30 years ago, Finland was one of the world’s leading squash countries Sami Elopuro and Tuula Myllyniemi under. During the 1990s recession, popularity fell and “kössi” sank into a marginal sport.
Finland currently has one player on the world tour. His name is Emilia Soini.
27-year-old Soini is in the top 50 in the world ranking. No Finn has beaten him in ten years.
– I am quite alone at the moment when it comes to international squash. No other Finn is at the same level as me, says Soini.
Soini is a tough player who will do anything to win. This can create tension. Aggressive playing style and constant psych attacks make him arrogant in the eyes of many.
Check out the Sportliv mini-doctor Emilia Soini:
– You often make this same mistake. Instead of hitting a high ball to buy time, you play yourself out and give me an advantage.
Emilia Soini instructs her training partner during the training of the Finnish national team in Tali, Helsinki. This week, the team EC competitions will be played in the same premises.
Soini says his instructions directly and with the biggest gestures. He is a colorful person who is not afraid to express his opinions.
He hits the ball against the wall and puts his training partner in the same situation as a moment ago. This time the ball returns high.
– Good! Do you notice the difference? Soini exclaims.
When Emilia Soini moved to the United States at the age of 17, she was number one in both Finland and Europe. The interest of American schools in the Finnish promise was great, and he saw an opportunity to fully invest in the sport.
– If I had stayed in Finland, I would not have had the necessary financial conditions to develop.
Soini transferred to Rhode Island high school on the east coast of the United States. He was able to play the US Junior Open, which opened up the opportunity to get a license for the adult professional tour PSA.
Soini quickly progressed to the top 100 in the world ranking. In order to get a foot in the door to the money elite tournaments, a place in the top 50 is practically required. That became the next, difficult goal.
– I did everything I could to climb the rankings, but it turned out to be an almost impossible task.
Smaller tournament victories and final places did not bring enough ranking points. You could only get to the biggest competitions if several top players canceled their participation at the last minute. The preparation time was short, the results poor.
– The situation seemed quite hopeless. Every time a new ranking list was announced, I was disappointed.
In the end, the turn came in a surprising way in connection with the corona pandemic.
Return to Finland is a turning point
After Corona struck, Soini decided to move back to Finland. When competitive sports came back to life after the hiatus, returning home proved to be a significant advantage for Soini’s career.
When several opponents couldn’t make it to the races due to travel restrictions, a spot was found for Soin – and he used it. The points went up, the ranking went up and he finally made it to the top-50. At the same time, he earned a full right to participate in the world tour.
– The system is quite unfair. It’s really hard to get into the top 50, but once you’re there, it’s hard to get out.
Moving to Finland brought a new direction to my career. At the same time, it also brought with it new challenges.
During his years abroad, Soini learned what it takes to succeed at the top. The attitude is rude.
– Thinking about others than yourself is pointless. Being on the field to win, not to make friends.
Professional life can be tough. As the only Finn with full playing rights, Soini travels alone. He wins alone and loses alone.
– It requires a tough psyche, but you have to have thick skin to succeed. If confidence is lost, the match is lost.
“It’s okay to be a dick”
In Finland, Emilia Soini has faced a new problem. Opponents don’t approach the sport the same way he does. For Soin, squash is a profession, not a hobby.
It can be difficult for others to understand his attitude on the field. The gameplay is also annoying.
– I don’t play to have fun. I always play to win. It doesn’t matter if it’s a match or training. I don’t come there to hang out.
He plays cheekily, is loud and impulsive. All to shake the opponent’s concentration and gain a mental upper hand.
– It’s mostly about a mental game. I think it’s okay to be a dick, as long as you stick to the rules. Winning is the only thing that matters.
For many, Soini is a red garment. He also knows this himself.
– Many take what happens on the field personally, and do not understand that I am there doing my job.
The role of an unpleasant opponent requires a lot of energy and is mentally tough. Soini has often questioned his actions and felt guilty.
In order to ease his feelings on the field, he writes three words on his hand before every match. So that he remembers why he behaves the way he does.
The words are Champions are assholes.
– The text helps ease the feeling of guilt and reminds me that my behavior is ok, as long as it happens on the field and everything starts from the fact that I want to win.
He doesn’t feel like a hated person in the sport, but more like an unpleasant opponent that no one wants to face. The hardest thing for him is when others don’t see the other side of him, outside of squash.
– Those who create their opinion of me only based on what I’m like as a player, probably don’t want to be my friends.
The squash players have changed to boots, a big dirty jacket and at least as shabby pants.
Soini enters the doors of the stable in Espoo and immediately gets a hug from the guy brushing the horse. The talk quickly turns to both of their favorite horses.
Soin’s body language is completely different from the one on the squash court. He walks with calm movements, patting the horses and talking to them in a friendly voice.
After returning to Finland, Soini has started riding as a counterweight to squash. He has encountered a whole new world. He came to the stable without anyone knowing who he was.
– It’s been refreshing and nice when no one had any prejudices, but everyone created an image of me based on what I’m like in reality. Here I can really be myself.
“Winners always have friends”
The European squash team championships will be played in Helsinki on the 26th–29th. April and the association has set a goal of a medal.
For Soin, home competitions do not mean much in terms of his personal career, but they offer a different environment. Touring the pro tour alone, this is a rare opportunity to play with and support a team.
– We have a good gang together. The opposition will be tough, but hopefully we will be able to consolidate our place at the highest EC level.
Soini is happy to share his know-how with his more inexperienced teammates. In the national team, most people know the difference between competition and everyday Emilia. But foreign opponents get to feel Finnish dick in their skins.
He steps onto the field once again with the text “Champions are assholes” written on his palm, and it is not assumed that he will make new friends with his behavior.
But, as he adds:
– Winners always have friends.