KUALA LUMPUR: If anyone can equal or surpass Nicol David's record of eight world titles, it is Egyptian Nour El Sherbini.
El Sherbini's hopes of winning her eighth world title were thwarted by her Egyptian compatriot Nouran Gohar, who beat the world No. 1, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, in the World Championships women's final in Cairo on Saturday.
World No. 2 Gohar battled for 81 minutes to claim her first-ever world crown.
As the World Championships are held annually, the 28-year-old El Sherbini definitely still has a chance to at least equal Nicol's record.
Former national player Low Wee Wern, who is now coaching in the Philippines, believes El Sherbini still has the ability to win more world titles.
"Although El Sherbini is not young anymore, she still has a few more good years left in the sport to win her eighth world title. However, she has to remain healthy and injury-free," said Wee Wern, a three-time quarter-finalist at the World Championships.
"If anyone can equal or beat Nicol's record soon, it would be El Sherbini."
Gohar told PSA World Tour: "Usually, I show very little emotion, but this means so much. I kept on saying that I didn't want to stop until I was a world champion and finally, I have finally won it.
"El Sherbini reached the final 10 times, and that's an unbelievable achievement for her. Beating her in the final of the World Championships is an amazing thing."
Meanwhile, Peru's Diego Elias, the world No. 4, became the first South American to win squash's most prestigious trophy after he overcame world No. 3 Mostafa Asal, winning 11-6, 11-5, 12-10.
The 27-year-old is the first non-Egyptian since Frenchman Gregory Gaultier in 2015 to become world champion.