Malcolm: “Squash needs Ramy”

It was disappointing to say the least that Ramy Ashour came off injured in the Grasshopper Cup after his gargantuan efforts in El Gouna.

To win the World Championship after so long out of action and to repeat the dose in El Gouna was without doubt amongst the most remarkable achievements in any sport, any time.



To return to immediate and world class action and to succeed in a sport where the depth of player is greater than it has ever been is beyond belief.



Any sportsman or woman returning after a long period of inactivity would testify to the need for a gradual build up after much strength and conditioning work. Then is the need for match play, whatever the sport is.



Yet here is a sportsman who returns at the highest level without any of that and beats world class fields. Nor have I mentioned the mental problems caused by injury.

The legend that is Tony McCoy recently said that the recovery from injury-and steeplechase jockeys know all about injury- was as much mental as physical, that coming from a man whose mental stability would rate a lot higher than Ramy’s - even Ramy would admit to that!



Because squash does not get the coverage it deserves, Ramy’s achievements have gone unnoticed. Let no one doubt how magnificent they were. I have said many times that he is the most original player ever and his performances in Qatar and El Gouna stand comparison with those of any sportsman or woman..

Ramy needs the game, but the game certainly needs Ramy …



Malcolm Willstrop

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