The New World Jr Champion
An Inverview with Abdel Kawy
By Yasser El Halaby © 2003; all rights of reproduction reserved.
August 23, 2003 

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[Also read daily tournament reports by Yasser El Halaby]

I had the chance to sit down with Abdel Kawy, the new world junior champion, for a one on one interview. At only eighteen years of age, Abdel Kawy is already ranked number 12 in the WISPA ranking and has won the British Junior Open an astonishing six times.

Q. First of all congratulations on winning the world junior title. I’d like to start by asking you of how you felt when you won the final match and claimed the title?

Omneya Abdel Kawy (photo Debra Tessier

Abdel Kawy: I was definitely ecstatic to win the world title. I think its any player’s dream to win such a title and it came true for me. I felt that the years of hard training had really paid off and it was just a great feeling. My feeling of joy were amplified by the fact that I was playing in an all Egyptian final and that I, along with my team mates, managed to represent my country well.

Q. What about your preparation for the tournament?

Abdel Kawy: My training has not been specifically targeted towards this particular tournament. I am also playing WISPA and I train to improve myself in general so I can do well in these tournaments as well and improve my WISPA ranking. Before this tournament I played in two WISPA events in Egypt, the Heliopolis Open and the Hurghada Open. Tournaments like these allow me to play with the world’s best players and offer me the highest level of competition that definitely help raise my game. As for my training in Cairo I have my personal fitness trainer that I work with in the mornings, and a number of personal squash coaches at the Maadi club. I also have the benefit of playing with a lot of boys at the Gezira club who give me great matches to play and have been a lot of help.

Q. What do you think of your performance this tournament?

Abdel Kawy: Over all I am happy with my performance. I felt like I was under a lot of pressure to win being the number one seed, and all the talk about me winning the tournament. The fact that the tournament was played in Cairo even increased that pressure as I was playing at my home court and in front of my home crowd and I didn’t want to disappoint them. I think I played well though. I think I played best against Canada’s Kyla Grigg and in the semi final against Sara Badr.

Q. The team event starts tomorrow. What are your thoughts on that and who do you think will offer Egypt the toughest competition?

Abdel Kawy: Our goal is to win the team event. We are the number one seed but we have to be at our best and you never know what might happen. I am confident that my team mates are as ready for this as I am and we are hoping for the best. Winning the team event will definitely give inspiration for other generations of Egyptians to come, and we will do our best to capture the team title. I think Egypt’s toughest competition will come from England, Australia, and India. They all have really good players and have the potential to win.

Q. What are your plans for the near future?

Abdel Kawy: I just finished my first year of university at Misr International University (MIU), which has been of great support for me, and will be studying to get my degree. As for squash I’m hoping to enter the top ten soon and I will be playing in the British Junior Open in January. My ultimate goal for squash is to reach the number one spot and be the best player in the world.

Q. Can you tell me a bit about your self?

Omneya Abdel Kawy with her brother and father (photo Egypt Squash Federation)

Abdel Kawy: I love my family. Both my dad and brother play squash and I play with them at times. I would describe myself as ambitious, fun, and someone who just wants to have a good time. I love different kinds of food although I go on a diet before playing tournaments.

Q. Thank you for your time Omneya. Anything you’d like to say?

Abdel Kawy: Yeah. I just want to thank my family for all their support over the years. My dad’s birthday was yesterday and winning the world title is my present for him. I’d also like to thank my sponsor Unsquashable and Mr. Hussien Rasheidi, of MIU, for all his support.

Thanks a lot Omneya. Once again congrats and good luck in the team event.

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