[2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 3-1 George Parker (ENG) 13-11, 11-3, 4-11, 11-7 (51m)
A Mystery. If the nickname “Enigma” was not taken by Raneem El Welily, it would fit Karim to a T. How is that boy able to string moment of absolute domination along with complete brain absence bless him. And at that level, you are playing very hungry/talented players that will grow more and more confident as they see the chinks in the armour…
Hungry and Talented, that describes perfectly English George Parker, who today, showed how mature he has become, as he didn’t lose the plot when on game ball 12/11 for Karim, he was penalised with a stroke confirmed by video ref mind that was for us all watching a clear no let. Not a pipe from the Englishman renowned for his explosions…
The opener seemed controlled by the Egyptian to start with, 7/1. An enormous effort from George at that point, running and retrieving sublime would be winners, that triggered a little drop of focus in the Egyptian: 4 errors in 8 points. Still, Gawad on top 9/4, again huge effort from the English, 8/9.
It will take four attempts for the Egyptian to finally close that 18m game, 13/11, like I mentioned earlier, on a stroke that in our view never was.
The second, I guess a mix between the hard work done in the opener with a bit of drop of mental energy, and it’s 11/3 in 9 for the former World Champ.
A complete mystery from Gawad again in the third, not showing while George displayed some astonishing squash quality, 11/4 in same time, 9m.
Back on court is Mr Gawad in the 4th, 2/0, 6/2, 8/3 10/4. Will follow a few quick intense rallies, ending with exquisite winners from the English, and it’s only a tin that will stop the flow, 11/7, 12m.
That was a great night, watching two hopes of squash, Yow and George, showing so much promises. Loved it.
Karim
I’m absolutely fine physically but it’s just in the head…
Over these past years, I managed to work on my fitness and on my squash, but the thing I still need to improve vastly is my concentration and my mental consistency.
I have worked a lot on it already, I used to lose systematically the first game, now I win it most of the times and I’m trying to be strong from the word go. But I feel that I’m still in and out during matches, and that’s what I really need to improve in the coming weeks/months…
I came to squash by luck – I just wanted to play soccer so badly, but my father didn’t want me to, for some reasons I don’t know until now. We just passed by a squash venue and went inside and I fell in love with it from the first time I saw it.
“I’ve been coached by one of the best – Magdy Saad – he taught me a lot and I learned a lot from him. He was so talented and gave me a lot of skills and is one of the best that ever came to Egypt. I was also coached by Hesham Attar for eight years and now Omar Abdel Aziz, we have been together for five years – he has given me a lot. We are great friends and he is a great coach.
