Top Egyptian junior squash players are well accustomed to struggles — but 16-year-old Yassin Kouritam's has been darker and more terrifying than any of his peers'.
In 2020, when the pandemic brought an unwelcome hiatus to squash participation worldwide, Kouritam was the reigning British Junior Open Under-11 champion and was ranked no.1 in Egypt.
Unable to step on court and take part in the passion he inherited from his father, former PSA player and renowned coach Emad, then 10-year-old Yassin was a frustrated figure.
But the following year, his problems multiplied in unimaginably horrific circumstances when he was diagnosed with leukaemia.
With Covid still raging and his blood cancer requiring a completely sterile environment for chemotherapy treatment to be effective, he spent months sealed in a hospital room with his mother. Neither was allowed to leave and no-one could visit from outside.
The treatment was to last throughout 2022, just as his friends and rivals were returning to the squash court.
"It was a nightmare for me," he tells Squash Player. "They were the toughest years of my life. I was really upset.
"I had to be away from my family and my friends. I had to sit with my mum for six or seven months in a room in the hospital, getting my recovery done."
Father Emad could only communicate with his son and his wife on Facetime, whilst looking after Yassin's older brother Islam, who is a former US Junior Open champion.
"Yassin is a fighter," said Emad. "Since day one, he has always been a fighter. It was such a long journey with him. We pushed day after day to get through this nightmare.
"His mother was locked into the hospital with him and I couldn't visit. It was such a delicate disease and they couldn't take any risks. He suffered a lot from being in one room for so, so long.
"Every time I spoke with him, the only reason I could give to convince him to keep going was to say, 'If you want to get back to the court, you have to obey the doctors. Be tough. You are a champion. You can do it!'"
He received support from the Egyptian squash community including former world champion Tarek Momen. "My family, all the professional players, even actors in Egypt, gave me so much support," said Yassin. "They are the best. I have so much thanks to give them."
By late 2022, young Yassin's chemotherapy had thankfully worked. Although he was cancer-free, the recovery was slow with lots of follow-up checks and medicines.
Eventually, he tentatively stepped back on the squash court. "It was the greatest day of my life getting back on court," he reflected. "Even though it was just a little bit of running, I was back to where I belong and what I love. It was so awesome."
Carefully monitoring Yassin's heart rate, father Emad gently nurtured him back to being squash-ready. "The doctors told us we must do it gradually - but he doesn't lke to do things gradually!" laughed Emad.
"Yassin tried to push himself but he couldn't because he was very weak. The blood tests were borderline, we were starting from zero really.
"If his heart rate was over 120 we had to stop, so we had to stop every five minutes. To have one hour training, it took up to two hours including breaks. But we kept digging, taking it step-by-step."
Yassin travelled to Birmingham for the 2023 British Junior Open and reached the third round. Later that year, he got to the quarter-finals of the US Junior Open. His progress had clearly been hampered by the long break from the game, both due to Covid and his illness.
But better results soon came and 2025 saw Yassin win a BU17 bronze medal at the European Junior Open, finish runner-up at the US Junior Open and finish fifth at the recent British Junior Open after losing 12-10 in the fifth game to second seed Aryaveer Dewan in the quarter-finals.
Watching him win the 5/6th place play-off in Birmingham in straight games against England's Luke McBride, it was evident that Kouritam has a silky touch, superb accuracy and graceful movement.
"I am really proud of how I've got back among these top players," he said. "After being in the hospital so long, I am now playing in the British Junior Open and in the top five in Egypt.
"It's been tough physically and mentally playing in the US Junior Open then coming here, to the toughest and most prestigious tournament I've ever played. I am coming back stronger every day. I am very proud of myself.
"Big thank you to my coaches at the TM Sports Club in Cairo. To my dad, who is my idol and a legend in Egyptian squash. And to my mum. Without her, I wouldn't even be playing squash again."
