| INDIA'S
LEADING SQUASH MAGAZINE Website : www.ispsquash.com Email : squashindia@yahoo.com DIRECTORS: MAHENDRA AGARWAL/ NARENDRA GOUR (I.R.S.) CHANDRAKANT PAWAR. OUR HONORARY MEMBERS: NAVNEET SONI(I.R.S.) / BHARAT BHUSHAN (I.R.S.) HONOURED PATRONS: VIVEK NAIR (VICE CHAIRMAN & MD THE LEELA) / SAJJAN JINDAL VICE CHAIRMAN & M.D. JINDAL GROUP OF COMPANIES) ADVISOR : P.K.VIJAYAKAR, SHIV MALHOTRA |
|
MISS WORLD LIGHTS UP SQUASH CAMP
 From Right : Ashish Gupta (PRO SRAM), Shiv Malhotra (V.P. Khar Gymkhana), Noreena (ISP), Mahendra Agarwal (Dir. ISP), Mrs. Neeru Mehta (MTC, Sponsor), Priyam Raskapurwala (Winner- Boys), Priyanka Chopra (Miss.World 2000), Ankita Sharma (Winner-Girls), Mrs. Shikriti Sharma (Sponsor) |
A Miss World
at squash! The kids couldn't believe it. It happened at the 15-day free
coaching camp organised by the Indian Squash Professionals (ISP) under the
aegis of Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra (SRAM). Miss World
2000 Priyanka Chopra gave away the prizes at the camp. The camp was held
for beginners with a view to broadbasing the sport in Mumbai. And acording to the head coach, Chandrakant Pawar,
it was a smashing success. "We got more entries than we
expected and since we wanted to give individual attention to all we had to
select the 75 players systematically," said Pawar. He and his eight
assistants worked overtime to mould the talented
bunch.
"Out of 75 children, there are at least 10-15 children who can make it big if they work hard. All they need is the right kind of coaching and dedication on their part," he said. But the most surprising aspect of the camp was the keen interest shown by parents. |
"Often parents would come and tell me that they never thought their child could play so well. They would also seek guidance for improving their game. I have never seen such enthusiasm before this camp," Pawar said.
It was a marvel watching boys ignorant about squash hitting winners in a few days time and claiming titles. One such was Priyam Raskapurwala who won the boys title and Ankita Sharma who won the Girls title. The Arya Vidya Mandir lads aims to make it big in the sport. Hopefully Pawar, ISP patron Mahendra Agarwal and Mrs. Swikriti Sharma will help them fulfil that dream.FROM THE DESK OF MAHENDRA AGARWAL
PRO-SQUASH COMPLETES 25 ISSUES
A Silver Jubilee is always an occasion to savour.
When we began it was with the intention of bringing a professional outlook
to the sport which was grossly amateur in India. We began highlighting the
important aspects of the game, not the least the coaching one. In this
regard, we began raising the status of the professionals, though our
columns. The Indian Squash Professionals was already doing a lot for them
by having camps for them, tournaments exclusively for them and Pro-Squash
began highlighting these events, thus having a two-pronged programme for
their upliftment.
The results are there for all to see, at least three professionals were brave enough to try the Level 1 course of the Asian Squash Federation and did well. The pros are already making to the quarter-finals of Open events. And Chennai pro Balamurugan did his community proud by being picked for the India men's team for the Asians.
This is inspirational stuff and Pro-Squash will continue to strive to inspire these players to surpass themselves so that they play on a level field, which was denied to an earlier generation.
Pro-Squash highlighted the work of Rehmat Khan, the famous coach of Jahangir Khan. Thanks to such promotion Rehmat found a niche in the Mumbai squash scene. It was a pity he didn't give back enough by training local professionals but then not everyone is blessed to be magnanimous.
Pro-Squash then moved out of the city precincts highlighting activities of other state units, their tournaments and their promotional work. Today we have come to a stage where a full page could be devoted to such activities, which were overlooked by the National media. These State units, and those from the Army have been our supporters and we are grateful for their involvement which will make the game more broadbased than it has ever been. The Indian Squash Professionals has done all this without any expectations. The media has recognised its efforts. Now it only remains for the Parent Body and the International Federations to acknowledge its contributions so that by the time the Golden Jubilee Issue goes to print, the sport of squash would have gone several notches higher, rivalling other sports for attention.
Mahendra Agarwal