Mostafa Asal warns Egyptian world champion squash Galacticos to avoid Real Madrid-like dip
Star-studded Egypt breeze into Thursday’s World Squash Team Championships quarter-finals, joined in last 8 by Germany, India and France
Egyptian squash world No 2 Mostafa Asal says he feels a “different pressure” representing his country from the more selfish stress he experiences in individual competition.
Asal beat David Baillargeon 12-10, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5 on Wednesday, as hot favourites Egypt breezed past Canada 2-0 to reach Thursday’s World Squash Team Championships (WSTC) quarter-finals.
Egypt are aiming for their fourth straight men’s WSTC success. Keen for his team of Galacticos to avoid a dip like the one suffered lately by the footballers of Real Madrid, Asal was back on the practice court “fewer than 14 hours” after toppling compatriot and world No 1 Ali Farag in Sunday’s Hong Kong Squash Open final.
The 25-year-old, who said he had “completely changed my attitude” since serving a lengthy ban for multiple disciplinary breaches at the 2023 World Championships in Chicago, told the Post: “Playing for your country is a privilege and we want to fight to keep the title.
“It’s really different [from individual competitions] – all your emotions are for your country, not for yourself, so it’s a different pressure. People expect us to win, which is added pressure, but a special feeling.
“We know we’re a very strong team, but we can’t just say it, we need to prove it. Look at Real Madrid, they are full of stars, but things are not going their way at the moment.
