UWE-based squash player Mohamed El Shorbagy will bid to write his name in history by becoming the first player to claim the British Junior Championship for a third time next month.

El Shorbagy, 18, was schooled in Somerset before enlisting on a mechanical engineering degree at the university in Bristol and will bid to claim the British junior crown in Sheffield again next month before enjoying trips to Qatar, India and Saudi Arabia alongside his studies.

The Egyptian also currently holds the junior world title after winning it for a second time by beating Ivan Yuen of Malaysia in straight games in Chennai, India, in August.

That saw the Egyptian player become only the second in history to retain the title, having won it in Zurich 12 months earlier.

Securing his enrolment on a course in Bristol is seen as a major coup for UWE.

El Shorbagy said: "Mechanical engineering is a tough course and I will have to study hard for my exams in January – the key thing is for me to organise my time well so I can do both.

"UWE has provided me with a full scholarship through the EliteUWE programme – no other university could match this, so it is really special.

"I use the gym facilities here too – it has the machines I need as a squash player, and I can play squash either at the Centre for Sport or at Wallscourt."

El Shorbagy, who trained with Jonah Barrington, has just been named young male player of the year in the International Squash Awards 2009 and PSA young player of the year by the Professional Squash Association.

UWE head squash coach and Probuild Bristol team manager Hadrian Stiff said: "I am very excited about the next four years when Mohamed will be training here. I will do everything possible to fine tune this incredible player."

Richard Bennett of UWE's centre for sport said: "The opportunity for UWE to host a player of Mohamed's talent is a direct reflection of our recent investment in sport.

"I am very glad that we were able to assist in bringing Mohamed to UWE and appreciative of the exposure that Mohamed will generate for UWE in the world of elite sport.

"As well as playing for UWE in the British Universities Championships, Mohamed will be acting as a sporting ambassador for UWE within the community. Mohamed's arrival is making waves beyond the university.

"He is a member of the National League squash team Probuild Bristol, based at the Welsh Back club in the city centre, which is relishing the sell-out crowds that Mohamed is drawing. His combination of explosive power and innovation on the court ensure an entertaining game for the crowd."