The other Saurav

Kolkata boy Saurav Ghosal has put India on the world map of squash playing titans as he continues to inspire youngsters

The glitz and glamour of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has the country in its grips. Cricket crazy India is busy witnessing the drama on the pitches as teams battle for victory. Stepping away from the limelight, a young Kolkatan is creating a stir in the international squash circuit. Saurav Ghosal, the 26 year old from Kolkata is the face of Indian squash and a champion in his own right.

With his hard work and perseverance, Ghosal, ranked number one in India, has earned his spot in the top 20 international rankings- a feat no Indian (male) has achieved till date. This June, Ghosal will confront the giants in the world of squash, in the men’s world team championships in Mulhouse, France.

“The rankings are certainly encouraging, but does not add to the pressure,” Ghosal feels. “I am happy to make it (to the top 20), but this is not the be all and end all of my career. Making it to the top 10 and then the top 5 is more important to me,” he adds. Currently, the rankings have taken the back seat as the world number 19 focuses on the job at hand- the world championships starting from June 9, where he will team up with Harinder Pal Sandhu and Mahesh Mangaonkar.

Indians are taking confident strides into the international stage as players break into the top hundreds. “We are the golden generation of Indian squash,” Ghosal feels. The recent rankings of Indians validate his statement. While Deepika Pallikal is the first Indian woman to earn the 15^th spot, Joshna Chinappa (World Professional Squash Association26) and Anaka Alankamony (WPSA 85) have moved up the ladder. Men are not far behind as Harinder Pal Sandhu (Professional Squash Association 69) and Mahesh Mangaonkar (PSA106) strives to make an impact.

Ghosal grew up in an era when cricket was a religion and cricketers treated like demigods. Though, he took up cricket, it wasn’t the only sport Ghosal was playing. He had already picked up a squash racquet at the age of eight and had made remarkable progress. When he was 13 years old with board exams were around the corner, he was forced to choose between the two games. “That is when I realised I could not play both the games and focus my studies,” Ghosal recollects. He chose squash as he found it more challenging.

By the time he turned 15, Ghosal had made up his mind. He moved from the Calcutta Racquet club- where he had started playing, to the national academy in Chennai. He tasted success in 2002, when he won the junior national championships. His decision to migrate to the United Kingdom turned his career around.

In 2004, Ghosal won the prestigious British Junior Open (Under 19) - a feat no other Indian has been able to emulate till date. Ghosal has bagged five PSA titles and has been equally successful in playing for his country, as he won the individual and team bronze medals in Guangzhou Asian games (2010), a bronze at the Doha Asian games (2006) and an individual silver at the Asian Junior squash championships (2005).

In2007, he was conferred the prestigious Arjuna award. These days, Ghosal lives in Leeds (UK) and trains under Malcolm Willstrop at the Pontrefact Racquet Club. Over the years, Ghosal has earned a reputation for his speed and agility on the court. Cyrus Poncha, the national coach who has trained Ghosal since he was 12, says, “He is one of the quickest players in the world, which gives him good court coverage. He also works really hard on his fitness.” Ghosal also credits his training in the UK for his game. “In England, there is a greater emphasis on the technical aspects like taking the pace off the ball and using the correct technique which makes a complete player,” he explains.

Playing against Amr Shabana, the legend from Egypt was a memorable experience for Ghosal. He recalls playing three matches with the four time world champion, which he lost. “Shabana is like a computer who manages to play the right shots at the right time. Even at 33, he is unbeatable and watching him play is a learning experience,” he adds. He recollects the training sessions with his friend James Willstrop, (the former world champion from the UK, ranked 4^th in the PSA) which taught him a lot.

Ghosal was a strong prospect in the 17^th Asian Games in Islamabad, Pakistan. His hopes were marred when the Indian contingent pulled out of the tournament due to security reasons. Ghosal was aiming for the individual gold- a feat yet to be achieved by any Indian man. For Ghosal, it was also a matter of the conscience. “Although losing an opportunity to play for my country on such a big platform is sad, the mutilated bodies of two soldiers being sent back to the country hurt my conscience,” he explains.

Squash hit headlines recently with the World Squash Federation’s (WSF) bid for induction in the 2020 Olympics. The drive has received support from the sporting fraternity. In addition to tennis stars like Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Kim Clijsters, others are backing the game. Indians are not far behind with Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar joining the cause. Ghosal, who like every other athlete dreams of representing his country at the Olympics, feels that squash has improved with the induction of advanced technologies like the Hawk eye.

The International Olympic Committee’s decision to drop wrestling in the 2020 Olympics has opened up chances for squash, but inflicted a heavy blow to India’s medal prospects. “I do not think it is a good decision,” Ghosal reflects.

Riding high on the recent success squash is getting the much needed visibility. Poncha feels that the recent upsurge is the result of “ten years of systematic training” Ghosal is optimistic about the future. “A lot more kids have taken up squash. Last year, nearly 620 children enrolled for the junior national championships in Mumbai,” he reflects.  “We should have squash courts where kids can play for fun. The government and the federation can set up courts in government schools which will help in creating awareness,” he explains.

Ghosal dismisses the common misconceptions related to the sport. “Many say squash is an expensive game. If you play badminton for an hour, you need at least 5 to 8 shuttles, which cost Rs 100 each. However a squash ball that costs the same last 3 days,” he explains. “A good badminton racquet costs around to Rs 11,000, whereas you can buy a good squash racquet for Rs 5000,” he elucidates.

Ghosal’s success comes as a huge inspiration for youngsters, feel Poncha. “Seeing somebody excel at the highest level gives our juniors a lot of hope and self belief,” Poncha adds. For Harinder Pal Sandhu, Ghosal is a team man. “He brings with him huge experience. Loaded with confidence, he offers valuable inputs between matches and motivates us when we are down,” Sandhu, Ghosal’s colleague and world number 69, adds.

Unlike national cricketers, Ghosal does not live under the constant glare of the media. Not many know about him, but that hardly affects his passion for the game. He is ambitious, passionate and takes pride in what he does. He wants to be the best, and looking at his enviable record, one can safely predict that it is just a matter of time before he achieves his goal.