Egyptian Pro Squash Player – Kanzy El Defrawy tells us why Dubai is her chosen destination
What made you want to move to Dubai and how long have you lived here?
I moved to Dubai in 2018. I am originally from Egypt and I was recruited to go study and play squash in an American University after I graduated High School. I went to America from 2012 till 2017 and then moved back home for a bit. The reason why I moved to Dubai is because I feel like it’s the perfect combination Egypt and America. Dubai is very advanced, very modern and very clean and developed but it also has that Arabic culture. It’s also much closer to home than America. I figured it would be a great move for my career to develop and I am really glad I made that decision 2 years ago, I love Dubai!
What’s your business/job role now?
I play squash competitively, I work in the Events Industry and I have my own digital marketing agency. I also work as an MC and Event Host.
Tell us about your sports background?
I grew up a very athletic kid. Both my parents are very athletic and sports was always a priority growing up. I played almost every sport out there, gymnastics, swimming, basketball, handball, tennis you name it! I grew up very active and competitive and I loved excelling at whatever sport I played. Squash is very very very big in Egypt, the top female and male players I the world are all Egyptian. It is way successful than any other sport in Egypt. Egyptians have been dominating that sport in the last 2 decades. My parents saw an opportunity for me to become a champion at the sport given my exceptional hand eye coordination as a kid. In the beginning, I was very frustrated and irritated with squash because of how hard it is. It was very hard watching other players hit the ball hard while I was struggling to even hit the ball at all! The squash community in my club was very close, I would go and stay at the squash court for 5-6 hours on a daily basis. I grew up watching legends of the game and interacting with world class squash players on a daily basis. I was surrounded by a very high level of squash and I slowly began to understand the rules and the strategy of the game. I turned professional when I was only 12 years old, my parents were very supportive and always believed that I had the ability and the skills to beat older players. It was fun competing with older female athletes as an underdog, I played with no fear and I had so much fun playing that I was performing way better than I expected. I broke the top 100 when I was 15 and the top 50 when I was 16 years old. After High School I got recruited to play squash in one of the best colleges in America where I graduated being the number one squash female player in America and 29th in the world.
What’s your greatest achievement?
My greatest achievement is that I am currently able to do many things at the same time. I still play squash, I work, I MC and I have my own business. I wouldn’t be able to name one achievement as my greatest one, but rather the fact that I am able to balance everything out.
Women empowerment – what are your thoughts on it?
I AM ALL ABOUT IT! YES WRITING IN CAPS. Literally my favorite topic to talk about. I am a firm and strong believer in women empowerment and I always support anything related to it. Given my background and culture, I feel like this is an extremely important topic to address especially in the MENA region where it is much needed.
If you look at the top female leaders in the world at the positive impact they have globally, it really shows and proves how powerful women can be.
The countries with the lowest corona cases are all led by women and it is not a coincidence. In my opinion, women are less egocentric and they are typically more empathetic leaders who put their hearts and souls into what they are doing. I’m all about it!
Favourite clothing stores?
Toughest question I was ever asked. So hard to pick one. But to narrow it down, Under Armour and Women’s Best.
Who inspires you?
My parents.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
To be patient.