A wiser Raneem ready for another shot at world title

Naza Women's World Championship Media Engagement with Raneem El Welily. RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two years ago Raneem El Welily was four match balls away from becoming the first Egyptian to be crowned women’s world squash champion.

But to the horror of her home crowd in Alexandria, Raneem capitulated by throwing a 10-6 lead in the fourth set against then world No. 1 Nicol David. The Malaysian rode on her supreme mental strength to capture her record eighth world title with a 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 11-5 win.