Abtal

Morocco’s Ines Laklalech on her meteoric rise in professional golf

In this episode of the Abtal podcast, host Reem Abulleil is joined by Moroccan golfer Ines Laklalech, who is on the brink of securing her place at her first Olympic Games this summer.
 
Laklalech has made history as the first Moroccan, North African or Arab woman to win a tournament on the Ladies European Tour, a remarkable achievement she accomplished at the Lacoste Ladies Open in Deauville during her rookie season in 2022.
 
Following this victory, Laklalech secured her card for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), marking another milestone as the first Moroccan, North African or Arab golfer to do so.
 
In this conversation, she shares her Olympic dreams, the story of how she started playing golf and the reasons behind her three-year hiatus from the sport, during which she completed her undergraduate degree.
 
Laklalech also talks about what brought her back to the golf course, her rapid ascent from amateur to professional title winner, and the emotional highs and lows she experiences during nearly every tournament.
 
You can listen to all previous episodes of Abtal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National's YouTube channel.

Egypt's Maha Amer on historic achievements and overcoming toxic environments

In the last episode of the Abtal podcast series, host Reem Abulleil sits down with Egyptian diver Maha Amer as she prepares for her second Olympic Games this summer in Paris.
 
Amer shares her inspiring journey, from making history as the first Egyptian to win a medal in diving at the World Championships to balancing her academic pursuits with her athletic career.
 
At just 25 years old, Amer holds two undergraduate degrees in economics and public health, and has completed two master's degrees in international business and biomedical sciences.
She opens up about the challenges she has faced throughout her diving career, including the toxic environment often created by coaches and the psychological and mental toll it took on her.
 
Amer offers valuable insights into how she overcame these struggles, finding support and comfort in her college teammates, and using her education to help others. She also discusses the positive aspects of diving, her hopes and dreams both in and out of the pool, and her mindset heading into Paris after missing out on Olympic qualification for Tokyo 2020.
 
After this episode, the Abtal podcast comes to an end.
 
All 11 episodes have provided unique insights into the lives of some of the Arab region's top athletes.
 
You can listen to all of the episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcasting platforms, or watch the full interviews on The National's YouTube channel.