The era in which young talents in the three cushion have to develop on national and international level has been disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. How do they deal with this setback in their careers? Kozoom had interviews with young billiard players all over the world and this week completes the series of 12 articles. Today: Mahmoud Ayman (21) from Egypt
Name: Mahmoud Ayman
Age: 21
Place of residence: Cairo, Egypt Profession/study: Faculty of Music Education/musician
Hobby: writing music
Relationship: girlfriend
Billiard club: Sporting Shooting Club, Cairo
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: How do you deal with this long period in which COVID crisis dominates all the world?
Mahmoud Ayman: The atmosphere is quiet nice right now, I can practice and go out with my friends, with all the safety taken, of course
2. Kozoom: Is this a time of standstil land stagnation in your young career, in which fast development and progression are so important?
Mahmoud Ayman: I think, yes it is, because there are many opportunities outside now that are given to us. I can work and study from home, practice in my free time
3. Kozoom: How is the current situation in your home town and your country in relation to COVID-19?
Mahmoud Ayman: it's better than the first wave, thanks to our government. I got infected by the virus in the last part of December last year, but I'm doing really good nowadays
4. Kozoom: How are the conditions for training for players in Egypt and for you? How much practice every day or every week?
Mahmoud Ayman: My studies and music profession takesa lot of time, but I managed to practice three days a week.
5. Kozoom: How does life look for you without championships, tournaments and competitions?
Mahmoud Ayman: The season started in November last year. We played Teams League and Teams Cup, I played three tournaments, qualifications for National championship and 1 Junior Tournament qualification for Junior national championship that i just won
6. Kozoom: What is your country or federation doing to develop careers of young talents?
Mahmoud Ayman: They started to attract young players recently, who play billiard and snooker, by providing them a trainer, cues, tabels for training. They are really doing great.
7. Kozoom: How do you look to your future as a sportsman and possibly as a professional billiard player?
Mahmoud Ayman: For my last Juniors World championship, I don't know if I can participate, because i'm turning 22 in March. Maybe they make exceptions because of the COVID-19, it will help a lot to achieve my dream to becoming World Champion. If not, I am working on developing myself to compete with the professionals in billiards and become one of them.
Mahmoud Ayman from Egypt: one more year in the Juniors?