There’s nothing stopping Egyptian player Nour El Sherbini from winning hearts around the world. With record-breaking achievements which include her five World Championship titles, we’ve got the best advice coming up from the ~legend~ herself on what it takes to be a professional squash player.
Scroll down to know more about Nour El Sherbini’s journey to the top…
Cosmo ME: When did you decide that you wanted to become a squash player?
Nour El Sherbini: I decided to become a squash player when I used to accompany my brother Omar to his practice. I used to watch and learn from him until one day I tried my hand at playing squash. It wasn’t planned and that’s the best part of it.
C: What was the most difficult part of becoming a squash player?
N: When you have to play overseas and you’re on your own with no one to support you.
Instagram @noursherbini
C: What’s the best piece of career advice that you’ve gotten to date?
N: That you don’t know how high you can achieve until you try and do your best. It might sound cliché but I took this advice ten years ago and everything worked like magic.
C: Could you tell us all about your journey to becoming a squash player?
N: My journey is quite different, I won the World Championships at the age of 13 so it was very challenging to keep up and compete with 18-19-year-old players but it helped me a lot in developing my personality to become the player I am today.
C: Do you think things have changed for women in sports now, as compared to when you joined?
N: It has changed dramatically, to be honest. When I first started, the women’s division was always paid less than men. Now, we receive equal pay or sometimes even higher which is something I am proud of.
Instagram @noursherbini
C: What are the three lesser-known facts about you?
N: I am a foodie, I can watch two TV shows at the same time by using my phone and laptop, I never have a game plan before my matches – it all comes naturally.
C: What’s something that you wish you could tell every Arab woman who aspires to enter the field of sports?
N: Do it right now. It will be the best decision of your life, just believe in yourself.
C: How do you overcome failures in your career?
N: By achieving greater success. I have always overcome failures in my career, it’s a sport and we get challenged every day so I challenge myself to win something even bigger.
C: What is something that you’re looking forward to in 2022?
N: I am looking forward to having a healthy life and winning the World Championship in May to add a sixth title to my career.
C: What were some of the challenges you faced when you first started?
N: They were usually injuries. I had a crucial injury when I was 15 years old and had to do a knee operation since then I couldn’t move on court properly but I somehow managed my way around it and still won.
C: What advice would you share with someone who wants to become a squash player?
N: Squash is the world’s healthiest sport. It will help you develop as a person from a very young age will let you stay fit will make you meet people from all around the world that you will be blessed with when your career ends.