CHENNAI: Mohamed El Shorbagy is arguably the best squash player on the circuit. For many youngsters taking up the game in Cairo and Alexandria, he may be the biggest role model in a country that dominating the sport across all age categories. But back home and for other squash players from Egypt, Shorbagy has become the ‘other Mo’ these days.
It is understandable, given the popularity of his namesake, Mohamed Salah. Last year, the Liverpool forward gave the whole nation a reason to celebrate with a ball at his feet. He brought together a country ravaged in politcal crisis became an icon that everybody in the African nation looks up to. He even polled more than president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the recently conducted polls. “For us, Mo Salah is the face of Egypt. He is an inspiration to all. He struggled to get where he is today, from Egypt to Basel and now in Liverpool. He made us dream and taught us that you can do whatever you want and achieve the heights with discipline and humility,” Haitham Ashoush, who is the coach of the junior squash team here to participate in the World Junior Squash Championship tells Express.
While Egypt is obsessed with football, the nation’s team hasn’t had much success at international level, including in the recently concluded World Cup in Russia. It is stark contrast with squash, which has given the country plenty of laurels at the top level. Squash was made into a popular sport by former President Hosni Mubarak, who himself was a former squash player and it is no wonder that Egypt dominates the sport. “What we have today is many years of hard work. We have so many role models to look up to and that gives us more belief that we can go further and stay at the top. And the infrastructure in our country is one of the best. Grassroots also plays a major role,” Haitham said.
That squash is not included in the Olympics is a major drawback for a country that invests millions of dollars to developing the sport every year. And it looks like Shorbagy & Co’s domination in squash is not going to end any time soon. But, an Olympic gold will be a cherry on the cake for this golden generation. This October, for the first time, squash will appear at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, giving the country hope it could serve as a precursor to inclusion at Tokyo 2020. But till then, or may be even after that, Shorbagy will remain as the ‘other Mo’. “We have a lot of respect for Shorbagy. What he has done for the country is unbelievable. But, Egypt is mad about football. There are pictures and posters of Mo Salah all over the place.
Now, when anybody wants to play any sport professionally, everybody are like, ‘be like Mo Salah’. I feel proud to say he is from my country,” Yahia Einawasany, one of the players here in Chennai, said.
vimal.sankar@newindianexpress.com