Unfancied Amr Shabana beat newly crowned world number one Thierry Lincou of France in the final of the World Open squash championship in Lahore in Pakistan earlier today to become the first Egyptian to win the title. The ninth seed won 15-14, 9-15, 15-11, 15-7.
The 24-year-old from Cairo, who beat defending champion David Palmer of Australia in round three, received the winner's crystal trophy and $24,00 cheque from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
The win was his fourth against the odds in the tournament after beating fifth seed Anthony Rickets of Australia in the quarter-finals and compatriot Karim Darwish, a former world junior champion, in the semi-finals.
Filed by Shane Murray
