World Champion Shabana could be forced to retire

Eye on the ball: Perry reaches for a low shot during her win against Waters at the Axis Squash Challenge in Devonshire on Saturday

(Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

England's Waters plays a backhand shot Photograph by Blaire Simmons



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Amr Shabana, the four-times world champion, admits he could be forced into retirement with the 35-year-old struggling to recover from a chronic back injury.

Shabana, who is Egypts first world No 1, said he is in the crossroads of his career having missed the final three months of the season with a bulging disc and muscle tear in his back.

Despite his serious injury problems, Shabana was still able to put on a show in the Axis Squash Challenge at the Devonshire courts on Saturday night, losing 10-12, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8 to Colombias Miguel Rodríguez.

Im in a transition period at the moment, said Shabana, who first injured his back at the El Gouna International in Egypt in April.

I have three months before the beginning of the season to figure out whether I need an operation and whether I will still be on the [Professional Squash Association] World Tour next season.

Im not worried because whatever decision I take will be the right one.

With a career spanning almost two decades, the left-hander said he will have no regrets if he has to call it quits, having achieved far more success than he ever imagined.

If given the opportunity, I would like to start getting ready for the new season, but you never know when you a have a bulge and a tear in your vertebra, he said.

Ive been very fortunate with my career and Ive been in the top ten for 11 years, No 1 for three years and have won four World-Open titles.

Ive achieved more than I ever thought I would and if it all stops today then I will still be happy.

Shabana said he was only at 70 per cent against Rodríguez and therefore had to adapt his game to get through his four-set defeat against the world No 4.

For me, turning 180 degrees to the right is not good, so I just tried to move well to the left side. I had try and hide my weaknesses, he said.

Being as it was exhibition game, I told Rodríguez not to kill the old man!

I didnt get the result I was looking for, but it was all about fun and interacting with the crowd.

Bermuda has provided the backdrop for some of the finest moments of Shabanas glittering career, winning the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters in 2006 at the Bermuda High School and the Endurance World Open in 2007 at The Fairmont Southampton Hotel.

Ive had some of the best memories of my career in Bermuda, Shabana said. Its a good feeling for me to come back here.

Winning my third World Open here in 2007 was one of the pinnacles of my career. The people, the crowd and the Island is very special.

Rodríguez, who will represent Colombia at next months Pan Am Games in Toronto, finished his match against Shabana with a draw-dropping backhand shot, which involved him stepping on to the wall to gain elevation.

The 29-year-old, who is admired for his athletic prowess on the World Tour, said his ridiculous shot was not premeditated and just felt right at the time.

I never practise that shot, but I sometimes do it when Im playing with my friends just for fun, said Rodríguez, who beat Bermudas Nick Kyme in the first round of qualifying in the 2007 World Open.

I saw the opportunity and had the chance to jump and it was a ridiculous shot.

In the womens exhibition match, Sarah-Jane Perry defeated her England team-mate Alison Waters, the world No 5, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 13-15, 14-12.

Perry, who is No 16 in the world, said it was the perfect end to a fantastic trip to the Island.

The main goal was to entertain, but naturally theres a competitive edge, said the 25-year-old. We dont like losing at anything!

In the nights opening game, an all-Bermuda affair, Micah Franklin got the better of compatriot Kyme 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-1.