The sky is the limit for Guyana’s Squash Player, Mary Fung-A-Fat

Jul 23, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....yer-mary-fung-a-fat/

By Sean Devers

At 23, Guyana’s Squash Player, Mary Fung-a-Fat has achieved things that many don’t in their entire lives.
“I started my pro career in January 2017 when I competed in two tournaments in the US. I will be based in Philadelphia and have tournaments scheduled in Canada in September, October and November,” Fung-a-Fat who lives in Philadelphia, informed.
Mary says the benefits of turning Professional are for Country and personal pride, adding that she wants to show the youngsters that they can achieve anything through hard work and determination.
“I want to take my college squash career forward and show our juniors that academics and Sport can go hand in hand. I’ve represented Guyana from a young age so this is the next step to see how much further I can reach,” said Mary who has lived in USA for the last four years to fulfill her College commitments.
But everything in life has a price…even dreams! “If I had one wish right now, it would be to have enough financial assistance behind me so that I can fully chase my dream of becoming a professional squash player,” revealed the former U-13, 15, 17 and 19 Caribbean Squash Champion.
Mary was able to secure a sport scholarship to play Varsity college squash at Drexel University in Philadelphia in 2013 and graduated this June with a Bachelors of Science in Health Science.
The 2012 National Runner-up Junior Sports Woman of the Year started playing squash when she was seven and one of the earliest memories she has of competing was when she was 11 and played her first junior Caribbean tournament in Jamaica 2006. She won the U-13 title which was the first of many more to come.
“My Dad played squash at the Georgetown club ever since I was a child but it wasn’t until my Mom took my Brother for a lesson with our legendary National Coach, Carl Ince, that my passion sparked.
Coach looked at me and asked if I wanted to join them on court. I was very shy and reluctant. Then mom said to give it a shot and if I didn’t like it then I could just come right off…and I never came off,” revealed Mary.
“My most memorable moment in squash was my last junior Caribbean Squash tour in Jamaica in 2012. It was where I had won my first title in 2006 and then my last. It was surreal. On the night of the closing ceremony I made a speech, and I said “My junior squash career has been a dream, a fairytale – with squash as my Prince Charming and Coach Carl Ince my fairy Godfather.” And now as I head into this next chapter of my Squash career, I strive to write another fairytale.”
From National U-13, 15 and 19 Champion, Mary has steadily climbed the ladder in her Squash career.
In 2008 she was a member of Guyana’s Bronze medal team at the 2008 Junior Pan American Squash Championships in Peru. In 2012 she played as the wild Card in the WSA World Open in the Cayman Islands before participating in Liberty Bell Open in the U.S. in 2003.
Mary was a member of National Team for 2014 Pan American Qualifiers in Mexico and at the 2015 CAC Championships in Mexico. This year the affable Sportswoman has already taken part in The Masters School Open and Corporation Service Company Delaware Women’s Open in North America.
A Level 2 British certified Squash Coach, Mary was Voted Most Valuable Player for the Drexel Varsity Women’s team for 2016-2017.
“Nicolette has been a big inspiration to me because she grew up playing on the same courts as I did at the Georgetown Club before going on to play Professional squash,” disclosed Mary.
According to the live-wire young lady who intends to continue her studies to become a Physical Therapist, Nicol David, the 36-year-old female Malaysian player who held the world number 1 ranking from 2006 to July 2015, is another one of her squash idols.
“A combination of the selfless support of my parents, the blessing that is our level 4 elite British trained National coach, Carl Ince, and my college Coaches Kelsey Engman and former world number 1 squash player, John White have helped me the most in my career so far,” stated Mary.
Her parents never intended for her to become a squash player. “But I loved it, I was good at it and here I am,” Mary said with a huge smile which lit up her face.
Off the Court the pretty lass was a member of her High School’s Chess, Recorder and Debate Club in addition to passing the Grade 3 Practical in Piano and Grade 2 Theory of Music of The Associated Board of the Royal School of Music.
She was also a member of and performed for the Guyana National School of Dance in 2005 and attended the Burrowes School of Art Summer Programme in 2008 so it was not surprising that for fun and when she has the time, Mary loves to draw.
“You never know what you have until it’s gone. Having been away in the US for four years at college, I realised my favourite dish is… all Guyanese home-cooked cuisine — particularly salt fish and bakes!” Mary said with a good old Guyanese laugh.
The focused and hard working Mary knows exactly where she wants to go and is seeking corporate sponsorship to get there and make Guyana and the Caribbean proud.