Back to full fitness, Al Tamimi is set for the big action once again

Vinay Nayudu Doha Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi will be back on the big stage on Thursday when he meets Egyptian Karim El Hammamy in the opening round of the E...

Vinay NayuduDohaQatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi will be back on the big stage on Thursday when he meets Egyptian Karim El Hammamy in the opening round of the El Gouna International Open (a Platinum Event and PSA World Tour Stop in Egypt) on Thursday. It will be a return and redemption of sorts for Tamimi who will be back to competitive action after almost six months since he last played the Qatar Classic in Doha.The 26-year-old Tamimi has been eager to return to the glass courts and is aiming to make up for much of the lost ground after several injuries and the suspension of sport due to the coronavirus pandemic in the past few months laid him low.The Aspire Academy athlete had hit a top ranking of 23 in the world in 2019 before a surgery, and recently a groin injury in 2020, made him fight long to be back to full fitness.“It’s been a tough test of sorts and now the pandemic has pushed us all mentally,” Tamimi said in an interaction with the Qatar Tribune a few days ago prior to his departure.Now also married and much at ease both mentally and physically, Tamimi is just waiting to play. “I also had some tournaments in Kuwait lined up but because of the lockdowns I couldn’t make the trip. But it is El Gouna International Open now before I can think of playing in the British PSA World Tour Stop in the UK in June, and later at the “Windy Championships” – the Squash World Championship in Chicago, USA, in July,” he said.The planned road ahead is also a revelation of Tamimi’s hard work, dedication and willingness to stay at the top of his game. It hasn’t been easy at all especially in these last two years. Just when he was climbing on the ladder of success, Tamimi was hit by “Compartment Syndrome” a condition which affects blood flow in the muscles. “Compartment Syndrome occurs when the pressure within a compartment increases and restricts the blood flow to the area and can potentially damage both the muscles and nerves and it took real momentum away from my career in 2019,” Tamimi reflected.The correction required surgery to both his legs just when Tamimi was chasing a top-20 spot. It kept him out for a good six months. Post surgery and rehab, Tamimi hit back big beating Mohamed Abouelghar at the Windy City Open before COVID-19 struck and the tour was suspended.The Qatar PSA Classic in Doha in November 2020 provided him another opportunity and Tamimi began with a win over England’s Patrick Rooney at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. He, however, was stopped by Peru’s World No.7 Diego Elias in the next round.More than the loss on court, it was the groin injury that Tamimi picked up, troubled him more. The recovery again took months and Tamimi was back to exercises and training in due course but soon COVID-19 lockdown restricted practising on courts.Spirited and forward-looking, Tamimi kept his faith and kept waiting for the right time and opportunity. “There was no point in getting frustrated as I have said earlier too. I was 23 in the world and then had to go through surgery, was out for five months and ended up down at 50. What that taught me is that it is very easy to be negative, but what you have to do is have a goal and stay focused on it and not deviate from it no matter what life throws at you,” he stressed.“Now there was this groin injury but I stuck to my rehab plan, I kept talking to my mentor Geoff Hunt (Aussie legend) and my current coach Rod Martin. They have always been positive and that has helped me immensely in my approach towards my sport and life,” added Tamimi. Qatar’s No. 1 and now No. 34 in global ranking, Tamimi can be expected come out all guns blazing against Karim El Hammamy. A win in the opening would bring Tamimi up against Zahed Salem, who had despatched an injury-hit World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad at the CIB Black Ball Squash Open in March.Interestingly any of Tamimi, El Hammamy and Salem who progresses will face Gawad in a possible third round clash.“First up I will play the winner from Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi and Karim El Hammamy and I think that will be a tough one no matter who comes through there. I played El Hammamy once before in Hong Kong around four years back in the first round and I won in four and I felt I played really well and was very focussed,” Salem was quoted as saying. “Abdulla, I have never played in the seniors and although I played him in the juniors that was a very long time ago, so with both these guys they will have come a long way since we played last.”Tamimi will be keen to endorse that as much as checking up on his own form and fitness come Thursday.