July 14, 2023 — Egyptian squash sensation Aly Abou Eleinen has taken a strategic step towards mental prowess in his game by appointing Jesse Engelbrecht, founder of SportMind.io, as his psychological coach for the upcoming Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour season.
Aly, currently the World Number 21, has been breaking ground in the international squash scene while also pursuing his college education in the United States. This new partnership with Engelbrecht symbolizes Eleinen’s commitment to honing not just the physical, but also the psychological aspect of his game.
Since his debut on the PSA Tour in 2021, Eleinen’s career has been marked by a series of notable achievements. He reached the second round of the Life Time Plano International Squash Open and received a wildcard entry to the prestigious El Gouna International Squash Open in the same year.
Over the course of 2021, the young Egyptian demonstrated his potential by consistently reaching at least the quarter-finals in every event he featured in, including the World Championship qualifier, the Odense Open, and the CIB Egyptian Challenger Tour. By the close of 2021, Eleinen had two semi-final results under his belt, capping off an impressive debut year.
In 2022, Aly started with a bang, securing a runners-up finish at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions. This success was swiftly followed by a maiden Tour title victory at the Bremer Schlussel in Germany and his biggest Tour title to date at the Challenger 20 London Open. Eleinen’s performance throughout 2022 lifted him from World No.80 to the top 40, a testament to his relentless ambition.
The year 2023 saw Aly break into the world’s top 25, reaching a career-high of World No.21 in May. His progression in the PSA World Championships and the El Gouna International exemplify his continual growth and increasing presence on the world stage.
Jesse Engelbrecht’s involvement is expected to complement Eleinen’s physical abilities with psychological strength. The engagement with SportMind underscores the importance of mental conditioning in high-performance sports and Aly’s determination to reach new heights in his career. Engelbrecht’s expertise in sports psychology will undoubtedly be a valuable addition to Eleinen’s coaching team.
Engelbrecht says,
“I’m truly thrilled about the immense potential Aly can reach. In his short time on the PSA Tour, he’s already set a high benchmark for others to follow. Not only in his squash abilities, but his court attitude, manner, personality, and overall mental strength. Aly is the perfect fit for my coaching philosophy, which embraces off-court life as much as on-court performance. Given his trajectory so far, I have no doubt Aly will soon be a fixture at the top tier. If his current trajectory is anything to go by, we can expect SquashTV to be broadcasting a lot more of his live performances.”
Aly says,
“Teaming up with SportMind and Jesse Engelbrecht is an exciting step forward in my squash journey. As I reflect on my first year on the tour, I’ve come to appreciate the vital role of mental training in achieving success. I’m looking forward to learning from Jesse’s wealth of knowledge in sports psychology and benefit from his guidance. What’s even better is that we share a deep passion for the game, and our mutual enthusiasm made our connection instant! I’m thrilled to have him as part of my team and look forward to achieving our goals together both on and off the court.”
This collaboration indicates Aly Abou Eleinen’s dedication to holistic development as an athlete. With a stellar record behind him and an unwavering commitment to his sport, the world awaits the new heights this squash prodigy will reach in the upcoming season.
About Aly Abou Eleinen
Aly Abou Eleinen is an Egyptian squash player, currently ranked 21st in the world. He began his professional squash career in 2021 and quickly ascended the rankings, demonstrating his talent at several international tournaments. While carving out a place for himself on the world stage, Aly is also pursuing his college education in the United States.
About Jesse Engelbrecht and SportMind
Founded by Jesse Engelbrecht, SportMind.io offers athletes psychological coaching for optimal performance. Emphasising the synergy of sports and life philosophies, the organisation’s mission is to enhance athletes’ mental agility for success on the field and in life.
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- Check out the SportMind podcast. And this is my FAVOURITE episode to date
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- Become a SportMind member and gain full access to mental training. Learn more here
