Squash: Ashour, Gaultier renew world title rivalry

CAIRO (AFP) - Three-time winner Ramy Ashour and defending champion Gregory Gaultier will meet for the 33rd time in the semi-finals of the world squash championship in Cairo.

Ashour, who lifted the sport's biggest title in 2008, 2012 and 2014, defeated fellow Egyptian Fares Dessouky in straight games to move to within one win of a fifth final.

But it was a controversial finish as Dessouky, angry over a refereeing decision, retired at 10-8 down in the third game having seen Ashour take the first two, 11-6, 17-15.

"That was very stressful, definitely," said Ashour. "I was relaxed but I wasn't there, I couldn't find it. He was physical, I got into his physical game and things weren't going my way in my short game. When things happen like that I find it a challenge."

French star Gaultier booked his place in a fourth consecutive world championship semi-final after overcoming Tarek Momen 11-5, 11-5, 14-16, 11-8 to become the only non-Egyptian semi-finalist.

The other semi-final will see top seed Mohamed ElShorbagy face fellow Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad.

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