“Asalam alaikum” (Greetings in Muslim religion)
Getting close now with only one week to go before the I represent Australia for the first time at the Oceania Junior Championships. I hope all the intense training and hard work in preparation pays off for me. If all goes well and I come home with the title of Oceania Junior Champion my first goal for the year will be achieved. This will also mean one step closer to representing Australia at the World Juior Championships this year.
I'm very happy with the past couple of months as I believe my training mentally and physically has gone pretty well. I am very excited to perform well, if I have done everything correctly Allah (God) will reward me for all the hard work that I have done iin preperation of winning Oceania Junior Championships.
Every morning when I wake up, there is only one thing is in my mind and that is to get out of bed and start training and give 100%. Two to three sessions a day for six days a week was pretty intense for my body. I was sore every day but it didn't matter how I felt, because I was so focused and my mind was in control. Mind over matter!
Every night before I go to sleep, I always think about my goals and ambition of what I want to achieve.
The great legends of squash Jahangir and Jansher khan said in their interviews “To reach the top of the world in squash, you have to train 8 to 9 hours a day.” After listening to their interview I made up my mind that I will train hard like how they did and I will achieve my ultimate ambition of becoming number 1 squash player in the world.
Although, I’m not training 8 to 9 hours at this stage but I do train at least 5-6 hours a day. In the meantime, I also work at my club Acacia Ridge Squash Centre because it will help me to cover my costs for my training etc. I’ve been working and helping my coach and the club members fixing the courts such as painting, cleaning, weeding etc. To make my club a better place so people can come and enjoy playing squash in a safe and clean environment.
My daily routine has been wake up early around 8 in the morning and I head straight to my club and im normally there until 6pm or 7pm. My days there are spent with 2 to 3 training session and when Im not on court Im working and helping out around the centre.
My sessions mostly consist of fitness, drills and condition games. With fitness I did a lot of circuit training, ride stationary bike for an hour followed by some weights, push ups, sit ups etc. And with drills I do it with different people. I’m always busy asking better players to train with me so I can learn more and improve my game. Sounds busy but I have to do it because I love it and with the work at my club it does make it hard for me but it’s the only way I could go and play my tournaments.
I’ve been stressed a lot about my financial support. I tried everywhere and ask people to help me donate some money so I can pay for the Australian camp and also to play Oceania junior championship. I didn’t get any respond form a lot of people but I wasn’t sad and disappointed that they didn’t help me because I always have faith on my Allah and myself.
There is always a way to deal with things but you have to struggle so you can find the right way. I'm sure everyone has their own issues going on in their life. I manage to get half of payment for the tournament but I was short half so what happened few days ago and I want to mention it especially because this person, a best friend, team mate of mine from Darwin told me that he will lend me some money so I can go and play. He nearly made me cry because there wasn’t anyone to help me at this time and the deadline for payment was very close and Allah (God) sends him for me to help me with the payment. I thanked Allah and I want to thank Jackson a lot of what he did for me because it means a lot.
