Dmytro Shcherbakov: "The Junior World Championship is the first time for me and I am ready for matches with all players"
For Dmitry Shcherbakov, the junior world squash championship among juniors will be held for the first time, as well as for domestic sports. Dmitriy is no stranger to defending the honor of the country, at the beginning of the year there was a European team championship under 17, then the World Games, and now a historical event for Ukraine - participation in a large-scale and elite tournament.
At the age of only 17, Dmitry Shcherbakov is one of the best squash players in Ukraine. To date, the junior occupies the seventh line of the European ranking. Having won a team victory at the European Championship under 17, the captain of the national team, as they say, can pose a serious challenge to opponents at the World Championship.
In an interview with the FSU, the current number one Ukraine among squash players will talk about the forced relocation to another country, training, preparation for entering an American university, and of course, about his chances of winning the upcoming world championship, which will begin on August 11 in France.
USF: 2022 was a truly debut year for you in terms of your sports career: moving up to the under-19 category among juniors, bronze at the European Team Championship, performance at the World Games in Birmingham and the upcoming trip to the World Championships in individual and team competitions. You took part in all the iconic tournaments under the flag of Ukraine, are you proud of it? What emotions do you experience going through new and such important tests?
Dmitry: After the start of hostilities, I thought that I had dropped out of the competitive process for a long time. But as soon as my family and I moved to Romania, I resumed full-fledged training, started watching the upcoming competitions. The first was the European Under-19 Championship. Many thanks to the organizers who entered the position and accepted the application later than the deadline. Then, very unexpectedly, it was announced that all teams would compete as planned. And then the competition followed one after another.
I would like to note the European Team Championship among men, it was my first performance for the men's team. Many thanks to all the players for such a team atmosphere, the common goal already achieved - promotion to the second division.
The European Championship among juniors is a tournament for which I prepared especially seriously. And I was very upset when I fell ill on the very first game day. The team had to play two more group matches without me, I was very upset about that. Many thanks to the coaches and Alena (Vice President of the Squash Federation of Ukraine) personally for putting me on my feet in two days. And I had two big wins in the quarter-finals and third-place matches, both matches of five games. Yes, we and the under-17 team made history and entered the top three teams in Europe.
This was followed by my first under-19 tournament in Italy, where I finished fifth after only losing a quarter-final match. After that I was very motivated to train and show the best result at the German Junior Open. It was one of the best tournaments of my life, I was in the best shape, many thanks to my Romanian coach George Constantinescu for showing me what adult squash is.
USF: What do you remember most about the World Games, were there any interesting stories that surprised you, touched you, perhaps?
Dmitry: I am very glad that I got the opportunity to become a part of such an inventory. I played with the twentieth racket of the world and saw how far I was from his level of play. I was disappointed that all places were not played this year, because I really wanted to stay on the court as long as possible with players of this level.
The flag of Ukraine next to its surname and name has always added strength to the fight, and at this time it was especially felt. I really wanted to bring such small victories to my country.
USF: I know that you are planning to go to college in America. This is true? America did not disappoint, did your expectations come true?
Dmitry: Now joining America no longer seems such an unreal dream as it was for me in the past years. Now I am very actively communicating with the coach of Trinity College and my chances of admission are very high. Of course, this is my number one goal right now and I've been working on it for a long time now.
USF: Another test lies ahead. This is the World Cup in France, have you already seen the seeding of the participants, the grid of the competition? How do you like your opponent in the first round (Jia Rong 340 PSA Ranking)? How do you rate your chances?
Dmitriy: The World Championship is the first time for me and now there is no fear of new challenges after so much has happened over the recent period of time.
As for my next opponent, I will do my best to go further in the tournament bracket and have 100% confidence in myself.
USF: Who do you look up to, who do you imitate athletes. Do you have a squash player or a squash player, perhaps who would you like to be like?
Dmitry: The sportsman who is the number one authority for me is Rafael Nadal, this player, despite his age, is one of the strongest tennis players in the world, and his professional attitude to all the components of a sportsman is simply unrealistic.
In terms of squash players, my two favorite players are Ramy Ashour and Fares Dessouky, both of whom have been squash authorities for me for many years.
USF: Thanks again for the time and your rather detailed answers. I wish you victories in the upcoming competitions, go to college and become the player whom young squash players will look up to in the future
Dmitry: Thank you!
The WSF World Junior Squash Championship 2022 will be held in the French city of Nancy from August 11 to 21, 2022 and will include individual competitions among children, as well as team competitions among children.
