Karim Abdel Gawad

Karim Abdel Gawad (born July 30, 1991, in Alexandria) is a professional squash player who has represented Egypt. He is a former world champion and world number 1.

Karim Abdel Gawad
Karim Abdel Gawad at the 2017 Men's World Team Squash Championships
Nickname(s)The Baby Faced Assassin
Country Egypt
ResidenceCairo, Egypt
Born (1991-07-30) July 30, 1991
Alexandria, Egypt
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Turned Pro2008
RetiredActive
PlaysRight Handed
Coached byHisham El Attar
Racquet usedHarrow
Men's singles
Highest rankingNo. 1 (May, 2017)
Current rankingNo. 10 (December 2021)
Title(s)13
Tour final(s)18
World OpenW (2016)
Medal record
Men's squash
Representing  Egypt
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Cairo Singles
Silver medal – second place 2023 Chicago Singles
World Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Marseille Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Washington D.C. Team
Last updated: July 2020.

Career

In November 2016, he won the 2016 World Open Squash Championship in Cairo in Egypt against Ramy Ashour. He became the third Egyptian to win the World Championship after Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 1 in May 2017.[1][2]

In 2020, he suffered a major injury during the final of the 2020 Manchester Open. He damaged his heel, which eventually led to ten months out of squash and his world ranking plummeted as a result.[3]

In May 2023, he reached the final of the 2023 PSA Men's World Squash Championship, after defeating second seed Diego Elías in the quarter final and third seed Mohamed El Shorbagy in the semi final.[4] In the final he lost to Ali Farag but Gawad became the first unseeded player since Rodney Martin in 1991 to reach the world final.[5] It completed a remarkable comeback from the injury he suffered the previous year.

Titles and Finals

Major Finals (11)

Major tournaments include:

  • PSA World Championships
  • PSA World Tour Finals
  • Top-tier PSA World Tour tournaments (Platinum/World Series/Super Series)
Year/Season Tournament Opponent Result Score
2016 Hong Kong Open Ramy Ashour Loss (1) 9-11 11-8 6-11 11-5 6-11
2016 PSA World Championships Ramy Ashour Win (1) 5-11 11-6 11-7 2-1 (retired)
2016 Qatar Classic Mohamed El Shorbagy Win (2) 12-10 15-13 11-7
2017 Tournament of Champions Grégory Gaultier Win (3) 6-11 11-6 12-10 11-6
2017 El Gouna International Grégory Gaultier Loss (2) 6-11 8-11 7-11
2018 Black Ball Open Ali Farag Win (4) 11-6 13-11 7-11 11-8
2019 El Gouna International Ali Farag Loss (3) 9-11 10-12 3-11
2018-19 PSA World Tour Finals Mohamed Abouelghar Win (5) 12-10 11-6 5-11 8-11 12-10
2019 Egyptian Open Ali Farag Win (6) 11-6 11-8 11-8
2019-20 PSA World Tour Finals Marwan El Shorbagy Loss (4) 6-11 5-11 3-11
2022-23 PSA World Championships Ali Farag Loss (5) 10-12 6-11 6-11

World Open final appearances
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner2016Cairo, EgyptEgypt Ramy Ashour5–11, 11–6, 11–7, 2-1 (retired)
Runner-up2023Chicago, USAEgypt Ali Farag10–12, 6–11, 6–11

Major World Series final appearances

Qatar Classic
Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner2016Egypt Mohamed El Shorbagy12–10, 13–15, 11-7

Hong Kong Open
Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up2016Egypt Ramy Ashour11–9, 8–11, 11–6, 5–11, 11-6

Al-Ahram International
Outcome Year Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner2016Egypt Ali Farag11–4, 11–7, 11-5[6]

References
  1. "PSA Player Profile". Archived from the original on 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  2. "SquashInfo Player Profile". Archived from the original on 2009-09-13. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  3. ""Four Months in a Wheelchair" – Gawad Discusses Return From Injury Hell". PSA World Tour. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  4. "2023 World Championship draws". PSA. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. "FINALS : Sherbini and Farag retain titles". World Squash. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  6. "PSA World Tour, Al-Ahram: Gawad and El Welily crowned champions". Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
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