The Early Success Of Nour El Sherbini
by Bob Hanscom
May 21, 2012 - Nour El Sherbini of Egypt is undoubtedly one of the most talented young female squash-players in the world today! She won the prestigious U-13 British Junior Open in 2009 - and in August of the same year created squash history when she won the U-19 World Junior Squash Championships, becoming the youngest ever world junior champion at age 13. In the same year, Sherbini was awarded Young WISPA squash-player of the year.
Last year wasn't the best for the 15 year-old Sherbini, as she underwent serious knee surgery which kept her off the court for the better-part of the year. However, she's now back and in good form, at age 16 becoming the youngest player (ever) to reach the finals of this years British Open, although losing the final in three straight games to six-time World Open champion and #1 ranked player in the world for six years, 28 year-old Nicol David of Malaysia.
Perhaps part of Sherbini's success, in addition to her talent and work ethic, may just be due to what is obvious when seeing her stroll onto the court - towering over most of her competitors. Sherbini, at age 16 stands an estimated 5 foot 9 or 10 inches tall (and still growing), and is quite physically and mentally mature. There's no question that these attributes are advantageous at this stage in her career. However, will this "stature" aid or hinder her in the future? Honest question!?
Of course there have been tall, talented and "heavy-hitter" female squash-players (now retired from the pro tour) like Vanessa Atkinson from the Netherlands, who won the World Open in 2004 and reached the World #1 ranking in December 2005. And of course, there is the great Natalie Grainger of South Africa (now an American citizen living in Connecticut) who reached the World #1 ranking in June 2003 - and was runner-up at the World Open in 2002 and at the British Open in 2004.
The question is, already having undergone knee surgery at age 15, will Sherbini's body withstand the kind of training and dedication necessary (as some predict and quoted as her ambition) to succeed Nicol David as the world's #1 female squash player?
Consider some of the most successful female players of all time (still playing) who have remained at the top for quite some time, (now 34 and 35 years of age) Rachael Grinham, Madeline Perry and Natalie Grinham - all about the same size (5' 4" plus or minus an inch) with a body-type similar to Nicol David. I believe, in addition to their talent and dedication, their "stature" has contributed to the longevity and success they've experienced participating in our difficult and demanding sport of squash.
And then there are the other young and talented Egyptian female players like Raneem El Weliely and Nour El Tayeb who won't have to deal with this problem, (if it is in-fact one) as they have smaller and lighter bodies which should allow them to train as hard as they need in order to eventually climb to the top of the WSA rankings.
Perhaps taking a look at the photo above of Nour El Sherbini (in black) with Nicol David at the conclusion of the British Open will remind us that "A picture is worth a thousand words." What do you think?
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