The race among the world’s top female squash players to qualify for a lucrative berth at the season-ending Dubai PSA World Series Finals has reached its conclusion after six fiercely contested tournaments held around the world over the past six months.

In a star-studded field, the list of qualifiers includes world number one Laura Massaro of England, world number five and 2016 Allam British Open winner Nour El Sherbini of Egypt, eight-time World Open champion Nicol David of Malaysia and world number 3 Egyptian Raneem El Welily.

World No.4 Camille Serme of France, No.6 Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt and No.7 Amanda Sobhy of USA went into the British Open needing a victory in the first round to guarantee their places, and all three comfortably sealed their qualification spots.

The final spot came down to a duel in Round 2 between Egyptian teenage sensation Nouran Gohar and Hong Kong’s Annie Au. World Junior Champion Gohar dominated from start to finish as she joined the elite group of stars to make what will be her first ever appearance in the iconic tournament.

“I remember watching the World Series Finals in 2012 and dreaming of being there and playing in that tournament,” said Gohar.

“To be among the top eight is an amazing feeling.

Gohar went on to make the final of the British Open, meeting compatriot and three time world junior champion Nour El Sherbini.  In a tightly contested match El Sherbini triumphed 3-2 to become the tournament’s second youngest winner at just 20 years of age and the first Egyptian to take the title.

“I’m really proud to be representing Egypt anywhere so to be the first Egyptian to win the British Open is a huge thing for me,” she said. “I’m really happy that Egypt is proud of me and I want to keep making them proud.”