Sourav Ghosal, at World No. 15, is the highest-ranked Indian on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) list. He is now looking ahead to breaking into the top 10 and views the challenge as exciting. “It gets harder as you go along. It is also exciting because you are playing the top names a lot more. I am enjoying it right now,” he said.
The nine-time National men’s champion added: “I want to make the top 10 as soon as I can. There are a lot of players ahead and many behind who are very good, so I can make it if I keep improving.”
As a World No. 15, Ghosal is in a position to pick and choose tournaments in India. He opted to enter the Maharashtra State Open squash at the Bombay Gymkhana.
“I play these events if I am around. The only event I prioritise in India is the Nationals. Regarding other tournaments, it is basically down to how I am feeling and if it does not hamper my participation in PSA competitions.”
Explaining his stand on prioritising the Nationals, he said: “As a kid, I used to watch Ritwik (Bhattacharya) and Manish (Chotrani) play the Nationals, and saw how good they were. I used to tell myself that this is where I need to reach to become a National champion.”
Asked his view on the furore over Sania Nehwal’s decision to withdraw from the current Nationals in New Delhi, Ghosal quipped: “Saina is India’s best sportsperson right now, reaching World No. 2 at one point. I am sure she has a valid reason.”
Ghosal aims to win medals in both the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
“I want to do well at the CWG and Asian Games. The CWG is in July and the final PSA event is in May. We have two months to prepare. The Asian Games is in September, so I hope to play a couple of PSA competitions in between. The idea is to stay fresh in a busy year for squash.”
