India’s top men’s squash player and World No. 21 Saurav Ghosal said the country can contribute a lot in the sport if it focuses on developing the infrastructure.
Ghosal, who honed his skills at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai, said the country needs more such centres of excellence where the players can get world-class training.
Ghosal, who was in the city on Friday to participate in a Professional Squash Association promotional event, played an exhibition match against Frenchman and World No.2 Gregory Gaultier at one of the oldest squash venues in the world — the 222-year-old Calcutta Racket Club.
“If we can replicate the fantastic squash infrastructure of the academy in Chennai in other parts of the country, then it will be a big boost for the sport,” Ghosal said.
“We have a fantastic facility in Delhi that came up during the last Commonwealth Games. But unfortunately it is lying unused and that is not helping the sport,” he added.
More PSA eventsGhosal said PSA circuit events need to be held regularly in the country and hoped that the Squash Rackets Federation of India will soon find a new sponsor to patronise the PSA events.
Ghosal, who has seen his world ranking fall a few places in the last few months after he won the team gold and individual silver in the Incheon Asian Games, said he was trying to work his way back into the top 20 and also break into the top 10 by beating a few players in the top five.
The squash ace also said that he wished the sport will make it to 2020 Olympics despite being rejected three times.
“I am sure the international body is able to dress it up better and tick the right boxes for the Olympic committee to add Squash in the Games,” he said.
