Talk about the promising Egyptian champion, Hana Gouda, an 18-year-old member of the national table tennis team, dominated social media platforms, despite her 4-3 loss in the quarterfinals of the World Table Tennis Championships to China's Sun Yangsha, the world and Olympic champion and world number one. The Egyptian star delivered a strong and historic performance, coming close to victory. Gouda etched her name in the annals of the sport as the first Egyptian and Arab woman to reach the quarterfinals of the Women's World Table Tennis Championships, continuing her record-breaking run. In general, the national team player began her career early, achieving exceptional and impressive accomplishments. In an interview with “Sportify”,Hana Gouda revealed behind-the-scenes details of the World Championships, in addition to discussing her personal and family life.. here is the full interview:
First of all, I congratulate you on reaching the quarter-finals of the Women's World Table Tennis Championships.. How did you feel
about achieving this feat?
I have mixed feelings right now. Honestly, this is my best tournament so far. Reaching the quarterfinals is an achievement I'm proud of, but at the same time, I'm a little disappointed. I was so close to the semifinals and a medal for Egypt. I was pushing hard for that medal, maybe too hard, and that's why it was so difficult to finish the match even though I had two chances to win. Despite all that, there's so much to be proud of and so much to learn. I feel like I'm getting closer, and that motivates me to work even harder every day.
So tell us about your beginnings in
table tennis?
I started my journey at Al Ahly Club at the age of four, and I excelled in table tennis to join the first team of the Red Giant. I played my first tournament at the age of six, after which I secured my place in the national team at a young age. Currently, I am happy to be playing professionally in the French Table Tennis League, and I am striving to learn from a new and unique experience, and dealing with players of other nationalities and different playing styles added a lot to my career and enriched my sporting
experience.
And when we return to the topic of championships.. how did you feel about winning the African Cup title that was held in Tunisia last year?
The preparation for that tournament was very strong, with training camps in Germany and Cairo, as well as matches in the French league. The final match against Dina Meshref was the most difficult, because Dina started strongly and the score was (2/0) for her in the sets, but she was able, through strong focus, and changing the game plans, to turn her loss into a victory with a score of (4/2).
And for you.. what is the reason for any athlete's success?
Time management is a fundamental skill for creating any sports champion, and I always struggled with time management between studying, sports, and seeing family and friends, but I started to get used to the situation a lot. In addition, an athlete's behavior and control over his emotions is a major reason for winning a match, especially in a game that depends on speed of response and reaction, such as table tennis.
And what about Hana's personal life away from sports?
I chose to study psychology because mental state has a significant impact on an athlete's mindset and performance on the field. I love spending time with my family, and during Ramadan, we always distribute iftar meals to those fasting. This makes me feel the atmosphere of the holy month in Egypt, which is unique in the world, and I miss it a lot because of travel and training camps.
Do you enjoy watching other sports besides table tennis?
I love watching football and squash matches, and I also like to play padel as a form of entertainment away from daily training. I support Al-Ahly because it is my home and the club where I grew up. I also support Liverpool because Mohamed Salah is in it. I consider him a role model and a source of inspiration for all Egyptian athletes. Mohamed Salah is a source of pride for Egyptians and Arabs, and football fans place him in the same or close position as the world's football legends.
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