INDIA’S LEADING SQUASH
MAGAZINE
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Vol 7 No. 4 Issue No.28 October 2003
ISP adopts Abhishek Pradhan
Coach Chandrakant Pawar with two of his latest wards, Aditya Jatap (left) and Abhishek Pradhan |
A champion is always born, seldom made. This proved true in the case of Abhishek Pradhan, who drew praise from one and all the moment he stepped on to the squash courts, even for the first time, when he was a total novice at the game. The attributes that were noticed were the tremendous power the ten-year-old Abhishek packed into his shots, the manner in which his game improved every time he stepped on to the court and his never-say-die temperament. Within no time, Abhishek was challenging the best in his age group and very soon he had overtaken them to make the under-11 age group his personal domain. His never-say-die attitude was much evident in two tournaments the youngster featured in recently, where, in spite of suffering considerable pain from being hit by his rival's racquets, he went on to win the title. Abhishek's conquests on the squash court did not go unnoticed and his talent was spotted by renowned coach Chandrakant Pawar in the Mid-Day Squash League's 1st Leg in June 2003, after which Abhishek was adopted by the Indian Squash Professionals. Abhishek has been given free membership of The Leela for one whole year and the Indan Squash Professionals will provide him with free coaching at the hands of nine times national champion Chandrakant Pawar. |
Besides the free training, ISP will also provide him with racquets, shoes and financial assistance while traveling for tournaments in the country. Abhishek is the fourth player who has been adopted by the Indian Squash Professionals and The Leela, the previous three being Arif Paul, Deepali Anvekar and Priyanka Yadav.
Arif was given financial sponsorship for training and playing tournaments abroad in 1997 and this was followed up by assistance to Deepali, who was given a three-year membership at The Leela, courtesy Vivek Nair (MD and Vice-Chairman, The Leela) and free coaching by Chandrakant Pawar. Deepali was among the top eight when the ISP took her under their wing and she went on to become the junior National champion (under-19) category.
Priyanka was also among the top eight when she was adopted by the ISP in 1999. She was in the women's team which represented India in Kuala Lumpur in May 2002 and at present she is amongst the top four in the women's category.
Abhishek recently won the Khar Gym Inter-School Tournament when he beat the No 1 seed Tarun Nambiar and followed it up with the title in the All-India Little Masters Squash Championship.
Aditya Jagtap set to dominate under-11 group in state
Aditya Jagtap is set to dominate the under-13 age group squash in India this year. He gave notice when winning the Little Masters title at Willingdon Sports Club.
Just 11, Aditya is a 6th Standard Bombay Scottish School, Powai. He plays squash as well as cricket and chess.
He won the u-13 event in the West Zone Inter-school. In under-11, he had won the CCI Western India title, the and the Poona Open, Wilson Singapore Open Juniors Squash Tournament 2002, Penang International Junior Squash Championship 2002, Air India Grand Finals (2002), the Junior Open Tournament (2002) UAE, the All Star Junior Open Squash Tournament in Malaysia as well as Wilson Junior Open Squash Tournament in Singapore. He also won the Air-India grand Finals Squash Tournament organized by Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra (SRAM).
By a coincidence the under-11 group has become stronger after he left it. The under-13 is not so strong. Aditya's basics are okay and he is consistent. But he will have to play out of his skin to beat the likes of Ramit Tandon and others at national level. This is where inputs come in.
Aditya is lucky that Mr Vivek Nair, MD., The Leela group of Hotels encouraged him and gave him the opportunity to play at The Leela and his talents are being honed by Chandrakant Pawar. Pawar himself was 9 times National Champion.