KUALA LUMPUR: For Borja Golan, squash is not so much being the world No.1 but enjoying the game he loves and staying free from injuries.
The Spaniard reached a high at world No.10 in 2009 before he suffered a terrible knee injury in the final of the Colombia Open which kept him out for nine months.
Since the setback, he has fought his way to reach a career high of world No. 5 in April of this year and has been going strong since.
“It was a challenge as it was my first major injury and when it happens, you will begin to doubt if you can ever return to your best.
“I had to keep positive and give my 100% to work towards a full recovery,” said the 31-year-old Golan.
“I don’t know how far I can go in the rankings because the top seven players have all been No.1 in the world at one time and my best was just at No.5
“For now I just want to stay free from injuries and enjoy the matches I play,” added Golan who is currently seventh in the world.
Golan got off to a strong start at the CIMB Malaysian Open after beating Egyptian youngster Mohamed Abouelghar in the first round.
He dropped the first set but came back strong for a 5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 15-13 win.
“It’s the toughest first round match I have played so far. Mohamed played very well in the first set but I tried to be more alert in the second game and things began to go my way,” said Golan who will take on Finland’s Olli Tuominen in the quarter-finals at the Nu Sentral mall on Thursday.
