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07/30/2024 12:39 AMAs another fast-growing and fast-paced sport that is played inside, squash is very similar to the sport racquetball that is more familiar to most people. For Zaydan “Zaydu” Ahmad, squash has been a part of his life since a very young age, and he hasn’t ever looked back.
The 10 year-old Guilford resident was inspired by his older brother Rayan, who got involved in such a unique sport before he did. It led to Zaydu starting to enjoy the individualized aspect that squash provides.
“I became interested because my brother Rayan (two years older) started playing because his classmate's mom is the Yale coach, and she suggested it,” says Zaydu. “I was seven years old and really liked being able to play by myself at first. You can solo easily in squash because you are in an enclosed room.”
Zaydu also played baseball simultaneously as he stepped into the squash circle for the first time. To make his already packed resume even more impressive, he additionally plays the drums and the violin.
After some time playing and getting comfortable with the sport of squash and its fundamentals, Zaydu started participating in tournaments, which led to other coaches noticing the natural talent that he has. Zaydu’s current coach, Scott Young, is the director at the New Haven Lawn Club, where he has been working with Zaydu for the past several years and has seen that knack he has for all aspects of the competition.
“Zaydan is immensely talented with the racquet, and hitting the ball comes very easily to him, but the physical side of the game is where we have tried to make the most improvements,” says Young. “Learning how to move efficiently around the court, as well as make the explosive dynamic movements the game requires, has been a focus of ours. This is where we continue to try and improve as well, as at the end of the day, you can only play as well as you move.”
A normal week for Zaydu consists of heavy amounts of training and making sure his body is always ready for the competition season. Having a set plan has helped him to constantly grow as an athlete.
“I normally train six days a week for two hours. My day starts at the squash courts after school with some warming up, followed by some basic drills. Then I play matches with other players,” Zaydu says. “I also do fitness to build my muscles. This is once a week at Mangino Strength & Conditioning in Guilford. During the summer, I have had a lot more time to focus on improving my game and fitness.”
While trying to ensure that the numerous hours of training and hard work would pay dividends, Zaydu looked to his brother, who always served as a key motivator and role model for what success truly looked like. It was then that he knew he wanted to model his game after his sibling counterpart.
“My brother played at a higher level, and at the time, he was playing gold level tournaments. My parents decided to put me in tournaments as well, and my placing kept getting higher until I was regularly placing in the top three,” says Zaydu. “I play at least one tournament once a month. A lot of time, I have to travel for these tournaments as far as California. It is fun because I get to meet family and my parents' friends during these trips.”
Handling the emotions that come with the high intensity of being an athlete can often be challenging for some, but Zaydu has learned to brush all negativity aside and stay locked in and in the moment when he’s competing.
“My mental game has always been a challenge throughout my squash journey. When I started, most of my squash matches ended up with me crying because I would get very stressed and upset. My coach and I worked very hard to improve my ability to control my emotions,” says Zaydu. “Then it all changed at one tournament this year. I smiled for every point, whether I won or lost. After that, I do not get stressed out at all. This has also made a big change in my squash game, as I play better when I am not anxious.”
That mental fortitude Zaydu shows has been apparent to his coach, who has seen him push through many obstacles and stay persistent, even when it seemed like things weren’t going his way.
“The big challenge for Zaydu has been learning to deal with the mental and emotional pressures of the game. Losses are heartbreaking, and Zaydu was unfortunate enough to finish second somewhere close to 10 times before he eventually managed to get over the line and win his first tournament,” says Young. “Many players would have quit having to endure such gut-wrenching losses again and again, but Zaydu has started to embrace it and becomes mentally more resilient every time he steps out on the court.”
Currently, Zaydu is ranked in the top 10 in the country for his age division and would like to be in the top five before he turns 11. He is also the No. 1 squash player in Connecticut for the U-11 age group.
“I look forward to making friends and getting much better and stronger as I grow older,” says Zaydu. “Also, it is fun to travel to new cities for tournaments and camps, as I get to learn things about the place and eat at new restaurants.”