Top-ranked Egyptian squash player Raneem El Welily ends her career

Raneem el-Welily of Egypt (L) plays a backhand to Laura Massaro of Great Britian in the final match of the Dubai PSA World Series Finals squash tournament in Dubai, May 28, 2016 (AFP)

• El Welily was the first Arab woman to be world No. 1 in any sport
• "The time has come for me to say goodbye," she said

CAIRO: Top-ranked women’s squash player, Raneem El Welily, announced her retirement on Thursday.
The 31-year-old Egyptian was the first Arab woman to be world No. 1 in any sport, the Professional Squash Association said.
El Welily first took the top ranking in 2015, and won her only world championship two years later. She was a three-time runner-up.
“Squash has been my life for the past 25 years but the time has come for me to say goodbye,” El Welily said in a statement on her social media accounts.
Egypt will retain the top ranking when current world No. 2 Nouran Gohar replaces her compatriot next week.

It’s Tour, Set and Match!

Dearest Squash Family, Fans and Friends,

For the past year or two I must have written these words in my head over a thousand times.

Full quote on fb:https://t.co/T7UeelPas3 pic.twitter.com/L0aH0s4CYF

— Raneem El Welily (@RaneemElWelily) June 25, 2020