Squash is her passion

Demi Galanakis (15) has the mental strength to go all the way to the top of women’s squash in South Africa and, with the help of her coach and friend, she will probably do that.

Galanakis has only played the sport for four years and already the Gauteng U16 girls player is making waves in the country – and she doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

“My goal for the next season is to rank first in Gauteng in my age group and make the top 10 in the country,” the Weltevreden Park resident said, adding that her long-term goal is to play for South Africa in the 2022 Commonwealth Games when she will be 21.

Galanakis is a natural athlete and competes in tennis, hockey, athletics, cross country and squash at Northcliff High School. She made up her mind to play squash when she grew tired of merely watching her older sister,

Chanelle play, and decided to pick up a racket herself.

She started the sport at Cliffview Primary School at the age of 11 and immediately sought extra lessons from experienced coach Cindy Purchase.

The two have been inseparable since.

“I guess it’s only been four years but it has felt like forever,” Purchase said about their coaching relationship which developed into a friendship.

“We have been together for her whole squash career.”

The pair worked on her skills and, in Galanakis’ first year, she already started playing for Gauteng. She has represented the province at inter-provincial tournaments every year since.

According to Purchase, Galanakis’ determination and mental strength set her apart. “She can go right to the top. She has potential, a great mindset, dedication and all the attributes a top player has.”

Purchase added that she did not need to always go to tournaments with Galanakis, as the player had the ability to pick herself up between games and motivate herself to play better. “She has also stayed in her simplistic plan, which has worked for her. She has not listened to everyone’s advice but knows, herself, what to do. We have a similar mindset, which has helped.”

Galanakis described Purchase as someone who ‘breathes life into squash for me’, and said her coach has always motivated her to do well.