Birmingham Uni
[5] Ibrahim Elkabbani 3-0[4] Miles Jenkins (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 11-2 (27m)
[8] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 3-0 [3] Nour Aboulmakarim 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
Ibrahim Elkabbani took the titles at the University of Birmingham Open, winning on the spectacular glass court housed inside Birmingham’s New Street Station, to guarantee a spot of the 2021-2022 PSA World Championships in Cairo.
Ibrahim took the men’s title at the University of Birmingham Open on Saturday evening, after a comprehensive performance to get the better of England’s Miles Jenkins, as he won in straight games on the glass at New Street Station.
The Egyptian had overcome Hungary’s Balazs Farkas, a man already qualified for the PSA World Championships thanks to his victory in Odense last month, in. The semi-finals, and he brought that form into the final.
Jenkins started the stronger of the two in the opening exchanges, but Elkabbani was able to punish loose balls from the Englishman to take both of the first two games by an 11-7 scoreline. He then ran riot at the start of the third game, taking a massive lead early on, one he never looked like relinquishing as he won in straight games.
“I am over the moon. Words cannot describe how I feel right now,” the Egyptian said.
“This tournament was really tough for me because I have been in France two weeks ago. I couldn’t get to the finals there. I finished there and went to Liverpool and lost in three games, so I am really happy that I managed here, pushed myself throughout the tournament, and to get here, it’s incredible.
“I really want to do this! I am looking forward to having great battles with these legends. All I can say from these matches, it is gaining experience against the top players. I am really happy that I have made it there!”
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