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Best sporting moment?
My favourite sporting moment is when Federer won his 4th
Wimbledon and then cried, I thought that showed how great he is.
I think I was nearly crying when I saw him talking and crying.
And the worst?
My worst is when Zidane got a red card in the last match of his
career at the final of the world cup.
If you hadn’t been a squash player, what profession would
have embraced?
I think I would have been a tennis player. No, Fram, not because
of the money, but I just like tennis a lot… and I watch a lot of
tennis.
So I think I would have been a tennis player...
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After winning the title last
year in Zurich, Egypt's Mohamed El Shorbagy has risen to world
number 17, and after the decision to hold the event annually,
has an unexpected opportunity to defend the title ...
 Mohamed, just tell me how you feel right now…
I’m fine Fram, and everything is fine. I’m just training for the
World Juniors, it’s so soon now, I’m going to Chennai this
Saturday and hopefully, I can do well and win.
Would you have ever thought you would defend a World
Title?
To be honest, I didn’t expect myself to be defending a title as
big as the World Juniors… I have been lucky throughout my
career... and this time around I am too.
It’s the first time they are having the individuals every year,
so I’m lucky to be playing it. I put in a lot of hard work and
effort last year for the WJ, and I guess even more this year,
because defending a title takes much more effort. The pressure
will be all on me, everyone wants to win this title so badly so
it’s going to be very tough.
There are pros and cons being the top seed, but I have learnt a
lot about how to deal with pressure over the years and hopefully
I can perform well.
 Inshallah, Mohamed. But would you like to change anything
in your game?
No, I don’t think so. My game has worked for me till now and I
don’t think I would change anything in particular. I’m 18, I
still have a a lot more to learn about the game, and I’m
learning something new everyday.
And anything you like in particular in your game?
Over the years with Jonah, I’ve learnt to adapt to different
styles of games, and at the senior level you have to be able to
adapt to any game… and I have worked a lot about it with Jonah…
I change my game when necessary so I think that’s what's good in
my game.
 Your best squash memory?
Of course, the WJ last year!!! It’s always been a dream and this
title will always be very special to me. I still remember when I
won and my mum came on court and hugged me and cried. That was
the most emotional moment I had in my life.
And I was so happy to have my father and my mum supporting me
there and sharing that moment with me. They did a lot for me and
they are still doing a lot for me in my life, and without them I
wouldn’t have done anything of what I have done.
Your parents are special, aren’t they…
I remember last year in Switzerland, I was so nervous and I
called my dad and my mum, and told them “I am so nervous, I need
you to be with me”. The day after, they flew all the way from
Dubai to Switzerland for me, the minute they knew that, once
again, I needed them to support me. Without them with me last
year, I wasn’t going to win the tournament.
What do you expect from this tournament, Mohamed?
This title means a lot to me, and I’m going to do everything I
need to win this title. Last year during the finals I went on
court and Aamir Atlas had more pressure than me. This year, it’s
going to be the other way around, I’m the one who’ll have the
whole pressure of the tournament…
It’s going to be big if I can defend my title this year. But you
know what? I’m just going to let my racquet do the talking…
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