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Orfi, 18, beat compatriot Nour El-Sherbini in five sets to win the PSA World Championship title in Giza.
Egypt’s Amina Orfi has made another squash history in her bid to win the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Championship 2026, beating world number two Nour El-Sherbini in five thrilling games to become the youngest world champion.
Eighteen-year-old Orfi defeated his compatriot El-Sherbini 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 14-12 last Saturday in Giza, Egypt.
At the age of 18 years and 10 months, Orfi is not only the youngest female champion but also the first player to hold both the junior and senior PSA world championships at the same time. The PSA is the world’s governing body for men’s and women’s squash.
“I have nothing to say,” Orfi said after holding his 12th PSA title. “I worked hard to get here and I’ve lost a lot this season.”
Orfi denied the 31-year-old El-Sherbini his ninth world title, the first he won at the age of 20.
The finisher produced the women’s eighth all-time finish and the second-best women’s PSA World Championships finish, behind only Rhonda Thorne and Vicki Hoffman’s 118-minute finish in 1981.
El-Sherbini took the first game with ease while Orfi struggled to gather his rhythm on the court. However, the opening loss did not seem to affect the youngster, who managed the next two matches to move closer to his first world title.
The eight-year champion secured a second win in the fourth game after dominating Orfi to set up a famous fifth game.
Repeated breaks suggested the game could go either way, but a powerful backhand from Orfi which El-Sherbini failed to handle saw the youngster claim victory.
Orfi, number three in the PSA world rankings, overcame another tough challenge in the finals when she defeated top seed Hania El-Hammamy in four games.
The young squash enthusiast lost the opening game 10-12 but won the next three games (11-7, 11-8, 11-9) against the 26-year-old El-Hammamy.
“I knew there would be pressure on both of them – Hania being number one in the world and Nour being the name that won’t break the record (world record),” Orfi said.
I knew I wasn’t under too much pressure, and I did that.
Mostafa Asal still keeps his masculine name
Meanwhile, reigning champion Mostafa Asal lifted the men’s title and won his second world title in his career after defeating seventh seed Youssef Ibrahim 11-4, 11-1, 12-10.
Ibrahim completed his first world title after defeating second seed Paul Coll and former world number four Karim Abdel Gawad in the quarterfinals and semifinals. However, Asal remained in control for the final 57 minutes.
“It feels good to win a world championship in front of your family and friends,” the 25-year-old Egyptian said.
“A word to Youssef Ibrahim, even though he is playing here because of a shoulder injury, he is superhuman, he is my best friend, and we grew up together.
“It’s very difficult. I was very nervous in the third game. The pressure was high. It’s not easy to play in Egypt to defend the national championship. There are a lot of problems that play out in front of everyone.”
