Egyptian second seed Menna Walid held off a spirited fightback from compatriot Sohayla Hussein to claim the biggest title of her career in a gripping Assore Classic final at the Parkview Squash Centre in Johannesburg on Sunday, 27 September 2026.
Walid prevailed 3-2 after surrendering a two-game lead, eventually keeping her composure in a tense fifth game to win the Assore Classic women’s $9 000 title after 71 minutes of intense squash.
The victory was particularly significant for the 22-year-old from Alexandria, who joined the PSA in 2019 and reached a career-high world ranking of 65 in April 2024. Walid won the SRFI Indian Tour as top seed in September 2025 and finished runner-up at the Bern Open in November 2025..
“This is my biggest title. I have played in two finals and lost both, so this is my first $9 000 win,” Walid said.
“I fought for every ball and every point. Today I felt I was able to stick to my plan and play my game and avoid errors as much as I could.”
Assore Classic Parkview Champion, Menna Walid
“My fighting spirit and how solid I was made the difference. All the hard work in pre-season paid off.”
Walid made the better start against the 18-year-old Hussein, using a clever selection of boasts to repeatedly catch her opponent out and edge the opening exchanges.
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She took the first two games to put herself within one game of the title, but Hussein showed remarkable composure for a young player competing in an elite final.
The teenager tightened up her game, kept Walid pinned towards the back of the court and began to neutralise her opponent’s attacking options. Hussein capitalised on loose shots to take the third game and then levelled the match, setting up a tense decider.
The fifth game became an absorbing battle of both physical endurance and mental strength, with neither player prepared to give an inch.
At 3-3, Walid established a three-point advantage, which proved crucial. Hussein continued to fight and saved two match points, but Walid finally found the opening she needed, finishing with a cross-court winner to take the game 11-8 and secure the title.
For Walid, the victory represents another step towards her long-term ambitions in the sport.
“Everyone’s dream is to play in the Olympics, and I know I am still young and I am dreaming about playing in the Olympics one day,” she said.
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“My next goal is to get into the top 50 in the world and work my way up from there.”
The latest tournament again highlighted the value of the Assore series in attracting international players to South Africa and providing local competitors with opportunities to test themselves against strong overseas opposition.
The players will now regroup before the final Assore event of the year next month, also at Parkview.
The Assore Classic Women’s Final at the Parkview Squash Centre in Johannesburg on Sunday, 27 September 2026
2-Menna Walid (Egypt) bt 5-Sohayla Hussein (Egypt) 3-2 (12-10 11-4 7-11 8-11 11-8)
Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Egyptian second seed Menna Walid (left) claimed the biggest title of her career at the 2026 Assore Classic, holding off a spirited fightback from 18-year-old compatriot Sohayla Hussein to win the women’s final 3-2 after 71 minutes of intense squash at the Parkview Squash Centre in Johannesburg on Sunday, 27 September 2026. All Photos: Palesa Lehloka/Parkview Squash
Photo 2 Caption: Resilience defined the decider, with Walid rebuilding from 3-3 to open a three-point advantage that carried her to an 11-8 fifth game and the title.
Photo 3 Caption: Composure beyond her years took Hussein, the Egyptian fifth seed, from two games down to level the final before she fell just short in the decider.
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