Egypt beat second seeds England in today's final of the WSF's mixed team championship to win the $50,000 top prize at the Express Avenue Mall in Chennai, India.

The event, in its first of three years in Chennai, reached its climax on an all-glass showcourt sited in the central atrium of the Express Avenue Mall, the largest shopping complex in southern India in which crowds on four floors were able to witness the world-class action.

The first match, between the Cairo-based Ashour and England's James Willstrop, ranked two and four in the world respectively, lived up to expectations with Ashour, a former world number one, extending his career-long head-to-head record against Willstrop to 12 victories in 16 matches, winning 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 in 37 minutes.

Despite having had to withdraw midway through her previous day's semi-final match with a groin niggle, Jenny Duncalf was determined to justify her team selection against Egypt's Raneem El Weleily.

The world number two dropped the first game, but battled back to draw level against El Weleily as the England camp hoped for a third string decider.

But as Duncalf's injury began to take its toll, so the lower-ranked Egyptian increased her determination to win - doing so in convincing fashion by an 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-1 margin.


Ashour was thrilled with the team's win: "It's moments like this that make you feel proud to be Egyptian.

"We are very, very proud of what we have achieved.

"After all the troubles we have had in our country, the nation's pride is now getting bigger.

"Everyone back home was desperate for us to win - we really needed this win."

The 23-year-old agreed that he had been under pressure, but added: "Sometimes pressure is a positive thing.

"I wanted to use the pressure in a positive way - I think the motivation I have, and the pressure, pushed me in the right way.

"I thought James played well - but I think I had a bit more of an edge."

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