Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    EGX ends week in green on Wednesday, July 23    Kibing Group plans $685m solar glass plant in Egypt's Sokhna – SCZONE chair    Remittances from Egyptians abroad surge 70% YoY in July–May: CBE    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt, India discuss expanding industrial, investment partnerships    World Bank proposes Egypt join new global health initiative    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sports Talk: Heads of squash
Published in Daily News Egypt on 05 - 10 - 2006

CAIRO: As far as can be ascertained, only one person has ever played squash against both Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Mohamed Awad is Egyptian who was once No 9 in the world, two reasons why he was granted court time with Mubarak. Awad's date with Rumsfeld came in February when he spent half an hour hitting with him at a racquet club in Munich where Rumsfeld was attending a military conference and where Awad is the head coach.
What did Awad think of his eminences? He still plays a hard game. He blocks like he's playing ice hockey, Awad, brother of the more illustrious squash name Gamal, said of Rumsfeld. "His eyes follow the ball all the time. He has great reflexes for a man his age.
Rumsfeld, 74, reportedly suggested to Awad that he could outplay another over-70 politician known for his squash, President Mubarak. "I told him, 'That can't be right because I've played with Mubarak, and he's much better than you,' said Awad. Rumsfeld, he said, just laughed.
Pentagon aides say they do not recall Rumsfeld boasting about being better than Mubarak but maintain that despite his age, Rumsfeld remains stubbornly competitive. He took up squash more than 20 years ago when he was a business executive. Rather than tricky bank shots off the walls, a move that better skilled players favor, Rumsfeld plays with power, hitting the ball hard and ending points quickly. And he refuses to play by the rules, aides claim, often winning points because, after hitting a shot, he does not get out of the way so his opponent has a chance to return the ball, a practice known in squash as "clearing.
Rumsfeld himself has suggested that his ideas about transforming the military into a smaller, more agile force, like the one he pushed for in invading Iraq, were influenced by his squash playing. "Speed kills, he once said. "If you can do something very fast, you can get your job done and save a lot of lives.
Can Rumsfeld's squash game compare with how he has prosecuted the war in Iraq? Perhaps. Rumsfeld's hardball squash has virtually died out in America. These days, everyone plays softball squash, an international version that generally favors patience and fitness over shot-making.
The last time Americans dominated squash was in the hardball era. Once the sport changed to softball, the Europeans, the Pakistanis and now the Egyptians took over. But Rumsfeld will simply not let go of the old school that says American might is right.
Rumsfeld is said to take every opportunity to play a sport he says has helped keep his sanity at a time he and the administration have faced growing political pressure. The defense secretary has hung on in the face of growing criticism of his handling of the Iraq war as violence there has escalated, U.S. casualties have mounted and public support for the conflict has declined.
Facing renewed criticism about the war, Rumsfeld has stated emphatically he will not resign, revealing he received a personal vote of confidence in a recent private call from President George Bush following revelations in Bob Woodward's latest book "State of Denial which claim Bush has toyed with the idea of firing Rumsfeld. Mubarak and Rumsfeld - very much in the news, are septuagenarian politicians and military men who take their squash seriously. But does their squash game reveal their character?
Squash is a tough game. It can be like a war inside the court, says Awad. You strike hard, you put pressure on your opponent, and you control the battle - that's how you win.
In Iraq and on the court, Rumsfeld is still desperately trying to win.


Clic here to read the story from its source.