the English No.1 will hope to harness the energy of the London crowd to claim her first victory over one of the ‘Big Three’. She shares the bottom half of the draw with No.2 seed Nour ElSherbini, setting up a potential semi-final clash.
The event also features strong home representation. In the men’s draw, the Elshorbagy brothers, Marwan and Mohamed, Declan James, Curtis Malik, and wildcards Charlie Lee and Sam Osborne-Wylde carry English hopes. Meanwhile, in the women’s tournament, Sarah-Jane Perry, Jasmine Hutton, Tesni Murphy, Katie Malliff, Alicia Mead, Torrie Malik, Grace Gear and wildcard Lisa Aitken represent British interests.
UNSQUASHABLE will be represented at the 2025 Optasia Squash Championships by Miguel Rodriguez and Iker Pajares Bernabeu.
2025 Optasia Squash Championships Men’s Draw:
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bye
Declan James (ENG) v [9/16] Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[9/16] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) v Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
[6] Karim Gawad (EGY) bye
[8] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bye
[WC] Charlie Lee (ENG) v [9/16] Fares Dessouky (EGY)
[9/16] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) v Curtis Malik (ENG)
[3] Joel Makin (WAL) bye
[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye
Balazs Farkas (HUN) v [9/16] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
[9/16] Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Raphael Kandra (GER)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) bye
[7] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bye
[WC] Samuel Osborne-Wylde (ENG) v [9/16] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP)
[9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) v Auguste Dussourd (FRA)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
2025 Optasia Squash Championships Women’s Draw:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bye
Kenzy Ayman (EGY) v [9/16] Salma Eltayeb (EGY)
[9/16] Hana Ramadan (EGY) v Mariam Metwally (EGY)
[5] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bye
[8] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bye
Grace Gear (ENG) v [9/16] Melissa Alves (FRA)
[9/16] Tesni Murphy (WAL) v Alicia Mead (ENG)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bye
[4] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bye
Aifa Azman (MAS) v [9/16] Katie Malliff (ENG)
[9/16] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) v Torrie Malik (ENG)
[6] Nada Abbas (EGY) bye
[7] Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bye
[WC] Lisa Aitken (SCO) v [9/16] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) v Marie Stephan (FRA)
[2] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bye
For results from the 2024 PSA Optasia Squash Championhsips, visit: International Squash Magazine