Three Indians; Raaj Mohan, Sathwik Rai and Srikaran Kandadai bagged the gold and silver medals at the World Racquetball championship held at Seoul recently.
Though Argentina had forfeited the final, gifting the gold to India on a platter in the White division of the championship, the maiden appearance for a team from India in a sport like racquetball is praiseworthy.
Sathwik Rai, a Bangalorean by birth and based in Philadelphia was a state, regional and university level swimmer from 1990 to 2000.
He also bagged a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle relay effort at the Asian group swimming championship in Singapore in 1991.
Sathwik took up the sport as part of his cardio training routine initially and worked his way through the skill levels under renowned coach Jim Winterton, eventually winning a clutch of tournaments in the US. “It is a great sport to be involved with and the performance of the Indian team in the World championships has been very positive,” says the captain of the team.
Raaj Mohan, who was the toast of the Indian team at the Seoul World championship, not only won the silver in the doubles category with Srikaran, but was also among the quarter finalists in the Red divisions . Raaj, a 32-year-old Chennaiite and a software engineer based in Albuqerque, New Mexico is an Open level player.
“Coming from a tennis background, I had to make some adjustments. I have tried my hand at tennis, handball, badminton, squash and swimming. I won several tournaments in my skill and age category and was undefeated in doubles for a whole season in racquetball,” says Raaj.
A certified AMPRO (American Professional Racquetball Organisation) and IPRO (International Professional Racquetball Organisation) coach Raaj wishes to train and nurture budding Indian talents in the sport at the grassroot level.
For Srikaran, based in Atlanta, success in the sport was quick. “Within a year of taking to the sport, I won the B level and the A level skill category at the various US National level championships.” At age 30, and for someone who has been involved in the sport professionally since 2006, he has won many a singles titles and contends that the experience at the World championship in Seoul was amazing.
“I wish to come back to India and train youngsters in the sport.” he says.
The trio plan to set up academies and coaching centres in India and hope to receive support and encouragement from all quarters.
