Inspired by her father and her older sister, a squash coach and player respectively, Malaysian squash player Rachel Arnold has big shoes to fill.

She got into the game around 10 years ago, and is ranked 50th in the world. She hopes to make it to the top 10 within a few years, starting with winning the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian games this year, which will increase her ranking to 45.

Dawn sat down with Ms Arnold while she was in Islamabad for the Women’s International Championship hosted by the Pakistan Air Force.

Q: How do you describe your playing style and what is your favourite shot?

A: My style is similar to that of Egyptian squash player Raneem El Welily, who ranks world number 2 today. She is calm and composed, but always attacking. Her style suits my game.

And I love playing volley drops, which is like a drop shot. The drop volley is played into the front corners at a slow pace. It can also be a lethal shot when played cross-court. The drop volley is a very effective way of increasing the pressure on your opponent, as you can use it to attack loose shots and force your opponent to do a lot of running.

Q: Pakistan was a frontrunner in the squash world for nearly 40 years. How does it feel to play against Pakistani players?

A: I have heard so much about Pakistani squash players and the fact that Pakistan ruled the world in squash for so long is amazing. But I have not really had the chance to play against Pakistani players. I don’t think many players here travel outside Pakistan to participate in international competitions.

Q: What was the most memorable game you have played?

A: My toughest game was against a competitor who was a world number 5 when I was just a novice compared to her. I lost terribly but that game taught me where I stood and how I needed to work hard to improve.

Squash is really big in Malaysia. I was very fortunate to get a lot of support from my father, who coaches squash players including my sister. It’s a fun game and it helps me take the load off my shoulders and put pressure on my opponents. Some of the most important games, especially against tough opponents, have taught me important lessons not just in the game but in life. Squash has made me realise my weaknesses and where I needed to improve while playing and in life.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2018