Young Egyptian squash star Nour El-Sherbini defeated eight-time World Champion Nicol David from Malaysia to reach the semi-finals of the Women World Championship on Thursday.

Last year's runner-up Raneem El-Welily beat Amanda Sobhy from the US 3-1, and Nouran Gohar edged past Camille Serne from France 3-2.

Omneya Abdel-Kawy missed the chance for an all-Egyptian semi after losing to Laura Massaro 3-1.

Sherbini, Welily qualify

Sherbini, 20, emerged as the winner in the first set with a 14-12 lead after initially falling 10-7 to defending champion David.

David, however, quickly got back on top to level in the second, but in the last two sets it was Sherbini who outclassed her opponent to end David’s reign in front of her own crowd.

Another Egyptian to reach the semis was El-Welily after beating US's Sobhy in four sets.

The 27-year-old El-Welily put in an excellent performance in the first, striking winners from all over the court, but it was the second where Sobhy gave her Egyptian opponent a hard time.

El-Welily found her touch again in the third, before some errors from the Egyptian proved costly, with Sobhy allowed back into the game.

However, El-Welily held on to retake the lead and was ahead throughout the fourth game as she made it to the semis.

Gohar edges out Serme, Abdel-Kawy eliminated

The third Egyptian to qualify was world junior champion Gohar, who had to engage with France's Serme in a tough five-setter to eventually go through.

Gohar had the upper hand in the first two sets before Serme won the next two, forcing a decider.

But it was the 18-year-old Gohar who emerged winner again to set up a meeting with compatriot El-Sherbini in the semis.

Unlike her fellow Egyptians, Abdel-Kawy failed to make it to the semis after a 3-1 loss to Massaro.

After failing to dominate her opponent in the first set, the 30-year-old Abdel-Kawy managed to level in the second with her delicate skills.

However, Massaro ended up on top in the next two sets to set up a meeting with El-Welily for a place in the competition's final.

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