Spain’s Olga aims to move up the ranks despite financial setback

KUALA LUMPUR: Spaniard Olga Puigdemont Sola is a “poor” professional squash player with lots of determination. 

The sole Spanish women's professional gets no financial support from her national association and she has to bear all the expenses to train with the French national team in Aixen Province. 

The difficulties in making ends meets has not deterred the bespectacled 26-year-old from making the trip here to compete in the Kuala Lumpur Open. 

Olga, who turned pro in September 2001, said: “Squash is not popular at all in Spain and our association are not active at all. 

“There is no money in the sports in Spain. That is why you see that I am the only Spanish woman in professional squash.” 

Olga, who has a degree in sociology from Cornell University in America, added that she would not have turned professional if not for the support she received from the French association. 

“They allow me to train with their national team but I have to bear the expenses for accommodation and food,” she said. 

“I make some money by playing in the French and German leagues. I can barely survive with the money I make but I do get some support from my parents.” 

Olga is now ranked 43rd in the world and despite the hardship she faces as a professional player, it has not dampened her spirits to move up the ranks. 

“I was ranked 125th in September 2001. With no financial support, I still managed to improve my rankings to 43rd now. And I hope I can continue playing in the professional circuit to improve on my rankings,” said Olga whose trip to KL was made possible with the help of her parents. 

Olga is down to play against sixth seed Engy Kheirallah of Egypt in the first round. 

“I have not played against Engy before and I hope I can beat her,” said Olga, whose best performance on the circuit was a runner-up finish in last year's Brest Open, a one-star tournament in France.