Making their mark

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EGYPT'S dynamic duo once combined for the best one-two punch in world squash. And though Rami Ashour, right, has slipped a bit in the world rankings to No 4, Amr Shabana, left, has been on top of global squash for 30 consecutive months, despite failing to win the Hi-Tec World Squash Open Championship in Manchester. That honour went to Ashour who in the final beat yet another compatriot, Karim Darwish.

For good reason the Shabana-Ashour handshake took place in front of the Barclays Premier League trophy. You might not be able to see it but Shabana is wearing the football jersey number of Amr Zaki of Wigan while Ashour is donning the shirt of Middlesbrough's Mido. The Egyptian soccer pair are a potent strike force these days and Zaki in particular has taken the Premiership by storm, setting a blistering pace with six goals in seven matches for top scorer. Not bad for someone who plays in a mediocre club and who up until two months ago had never played a single league match out of Egypt. Further proof that Egyptian athletes are making their presence felt in a big way in the UK.