Raneem El Welily – Ambitie, Talent, Perseverenta

Atunci cand se aude pretutindeni un nume egiptean, imediat facem legatura cu indragitul nostru squash. Raneem El Welily, pozitia a doua in WSA ranking, interviu in exclusivitate SquashMania.ro

Spui femeie puternica, spui Egipt sau spui locul 2 mondial, este clar ca te referi la sclipitoarea jucatoare de squash Raneem El Welily.

Nascuta sub semnul zodiacal Capricorn, Raneem este un exemplu de ambitie, talent si perseverenta, un model demn de urmat pentru jucatoarele de squash si nu numai.
A facut cunostinta cu squash-ul la doar 6 ani. 20 de ani mai tarziu devine jucatoare de top mondial si ne ofera astazi prilejul s-o avem in „Squash Fame Section” pentru cititorii SquashMania.ro si iubitorii de squash din Romania.

SQM: Buna Raneem! Iti multumim pentru interes, raspunzand catorva intrebari pentru Squashmania.ro. Spune-ne cum ai inceput squash-ul si care erau gandurile tale atunci? Totodata, ce te-a facut sa alegi acest sport in detrimentul altora, mai populare?
R.E.W. : Buna! Povestea incepe pe cand fratele meu juca squash, cu mult inaintea mea, iar eu ma duceam sa-l admir. Incercasem inotul, dar nu-mi placea ideea de a fi in apa in permanenta si avand  un antrenor stand afara si dandu-mi indicatii.
Pe de alta parte, parintii mei voiau sa ma apuc de gimnastica si doar gandul la asta ma facea sa plang (zambeste), asadar cand antrenorul fratelui meu m-a adus pe teren la varsta de 6 ani mi-a placut foarte foarte mult. Am lovit mingea din prima incercare si asta m-a facut foarte fericita. Ahmed Abdallah, care era atunci antrenorul fratelui meu, m-a incurajat mult sa joc. 

SQM: Dispui de o tehnica uimitoare si ai lovituri cu adevarat spectaculoase, este asta un talent cu care te-ai nascut sau ai si exersat foarte mult pentru a ti le imbunatati?
R.E.W.: Trebuie sa marturisesc ca am fost binecuvantata si norocoasa in acelasi timp, de-a lungul carierei mele, sa am antrenori care sa ma invete in mod special aceasta tehnica. Cand eram copil mi se spunea ca am talent, dar mereu am crezut ca talentul fara munca multa nu inseamna nimic.
Deci, le sunt recunoscatoare antrenorilor care au lucrat cu mine la tehnica si care m-au indemnat in fiecare zi sa muncesc si sa o imbunatatesc, ajungand in acest fel jucatoarea care sunt astazi.

SQM: Spune-ne, consideri ca sunt diferente majore intre squash-ul feminin si cel masculin?
R.E.W.: Desigur ca sunt diferente in ceea ce priveste jocul. Diferentele se pot constata la nivel de forta, viteza si atitudine, dar asta nu inseamna ca jocul feminin de squash nu este unul puternic.
In prezent, meciurile sunt foarte puternice si competitive, nici nu stii la ce sa te astepti in unele jocuri. Schimbul de mingi este din ce in ce mai lung, loviturile sunt fabuloase si meciurile sunt foarte interesante.

SQM: Ce faci cand nu esti pe terenul de squash? Ce hobby-uri ai?
R.E.W.: Imi place foarte mult sa ascult muzica, mereu am vrut sa invat sa cant la un instrument precum chitara sau tobe, insa din pacate nu am avut timp. Imi mai place sa fac puzzle-uri foarte mari (1000 piese) si sa petrec cat mai mult timp cu familia si cu prietenii.

SQM: Ai o pregatire mentala anume pentru fiecare meci? Poti sa ne dai detalii despre pregatirea dinaintea jocurilor?
R.E.W.: In trecut am avut un trainer mental, dr. Ahmed Salah, care are o mare influenta asupra jocului meu si asupra modului meu de a fi in teren si in ziua de azi. De obicei, inainte de meciuri, imi place sa am o zi relaxanta, sa ma uit la televizor linistita, fara sa ma gandesc prea mult la meci.
Inainte de inceperea unui meci, incep sa imi structurez un plan si sa ma umplu de ganduri pozitive pe cat se poate, dupa care incep sa-mi incalzesc corpul.

SQM: Care crezi ca este cea mai frecventa accidentare in squash?
R.E.W.: Cred ca accidentarile la glezne, tendoane si la calcai.

SQM: Care sunt jucatoarele internationale cu care iti place sa joci cel mai mult si ce ai avut de invatat de la fiecare?
R.E.W.: Imi place sa joc cu toate si sa invat pe cat posibil de la fiecare in parte. Imi place sa le vad pe Rachel si  Natalie Grinham si  pe toti jucatorii egipteni.

SQM: Consideri ca un antrenor are o importanta mare in evolutia unui jucator? Care crezi ca sunt caracteristicile ideale ale unui antrenor?
R.E.W.:  Da, sigur ca un antrenor are o mare influenta asupra jucatorilor. Nu exista caracteristici ideale, fiecare antrenor si fiecare jucator sunt diferiti si cred ca e o chestiune de gust pana la urma. Prefer un antrenor care sa fie pozitiv si sincer, incat sa-mi spuna exact care sunt greselile pe care le fac si, desigur, sa fie langa mine chiar si in cele mai grele momente.

SQM: Multumim inca o data, Raneem! Ai un mesaj pentru cititorii SquashMania si pentru jucatorii de squash din Romania?
R.E.W.: Sa nu incetati sa jucati squash. Bucurati-va de fiecare minut petrecut in teren si jucati asa cum va place, nu asa cum trebuie!

Raneem El Welily este una dintre jucatoarele preferate, a fost o reala placere sa ii luam acest interviu online si speram ca avem de gandit asupra fiecarui raspuns pe care aceste mari jucatoare il dau cu naturalete si sinceritate.

Publicam si un mic material video. Meciul dintre Raneem El Weliy si o alta jucatoare din topul mondial, ocupanta locului 3 in clasamentul WSA, Alison Waters.

Despre Alison vom afla mai multe in urmatoarele zile, pentru ca si ea a avut un raspuns pozitiv la propunerea SquashMania.
Asadar, sa vedem diferentele si asemanarile de joc dintre cele doua fete minunate. Pana data viitoare puteti urmari alte interviuri de TOP 10 PSA si nu uitati sloganul: Fiti cu ochii pe minge!

 

English version

Connoisseurs know that when an egyptian  name is heard everywhere  it immediately connects with our beloved squash. You say strong woman, say Egypt or tell the world No. 2, it is clear that you are talking about the amazing squash player Raneem el Welily .

Born under the zodiac sign Capricorn, Raneem is an example of ambition, talent and perseverance, a role model for the players of squash and not only. Raneem was introduced to squash when she was 6 years old, 20 years later she became a legend of this sport and offered the opportunity to answer to some questions for you, the readers  of SquashMania.ro and squash lovers.

Hello Raneem! Thank you for the interest shown in answering a few questions for SquashMania.ro. First of all, tell us when did you have your first contact with squash and what were your thoughts at that time? Also, tell us what made you pick squash over a more popular sport.
Hello! Well, my brother started played squash before I did, so I used to go and watch him. I had tried swimming but I simply didn’t like the idea of me being in the water the entire time with a coach standing outside and giving me orders. My parents wanted me to try gymnastics and just the thought of that made me cry as a kid (laughs) so when my brother’s coach got me on court when I was 6 years old, I really,really loved it. I had hit the ball at the first try and that made me so happy. Back then, my brother’s coach, Ahmed Abdallah really encouraged me to play squash.

You have an amazing tehnique and spectacular shots, it is just a natural talent or have you been practising some kind of exercices to improve this?
I have to say I was very blessed and lucky throughout my career for I’ve had coaches that taught me this technique. As a kid I was told I had the talent but I always believed that talent without had work means nothing. So I’m very grateful to all the coaches that worked with me on my technique and that pushed me  everyday to improve and be the player I am today.

Can you tell us if you consider there are major differences between women squash and men squash?
Of course there is a difference in the games. Difference in speed in power and in attitudes. But that doesn’t mean that the women’s game is not strong. Our tour is very strong very competitive nowadays. In most matches you wouldn’t know what to expect anymore. Rallies go long, shots are brilliant and the matches are very exciting to watch.

What do you do when you don’t play squash? What is your favourite hobby?
I love listening to music, always wanted to learn an instrument, the drums or the guitar but never really had the time sadly. I enjoy making big jigsaw puzzles (1000 pieces). And I like spending as much time possible with my family and friends.

Do you have a mental preparation process for each game? Could you please tell us more about your pre-game routines?
I’ve worked with a mental trainer in the past. Dr. Ahmed Salah, who till this day has a huge influence on my game and the way I am on court. Usually I like to have a relaxed day before my match and just sitting in the room watching tv not thinking too much about the match. And then before my match I start my preparation where I think of my plan and try to fill my head with as many positive thoughts as possible. Then I start my body warm up.

What is the most common injury in squash?
I think the hamstring, the ankles and the Achilles.

Who are the international squash players that you enjoy playing with and what have you learnt from them?
I enjoy playing with everyone and I try to learn as much possible from everyone. I enjoy watching Rachel and Natalie Grinham and all the Egyptian players.

Do you think that a coach can help to improve a squash player’s performance and what are the ideal characteristics of a coach?
Yes of course a coach has a huge influence on his players. There are no ideal characteristics, every coach and every player are different in their own way it’s a matter of preference. I like a coach that is positive, honest enough to tell me what my mistakes are and that is always there for me for support even when I’m at my worst.

Thank you, again. If you have a message for the members of the Squashmania community (and also for the readers of this site and for the Romanian squash players.), what would that be?
Never stop playing squash. Enjoy every minute spent on court. And play the way you want to not the way you have to.

Raneem El Welily is one of the favourite players  in the female division and was a real pleasure to take this interview online and hopefully we will think about each answer that  these great players share with naturalness and sincerity.

Here we have a video in which we can see the match between Raneeem and another  WSA top player, Alison Waters, who is scheduled for the next interview. So, let’s see differences and similarities of the game between  the two players  and next week we will read with pleasure what Alison shared with SquashMania.ro.
Keep your eyes on the ball!

photo credit: squashstars.com  | squashsite.co.uk  |  squashmad.com