Du haut de ses 17 ans, Widaad Gukhool a d’ores et déjà marqué le tennis de table mauricien. Les éloges ne manquent pas pour cette pongiste qui a tapé dans sa première balle à l’age de 8 ans.
Dans le giron, on la défi nit comme une pongiste unique en son genre. Entre ses entraînements, ses études, sa vie religieuse, Widaad Gukhool montre et démontre, depuis ses débuts, qu’elle est prête à faire des sacrifices afin d’atteindre ses objectifs. Preuve en est, les derniers Jeux des îles de l’océan Indien où elle accrochera deux médailles d’or (par équipe et double mixte) en pleine période de ramadan. Widaad Gukhool a toutes les qualités d’une sportive hors du commun.
Et pourtant, le tennis de table n’était pas son premier choix à ses débuts. «Quand elle avait 7 ans, son frère Irfaan pratiquait le karaté et elle avait envie de s’adonner à une activité donc elle aussi s’y est mise», raconte son père Ragck Gukhool. «Ce sport lui plaisait, mais elle n’était pas compatible avec cette discipline, donc, elle a pratiqué d’autres sports comme la natation». Mais elle ne trouvait toujours pas chaussure à son pied. C’est là que le tennis de table est entré dans sa vie, une discipline qui allait tout changer. Détectée en 2004 à Mesnil par Rajessen Descann, elle intégrera en avril 2004 l’école du Mauritius Sports Council et presqu’un an plus tard, remporta son premier titre de championne dans les catégories benjamines et minimes. «On avait constaté à l’époque qu’elle avait un vrai potentiel. Elle était très intelligente tactiquement et savait gérer les moments difficiles, chose que beaucoup de joueurs ne pouvaient pas faire», relate l’entraîneur national, Rajessen Descann.
Comme tout sportif mauricien, le premier objectif d’une carrière demeure les Jeux des îles. Au vu de son talent et de tous ses titres, Widaad Gukhool atteindra celui-ci en 2007 à l’âge de 13 ans. A l’époque, elle était la 6e joueuse au classement national et prouvera que sa sélection en équipe nationale est justifiée.
Une pongiste studieuse
En effet, ses 13 ans ne lui ont pas empêché d’aller chercher la médaille de bronze en double mixte aux côtés de Rajessen Descann qui était joueur à l’époque. «Le contexte n’était pas facile pour elle mais elle a su hausser son niveau pour chercher cette médaille», observe l’entraîneur national qui confie que, dans l’histoire du tennis de table «jamais personne n’a fait ce qu’elle a fait à son age. La carrière de Widaad et son style de jeu ne peuvent être comparés à celle d’un ancien pongiste».
Malgré sa grande implication dans son sport, elle garde en tête que les études joueront un grand rôle pour son avenir.
Etudiante au collège privé de Doha Academy, elle décroche 8 unités au School Certificate, résultat qui a étonné son père. «Je ne m’attendais pas à ce qu’elle fasse aussi bien.
Pour moi, même si elle avait ramené 20 unités, cela ne m’aurait pas posé de problèmes car je connaissais tous les sacrifices qu’elle a faits pour son sport, les heures d’entraînement, les allers retours entre la maison, l’école, les leçons particulières. Je suis fier d’elle, car elle s’implique aussi énormément dans sa religion », explique son père.
Sur la saison 2011, Widaad Gukhool n’a plus rien à prouver. Elle avait lancé sa saison avec une médaille de bronze par équipe aux Championnats d’Afrique Junior 2011, assurant la victoire sur les deux matches qu’elle devait disputer. Elle ramena par la suite son énième titre de championne de Maurice, avec zéro défaite au compteur.
Pour peau finer sa préparation en vue des JIOI, elle se rendit avec Patrick Sahajasein en Chine, au Centre national de tennis de Table à Heibei.
Trois semaines d’entraînements intensifs qui ont porté leurs fruits.
Aujourd’hui, Widaad Gukhool pourrait facilement faire une séance d’entraînement face à un Warren Li Kam Wa ou encore un Billy Chan Yook Fo. Pour améliorer ses relances, l’Association mauricienne de tennis de table (AMTT) a favorisé les frottements avec des sparring- partners masculins alors qu’un ami de la famille, Lasser Auchaybur, offre son aide à la pongiste en tant que coach personnel.
Après toute cette préparation, ne reste plus pour elle qu’à briller lors des JIOI. Elle enlèvera deux médailles d’or, une par équipe fi lle et l’autre en double mixte aux côtés de Rhikesh Taucoory dans des conditions plus que défavorables car elle était en pleine période de ramadan. Elle enchaînera, par la suite, avec une 15e place en simple dame lors des Jeux d’Afrique à Maputo et conservera son titre de championne de Maurice lors du Championnat national.
Désormais, le grand objectif que peut se fixer Widaad Gukhool c’est de briller au niveau continental et passer un autre cap tout en gardant les pieds sur terre.
Olivier CHAPUISET(Source : Lexpress)
Google Translation to English:
From its 17-year Widaad Gukhool has already marked the Mauritian table tennis. No shortage of praise for the table tennis player who hit his first ball at the age of 8 years.
Into the fold, it is defi nes a unique table tennis. From his training, his education, his religious life Widaad Gukhool shows and shows from the beginning, it is ready to make sacrifices to achieve its objectives. Proof of this is the last Island Games Indian Ocean where it will hang two gold medals (team and mixed doubles) in a period of Ramadan. Widaad Gukhool has all the qualities of a sports car out of the ordinary.
Still, table tennis was not his first choice in its infancy. "When she was 7 years old, his brother Irfaan practiced karate and she wanted to engage in an activity so also it is put," says his father Ragck Gukhool. "This sport he liked, but it was not compatible with the discipline, so she practiced other sports like swimming."But she still can not find the Shoe Fits. This is where table tennis is in its life, a discipline that would change everything. Detected in 2004 by Mesnil Rajessen Descann, it will integrate the school in April 2004 of the Mauritius Sports Council and almost a year later won his first championship title in the categories benjamines and minimal. "There had been at that time it had real potential. She was very smart tactically and knew how to manage difficult times, something that many players could not do, "tells the national coach, Rajessen Descann.
Like any sport Mauritius, the first goal of a career is still the Island Games. Given his talent and all his titles, Widaad Gukhool reach it in 2007 at the age of 13. At the time, she was the sixth player in the national rankings and prove that his selection for the national team is warranted.
A studious table tennis
Indeed, his 13 years does not prevent him to go for the bronze medal in mixed doubles alongside Rajessen Descann player who was at the time. "The context was not easy for her but she was able to raise its level to get that medal," says national coach who says that in the history of table tennis "no one has ever done whatshe made to her age. Widaad career and his style of play can not be compared to that of an old table tennis player. "
Despite his involvement in the sport, it keeps in mind that the studies will play an important role in its future.
Student private college Doha Academy, she won eight units in School Certificate, a result that surprised his father. "I did not expect it to become as well.
For me, even though it had brought 20 units, this would not have been a problem because I knew all the sacrifices she made for her sport, training hours, the back and forth between home, theschool tutoring. I am proud of her because she is also involved heavily in religion, "said his father.
In the 2011 season, Widaad Gukhool has nothing to prove. She had started the season with a bronze medal in the team African Youth Championship 2011, ensuring the victory over the two matches she should play. She then brought her yet another championship title in Mauritius, with zero loss to the counter.
For the finer skin preparation for Jiří she went with Patrick Sahajasein in China, at the National Tennis Table Heibei.
Three weeks of intensive training that paid off.
Today Widaad Gukhool could easily be a workout in front of a Li Kam Wa Warren or a Billy Chan Yook For. To improve its reminders, the Mauritian Association Table Tennis (Amtt) promoted friction with male sparring partners when a family friend, Auchaybur Lasser, offers help to table tennis as a personal trainer.
After all this preparation, no more for her to shine in the Jiří. It will remove two gold medals, one for each team fi lle and one in mixed doubles alongside Rhikesh Taucoory under more adverse than as it was in the midst of Ramadan. She followed later with a 15th place in singles at the Games Lady of Africa in Maputo and will retain his title of champion Maurice at the National Championship.
Now, the general objective can be attached Widaad Gukhool is to shine at the continental level and go another direction while keeping the feet on the ground.
Olivier CHAPUISET(Source: Lexpress)
Into the fold, it is defi nes a unique table tennis. From his training, his education, his religious life Widaad Gukhool shows and shows from the beginning, it is ready to make sacrifices to achieve its objectives. Proof of this is the last Island Games Indian Ocean where it will hang two gold medals (team and mixed doubles) in a period of Ramadan. Widaad Gukhool has all the qualities of a sports car out of the ordinary.
Still, table tennis was not his first choice in its infancy. "When she was 7 years old, his brother Irfaan practiced karate and she wanted to engage in an activity so also it is put," says his father Ragck Gukhool. "This sport he liked, but it was not compatible with the discipline, so she practiced other sports like swimming."But she still can not find the Shoe Fits. This is where table tennis is in its life, a discipline that would change everything. Detected in 2004 by Mesnil Rajessen Descann, it will integrate the school in April 2004 of the Mauritius Sports Council and almost a year later won his first championship title in the categories benjamines and minimal. "There had been at that time it had real potential. She was very smart tactically and knew how to manage difficult times, something that many players could not do, "tells the national coach, Rajessen Descann.
Like any sport Mauritius, the first goal of a career is still the Island Games. Given his talent and all his titles, Widaad Gukhool reach it in 2007 at the age of 13. At the time, she was the sixth player in the national rankings and prove that his selection for the national team is warranted.
A studious table tennis
Indeed, his 13 years does not prevent him to go for the bronze medal in mixed doubles alongside Rajessen Descann player who was at the time. "The context was not easy for her but she was able to raise its level to get that medal," says national coach who says that in the history of table tennis "no one has ever done whatshe made to her age. Widaad career and his style of play can not be compared to that of an old table tennis player. "
Despite his involvement in the sport, it keeps in mind that the studies will play an important role in its future.
Student private college Doha Academy, she won eight units in School Certificate, a result that surprised his father. "I did not expect it to become as well.
For me, even though it had brought 20 units, this would not have been a problem because I knew all the sacrifices she made for her sport, training hours, the back and forth between home, theschool tutoring. I am proud of her because she is also involved heavily in religion, "said his father.
In the 2011 season, Widaad Gukhool has nothing to prove. She had started the season with a bronze medal in the team African Youth Championship 2011, ensuring the victory over the two matches she should play. She then brought her yet another championship title in Mauritius, with zero loss to the counter.
For the finer skin preparation for Jiří she went with Patrick Sahajasein in China, at the National Tennis Table Heibei.
Three weeks of intensive training that paid off.
Today Widaad Gukhool could easily be a workout in front of a Li Kam Wa Warren or a Billy Chan Yook For. To improve its reminders, the Mauritian Association Table Tennis (Amtt) promoted friction with male sparring partners when a family friend, Auchaybur Lasser, offers help to table tennis as a personal trainer.
After all this preparation, no more for her to shine in the Jiří. It will remove two gold medals, one for each team fi lle and one in mixed doubles alongside Rhikesh Taucoory under more adverse than as it was in the midst of Ramadan. She followed later with a 15th place in singles at the Games Lady of Africa in Maputo and will retain his title of champion Maurice at the National Championship.
Now, the general objective can be attached Widaad Gukhool is to shine at the continental level and go another direction while keeping the feet on the ground.
Olivier CHAPUISET(Source: Lexpress)
