Squash: Egyptian four-time world champion Ali Farag retires at 33 - Omni sports
Egypt's four-time world champion and former World No.1 Ali Farag has announced his retirement from professional squash with immediate effect, calling time on one of the sport's most decorated careers.
The 33-year-old Harvard graduate, who held the World No.1 position for 238 weeks, shared the news in an emotional Instagram reel on Tuesday, saying he was stepping away with 'a full heart, a peaceful mind, and an open soul.'
'I hereby announce my retirement from our beautiful sport,' Farag said. 'It's been long coming ever since COVID really and I've achieved all my goals... Squash has been my passion, my identity and my purpose for as long as I can remember.'
Farag's decision comes less than two weeks after he reached his fifth World Championship final in Chicago, where he lost to current World No.1 Mostafa Asal. He retires ranked second in the PSA world rankings.
Widely regarded as one of the finest players in squash history, Farag claimed 46 PSA Tour titles, placing him sixth on the all-time men's list. His trophy haul includes four World Championships, four Tournament of Champions titles, three Qatar Classics, and three Egyptian Opens. He also won the British Open and three U.S. Open titles—one of which he famously shared with his wife, fellow squash star Nour El Tayeb, in 2017.
Farag's professional career began in 2005 and spanned 553 PSA matches, of which he won 445. He also served as PSA Men's President for four years and was voted by peers for the PSA Spirit of Squash Award seven times over the past eight years.
In his farewell message, Farag reflected on his journey, noting the sacrifices made for his family.
'I've missed so many of the milestones that I wanted to be there for—the school pickups, the late-night cuddles, the bedtime stories,' he said. 'I've always believed in balance and I feel like that balance has shifted now.'
He also thanked his parents, brother, and coaches—including Karim Darwish and Mike Way—and paid tribute to his wife, whom he called 'the most important person' in his life.
Farag concluded his message by expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, stating:
'My heart, like so many others, is with the Palestinian people... May we never let silence be complicity.'
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) praised Farag's legacy.
'Ali has been a true ambassador for the sport,' said PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough. 'He combined incredible athleticism and talent with humility and sportsmanship... His presence on the tour will be deeply missed.'
Farag's retirement means he will not compete in next week's British Open in Birmingham. His seeding will be passed on to Peru's Diego Elias, while England's Simon Herbert will move into the main draw.
Career highlights:
PSA titles: 46
PSA finals: 81
Match wins: 445
Weeks at World No.1: 238
Represented Egypt in four World Team Championships (all wins)
Farag ends his career not just as a champion, but as a symbol of professionalism and grace in modern squash.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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