Indian players unlikely to play in Asian meet

No Indian player is likely to take part in the Asian Individual squash championship scheduled to be held in Islamabad in the first week of May.

This is clear from the letters written to the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) by the men and women players stating security concerns.

It is understood that Dipika Pallikal, Joshna Chinappa, Anaka Alankamony and Aparajitha Balamurukan had informed the SRFI of their disinterest in taking part looking into the present situation when security was uppermost in their minds.

From the men’s side, top player Saurav Ghosal said that “I will not know about others but I have written in to the SRFI citing security.”

Confirming the developments, Srivatsan Subramaniam, said that the players had informed the Federation about their fears. “SRFI cannot force them to go. We can select the players but ultimately it is the individual decision of each player.

“It is true that Pakistan Squash authorities will leave no stone unturned to ensure safety of the players but there is still room for players’ concerns,” he said, while adding that SRFI had no role to play in this move.

The national coach Cyrus Poncha said in the last decade, Indian players had at least thrice visited Pakistan for various continental championships. “We had never faced any problems on those occasions,” he said, adding that conditions may not be that congenial now.