The No.1 Candidates Leading Coaches Liz Irving and Omar El Borolossy Give Rod Gilmour Their Views on Possible Future Challengers for the World No.1 Ranking
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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP The no.1 candidates Leading coaches Liz Irving and Omar El Borolossy give Rod Gilmour their views on possible future challengers for the world no.1 ranking ith half the top 10 in the WSA are a couple of players carrying the Tour a national teams, as well as an army of up World Rankings in their 30th year little bit and the rest have to follow a little and coming players, from Cairo to W or beyond and a World bit better. It is crucial for the girls to go Alexandria. The 38-year-old stresses that Championship looming fast, it is a good forward and I’m not sure they fully players “must travel” to academies if they time to ask two of the game’s leading understand it. I may sound critical, but no are to progress. coaches who might eventually end Nicol one is saying anything. I want to see the He said: “We have seen the current David’s lengthy reign at the head of the Tour progress, but it is far from flourishing problems with Australia. The last women’s game. at the moment.” generation of Australian players, for Also, as Australian great Liz Irving There is extra pressure on those example, mostly lived in Europe and says, it’s not just about replacing the players outside the major squash-playing trained full-time together.” Malaysian squash queen at the top of the nations, though. “These days it’s all about For now, it is Egypt’s 16 to 18-year- rankings, but about keeping the WSA Tour funding,” Irving says. “You won’t make it olds who are beginning to make headway alive off the court. otherwise.” on the women’s circuit. So, who are the candidates in the One national coach who is well- “We have already reached the golden opinion of Irving, David’s coach, and equipped in this department is El age with the men’s team in Egyptian Egyptian Omar El Borolossy? Borolossy, the current Egypt coach. He squash,” El Borolossy admits. “But we Irving, who is known for championing oversees both men’s and women’s are beginning to struggle, with no junior junior players, pauses for a boys coming through – there is a moment. “There are a generation gap. couple of players who can Camille Serme, whom Australian great Liz “The women are not far behind them take over, but no one Irving feels could be a future world no.1 and they will be led by the two Nours [El who can while Nicole is Sherbini and El Tayeb, aged 18 and 20 playing, unless she gets respectively]. We are looking at complete injured,” she insists. dominance within the next 10 years, as “Joelle King has we also have hopes who are all 16 good potential. and 17 years old.” She is at a good Sherbini could be one to watch age (25) and still at the World Championship. By her has a long way to go as world own admission she had no.1 is different to five [in the distractions last year with women’s game]. She is not a school, while she has also rounded player yet, but once shrugged off a career- she does, she has the game. threatening injury. “Camille Serme has also “She is now more shown great commitment and settled. She has is thoroughly professional in her her game, fitness approach. She is definitely one and her mentality back after hitting form and if she sticks with injury and is on great form,” El it over the next five-year period Borolossy says. and builds on her game, she is a The main threats towards the definite possibility.” end of the decade, he adds, will It is at this juncture that Irving come from Asian countries, with makes an important point. According to Malaysia and India leading the the Australian, the way Serme carries way. “There is nothing coming herself at tournaments and the way she from Europe, though England commits to her training are attributes that always has a consistent other young players can learn from. programme,” he said. “What a lot of the girls need to Irving believes there will be no improve on is their availability at one player who will dominate like her tournaments and to become Malaysian charge, one who can carry the approachable,” she explains. “They are game forward. Yet, isn’t this what the there to back up the game and push the game needs? After all, David has turned game forward. If they are not building the no.1 spot into a lair which states in relationships, then bold: enter at your own peril. it is going to be “Top spot will shuffle around, I’m sure hard to justify of that,” Irving says. holding events. It “These young players is all part of it; have to stay committed we had to spend and strong, and gain as a lot of time in much experience as the hospitality possible. Everyone has tents 20 years potential; it’s how it’s ago. helped along and Nour El Tayeb, of whom “There developed.” Egypt coach Omar El Borolossy has high THE SQUASH PLAYER 22 hopes.