May 20, 2015
- In a recent article, a series of tests were commissioned in
conjunction with the University College of London (UCL), found that
ELITE athletes, (men and/or women) performed significantly better under
physical and mental stress than those of the general public.
Test subjects were given tasks that
required the use of the parietal cortex, a key part of the BRIN that
determines reaction speed. The study found that these athletes had "an
exceptional advantage," working until exhaustion on exercise bikes, the
elite athletes were 82 % quicker regarding their reactions, than the
normal participants.
"What often sets people apart from others
regarding reaction time, is NOT how good they do or are under "normal"
circumstance, but how good they are under pressure," said UCL professor
Vincent Walsh, who has worked on mental conditioning with British
Olympic athletes.
So...what about elite squash-players!
"Which came first, the chicken or the egg"...or rather, "The intellect
or the athlete?" Let's look at a few ... Amanda Sobhy with her dad, sister and brother
Quoting Khaled Sobhy recently, father and
coach of Amanda and Sabrina Sobhy: "We will see her (Amanda) next week
for her Harvard graduation - to officially start her professional
squash career." As many are aware, before and during her four years at
Harvard, Amanda reached the ranking of World # 10, reaching the
semifinals of two WSA World Series tournaments, the Malaysian Open and
the Hong Kong Open. In 2010 she won the Racquet Club International in
St. Louis, making her the only player in the history of women’s
professional squash to have won three WSA tournaments before the age of
17. Amanda also won her largest professional tournament, the Granite
Open. She reached the quarter-finals of the Tournament of Champions at
Grand Central Station, after beating Wee Wern Low of Malaysia
11-7 in the fifth, to become the first American ever to reach the
quarter-finals of the event. And...on June 29th, 2010, (on her 17th
birthday) Amanda won the World Junior Squash Championships, thus
becoming the first American to ever win the prestigious event,
defeating Egyptian Nour El Tayeb. Was/is it Amanda's "brain" or her
athleticism that's contributed MOST to her academic and/or squash
accomplishments? Good question!?
Victor Niederhoffer (R) with Sharif Khan (L)
What about the great Victor Neiderhoffer!?
Victor was a squash-player at Harvard as well - and is also a member of
the squash hall of fame. Entering Harvard (again) as a freshman, he had
never played squash before. One year later, he won the national junior
(under 19) title. By the time HE graduated, he was the Intercollegiate
National Champion as well! He won the U.S. Nationals five times! Victor
also won three national doubles titles. In 1975, he defeated one of the
greatest players in the history of the game, Sharif Khan in the final
of the North American Open, the only time Sharif failed to win the
title. Brain or Brawn!? Well...if you know or have met Victor, you'd be
able to answer THAT question!
Nicol David with her World Squash Championship Trophy
And how about the eight-year, eight-time
women's World Squash Champion...the great Nicol David!? She's certainly
not lacking in "brain-power" either! It may not be widely know, but
Nicol (while deciding in what direction to go professionally,
engineering (like her dad Desmond) or squash, Nicol scored seven
straight A's for her Penilaian Menengah Rendah certificate - and
obtained seven A's in her state engineering test, Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia (equivalent to the GCSE), which she studied at Convent Green
Lane Secondary School in Green Lane, Penang. Once again, is it her
athletic talents, or her "brain-power" that has contributed MOST to her
becoming arguably the greatest women's squash-player of modern times!?
We think that's a very good question based on the above-mentioned study.
So all...when evaluating and/or selecting
young squash-players for their potential in becoming future elite
squash-players to represent America in international competition,
better "think" twice, "athlete" or "intellect!?" Which came first!
