The Bristol-based brothers dominating the global squash scene

Squash players Mohamed and Marwan El Shorbagy are brothers, housemates, training buddies and deadly rivals.

But unlike famous sibling rivalries such as between tennis players Serena and Venus Williams, the El Shorbagys’ jostling for global squash domination does not usually make the headlines, with squash still not an Olympic sport.

Former world number one Mohamed, 31, is currently ranked number three in the men’s squash world rankings, with 28-year-old Marwan in seventh place.

Mohamed and Marwan El Shorbagy were the first brothers to face each other in a PSA World Championship final- photo: @moelshorbagy

In a drama-filled showdown, Mohamed beat his younger brother and claimed the title at the final of the Professional Squash Association World Championships in Manchester in 2017.

“It was the biggest match of the year and someone had to be world champion… but that was the hardest match we have ever played”, Marwan admitted over a coffee next to their training base, Workout Bristol on Welsh Back.

Mohamed agreed that being brothers in the world of professional squash has its ups and downs, saying “the tricky part is competing against each other”.

“The fans of the sport love watching us play against each other because we give something unique, and the only two people who don’t like it are me and my brother”, Mohamed laughed.

After living, studying and training at UWE Bristol for more than six years, the siblings now live together in Wapping Wharf and train together in the city centre.

The Egyptian-born brothers moved away from Alexandria as teenagers having received scholarships from Millfield School, a specialist sports school in Somerset.

They are two of a legion of Egyptian players dominating the global squash scene: as of this year, 11 of the men’s top 20 squash players are from Egypt.

The El Shorbagy brothers are continuing their country’s and school’s line of sporting success. Mohamed spent more than 50 months as world number one and Marwan had a career high world ranking of three in 2018.

Away from the squash court, the brothers are champions of Bristol too.

“I love Bristol. Even after my career I want to live here. My home is here and after I finish tournaments I love coming back. I see myself living here, if I can, for the rest of my life”, Mohamed told Bristol24/7.

Mohamed explained that Bristol’s “slow pace” helps both players to refuel and relax between tournaments, enabling both to play better.

He said: “We have had a lot of success during our career because of the lifestyle we have here in Bristol.”

When the fast-moving international squash circuit of the PSA World Tour ground to halt during the pandemic, the brothers regrouped and kept up their training by running through the city and sometimes cycling to Clevedon together.

They even took the indoor game of squash outside:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CD1_NlEH71L/

What does a typical day in Bristol look like to Marwan these days?

“Having a beer on Brandon Hill everyday,” he said, with a glint in his eye.

Joking aside, Marwan said: “Normally on a nice day I love getting coffees from Spicer & Cole or Little Victories by my flat. I like just walking by the river, going to Brandon Hill or the Suspension Bridge, and just walking around the city.”

It’s the middle of the squash season, and immediate goals for the brothers come in the form of tournaments in Washington, Chicago and Detroit next month.

Longer term, while Mohamed’s goal for 2022 is to regain his number one title, Marwan hopes “to stay healthy and be happy and keep doing what I love doing”.

Main photo: Betty Woolerton

Read more: Bristol student becomes world squash no. 1

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