From Malaysia to Cairo: “I want to be one of them one day”
A year after moving to the capital of world squash, Yasshmita Jadishkumar has found out what makes the Egyptians so hard to beat, and she is starting to beat the best herself.
Exhausted, emotional and a round short of where she hoped to finish, Yasshmita still had a smile on her face when she came off court after her third-round defeat to world number six Satomi Watanabe. And she had every reason. It was her fourth tournament in a row with barely any rest, in a month that has seen her win one title, reach a World Tour final and play her first Diamond event.
“There’s actually nothing more I can ask for,” she said. “I’m really happy and proud of myself for getting through this week, and obviously emotions are all over the place.”
Her week began with disappointment.
After losing the last round of qualifying, when she knew expectations were high, she was “really upset and down for a while”. Then came news that she was a lucky loser.
“You can’t really be sad about that. I just thought I had a very good second opportunity, and I had to make full use of it.”
She did. She beat WR34 Mariam Metwally, then Farida Mohamed, ranked 20, in what she calls the biggest win of her career. Facing Satomi, one of her idols, was a lesson of its own.
“Today really showed me where she stands, and why she’s world number six. I have so much to learn from her, and from Farida too. Just being around these players, I’m learning so much.”
Those lessons are being learned in Cairo, where the Malaysian moved a year ago. She lives in New Cairo and trains with Andrew Shoukri, Ahmed Faragallah and Alaa Torki.
“It’s been a crazy year, to be honest. It’s been so tough, very intense. But it’s exactly what I need.”
She did not come for the squash alone. She also came to understand why Egyptians rule the sport.
“They’re so determined and hardworking, and they’re up for it every single day, even when they don’t want to. I’m here for the squash, but I’m also here to learn that attitude.”
She puts the difference down to culture.
“Where I come from, Asians are a bit softer. Not in a bad way, we’re just culturally like that. Here, they’re playing the world number one and they don’t care, they’re going to give their all. I want to have that grit.”
It is already showing, I can tell you that… Grit, energy, determination, hard working. The Girl has it all.
“A year ago, if I’d played a world number 20, I would have been so scared and respected her too much. Yesterday I felt I had nothing to lose, and I just went for it. And it worked.
“Hopefully I’ll play more of these World Tour events, be around these players, and hopefully be one of them one day. Inshallah, as they say here.”
