Amina Orfi becomes youngest world number one after Qatar Classic triumph

Amina Orfi says she is still struggling to believe she has reached the top of the world squash rankings after becoming the youngest player to achieve the feat.

The 19-year-old Egyptian defeated compatriot Hania El Hammamy 3-2 in the Qatar Classic final, winning the deciding game 12-10. Her victory moved her to number one in the women’s world rankings in Monday’s weekly update.

“I have an incredible feeling that I am number one in the world in squash and that I have achieved the dream I have had since I was a child,” Orfi told Modern.

Orfi said she had focused solely on her tactics when she faced Nour El Sherbini in the World Championship final in Egypt in May.

“When I played Nour El Sherbini in the World Championship final last May, I tried as much as possible not to focus on the fact that I was facing her,” she said. “She has won the title more than anyone else and is the best player in the history of the sport so far. My focus was only on my plan.”

El Sherbini congratulated Orfi after she took the number one ranking and told her to enjoy the moment, Orfi added.

The new world number one also spoke about balancing her education with her sporting career. “I always try to combine studying and sport,” she said. “During tournaments, I focus only on the matches, while between events I contact the university to study what I have missed.”

Orfi credited coach Omneya Abdel Kawy with helping to develop her game. Abdel Kawy worked with her during her time in the junior national team and later coached her at Al Jazira Club.

“I benefited from learning things on court that I had not done before,” Orfi said. “She also has experience with players I compete against now.”

Egypt first topped the women’s squash rankings in 2015, when Orfi was eight and playing in her first under-11 events. She said she could not believe she had now become one of the players to reach the summit.

Orfi is already preparing for the Olympics, with the African qualifiers scheduled for August next year. “There is certainly a period of time, but you need to prepare early and it is closer than some people think,” she said.

She acknowledged that only two Egyptian players qualifying for the Olympics would make the route difficult, but added: “I hope to qualify, God willing, and win a medal.”

Orfi also said she was not concerned about the effect of naturalisation on Egyptian squash.

Reflecting on her previous dispute with El Hammamy, she said she had been angry that the incident appeared on social media, but used it as motivation to respond on court. “We have not communicated since that match, but on court only when we play against each other,” she said.

Orfi will become world number one at 19 years and two months, breaking the record set by New Zealand’s Susan Devoy in 1984. She is the fifth Egyptian woman to top the rankings, after Raneem El Weleily, Nour El Sherbini, Nouran Gohar and Hania El Hammamy, and the 18th woman overall, joining legends including Malaysia’s Nicol David and Australia’s Michelle Martin.