|
|
CANARY WHARF PORTRAITS
12-Feb:
SPOTLIGHT ON BORJA…
 I’m contrite… I
had actually never spoke with the Spanish number 1 player, nor had I ever
seen him play… I know, I know, he was in Islamabad, during the Team
Championship, but I just never came across one of Spain’s matches, and….
So when I saw his name in the qualifiers draw, I thought a little
spotlight on the 23 year old was long over due…
When did you start playing squash?
When I was 9, along with so many others sports, like soccer. And I did
both squash and football until the age of 15, but the advantage of squash
was that it was taking me to events everywhere in the world, whereas I was
playing for a football club that was 40 miles from my house…. So I dropped
football, and chose squash.
Where are you based?
I just moved from Santiago to Barcelona about 5 months ago, which allows
me to concentrate more on my squash career than I did before, and also
gives me the opportunity to train with other top Spanish players. I wish I
could get training outside Spain as well, but for time and monetary
reason, I can’t. So when I get on tournaments, I try and get as much
matches as I can with the other players from the tour.
 So you are
spending more time on squash now?
Yes, before, I used to share my time with my journalism studies, but now,
I’ve decided to concentrate on my squash career until I’m around 30. A
squash player career is so short, I just want to try it out and give it my
best shot. I’ll have until 80 or 90 to do something else!!!!!!
How do you do financially?
Well, I’m lucky, I get a bit of help from the Spanish Federation and from
the Andalusian Federation. I also have a few sponsors, Feather for the
racquets, Technifibre for the strings, and also Arena Mobile.
Is it hard to be a bit isolated, as squash in Spain is not that
developed?
Well, now it’s easier. When I was young, I could see all my mates going to
parties, having fun, and I had to stay in, and train, and work. But now,
they have to work 7, 8 hours per day, in jobs that they normally do not
like. And I now train twice a day in a job I adore, I get to travel the
world, I’m just enjoying the lifestyle a lot….
To when the move to England?
Oh that would be nice, I would love to play here, have a chance to play
the leagues, but the level is a bit too high for me, and my girlfriend
Chelo would really give me a hard time if I was to spend even more time
away! So, I’ll stick to Barcelona for now….!
What are your goals for next year?
I’m hoping that, if I can keep on training at the rhythm I’m doing at the
moment, I can reach top 30 by the end of the season, but that will not be
easy, and I need to stay injury free as well…
Just to finish, squash is…..?
Mental strength, powerful and fast, concentration…
|
 |
