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BACK ISSUES | OCTOBER 2009 | CURRENT ISSUE
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OCTOBER 2009
Few children would take to playing squash at a young age like you. Why squash?
I took to squash when I was just past 9. I had taken to tennis a year earlier. Probably it was fate that brought me to the game of squash. A friend of mine, Praneeta, wanted to join a summer squash coaching camp at ICL Squash Academy (now known as Indian Squash Academy) but was shy going alone. She wanted me to join her. After convincing my mom (because I was still playing tennis) we set out to the academy where we held rackets similar to tennis rackets, but thinner and lighter, and played inside four walls and air-conditioned courts. Yes, this lured me and I continued to go for a few more days. I soon began beating boys of my age and even those elder to me. This gave me the much needed confidence and I felt that this game was mine and I could do well if I persevered enough. The first few months saw me training under Cyrus Poncha who groomed me in my formative years and then came Hari Om Tripati who made me a National Champion at the age of 11. This was the turning point and I never looked back.
Why did you not follow your mother’s path, she being an ace cricket player?
My mother never forced cricket on me. In fact, for me cricket was not the glamorous kind as it meant standing in the sun and being one amongst 11. When I knew I had an individual sport on hand I stuck to it.
Your guiding force…
My parents and grandparents have been a source of inspiration all my life. All of them have been excellent sportspersons and excelled in their own fields.
The most glorious achievement of your career…
The most glorious achievement was the win at the British Open (like the Junior Wimbledon in tennis) in 2008 when I was only 16. I was seeded 5 to 8 in that tournament, but I fought my way into the finals and went on to beat the Egyptian who was seeded 1 and was seeking her 5th title. Though I have won many other tournaments including Asian gold and the SAF games, Silver medal, the British Open 2008 is an unforgettable moment.
Preparing for games and tournaments…
Preparing for a game and specific tournaments is quite a secret and wouldn’t like to let it out.
Your coaches…
I work with an Egyptian coach, Capt Amir Wagih. He was the Egyptian National Coach. He has produced players like Amr Shabana, Karim Darwish the former and present No. 1 respectively. Capt Amir Wagih is not only a coach, but a friend, philosopher and a guide. I have been with him for the last three years and he has worked wonders in me. I also have an Egyptian fitness coach Mohamed Dafrawy, who is a doctor in squash fitness. He has worked on my speed and flexibility, making my game on court so much simpler. The Egyptians have a different attitude to the game — they eat, drink and sleep squash and they have a way of making you do it too.
Joshna Chinappa says you need to move faster on court. Are you working on improving in this direction?
Yes, I was a little slow when I started playing the game, but now I have greatly improved on my speed. Of course I don’t run like a mad hatter! I conserve my energy and use my height to endure an hour or sometimes an hour and a half ordeal on court.
You seem to be winning lesser tournaments as you are moving gradually from the girls’ section to the ladies’ section. What is holding you back?
Winning tournaments in the professional circuit is not important to me till I am 19. I have won a lot of tournaments in the junior circuit. Ultimately it’s the training and the maturity as a player that keeps you steady in the professional circuit. Hence, for the past 2 years I have been concentrating on my training and playing only a few WISPA tournaments to get me used to losing and yet to remain calm, focused and mentally strong. Between 2006 and 2008 I had not lost any junior tournaments and I could see lethargy creeping in. So, in consultation with my coach and parents I made the hard decision of leaving the junior circuit and entered the harder domain of WISPA. The latest (September) ranking puts me at No. 2 in the world in the WISPA Rising Star ranking under 19, and 54 in the WISPA overall rankings.
