ANKITA SHARMA
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At times when she is playing her arch-rival, Sachika
Balwani, Ankita Sharma gives the impression of helplessness. But that's
only an impression. Deep down she appears to have the wherewithal to get
the better of her opponent the moment she gets the chance. That's why it's a see-saw between the two in the
events that the two compete in. Introvert, inquisitive and an opportunist,
Ankita's performances saw her win the Raju Chainani award. |
She began playing from the age of seven accompanying
her Super Cop dad Pradeep, who keeps fit playing squash. Later she went to
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to train under the father of Ong Beng Hee. This
fine tuning plus the encouragement of her elder sister and mother took her
to the top levels of the under-11 section.
Swimming, skating and dancing, here other pastimes
have to take a back seat because of squash. She thinks nothing of
traveling 70-8o km to train under Sunil Verma at the Jindal complex.
Here is a list of events played and won by her:
- Mid-day 2nd leg 2003 1st Runner up U-11
- Mid-day 3rd leg 2003 Runner up U-11
- Poona Open 2003 1st Runner up U-11
- Nationals 2003 Runner up U-11
- West Zone Maharashtra Open Runners up U-11
- West Zone Maharashtra Open Runners up U-13
- Natalia (At Chennai) 2003 Winner U-11
- Kuala Lumpur 2004 Runner up U-11
- Penang Milo Open 2004 1st Runner up U-11
- ISP Golden Jubilee 2004 Winner U-11
- Hong Kong Open 2004 Winner U-11
- Juhu Gymkhana Inter School Championship Winner U-13
- Raju Chainani award for most promising player 2003-2004
MAHESH MANGAOKAR
 |
From badminton to squash-it has been a tale of a successful transition for Mahesh Mangaonkar. Mother Anjali would play the shuttle game with him at Club Aquaria. Now she keeps accompanying him to squash events to cheer him up for the under-11 titles. Club Aquaria was also the place where Abhishek Pradhan would play. Mahesh was attracted to the game seeing him. Today the two are competing for most under-11titles in the country with Tarun Nambiar as the third contender. When father Dayanand gave Mahesh a racquet he was barely taller than the racquet. |
Kolkata lad Ramit Tandon beat him in his first tournament, the Maharashtra State Western Zone Squash Championship,2002. A lighter racquet made a difference to his game. Coach Ramesh More, who was training other kids at Club Aquaria also began coaching him. Better fitness regime planned by father Dayanand sent Mahesh even higher. A five-setter against Tarun Nambiar in the Indian Oil Otters Open 2003 threw up possibilities.
He felt confident inwardly when he took the court in the All Maharashtra Mid-day 2nd leg at Otters Club. And sure enough he defeated the top two seeds, Tarun Nambiar and Abhishek Pradhan.
There was no looking back for the fifth standard Don Bosco School,Borivali, lad. For when he set his sights on foreign fields he turned up trumps. He won the Malaysian Open, the Penang Open and the Hong Kong Open. Fine tuning from Vaman Apte, India top ten player of the 80s, played its part.
Mahesh is also adept at cricket, athletics and basketball. But these sports have been shelved for the present as it is squash and nothing else. Because of which awards have come his way: ISP Most promising award, the Motilal Sanghi Best Player Award and most recently the prestigious Raju Chainani award.
Just the impetus needed to do well and emulate Siddharth Suchde, past winner of the Scottish Open, in December this year.
ARIF PAUL
Arif Paul, who was sponsored by ISP and went on the Ivy League to make a name for himself was home but not to roost. He played an exhibition doubles game at the Cricket Club of India during the Western India. PRO SQUASH caught up with Paul who is now working in Germany. Excerpts from the interview.
PROSQUASH: How did squash
help you?
Arif: Squash has been instrumental for me in getting
me university education in
US. It helped me meet many interesting
people, the networking capability is
immense through this sport. I
met people who could guide me
through getting myself located in my job field. In additional it has
helped me develop my personality and given me an opportunity and
exposure to traveling. It is through squash I have been able to achieve my
dreams, which I had when I was playing squash. I has helped me build up my
foundation where I can meet people and move ahead in the right direction.
Squash has been one of the main instruments in my life.
PROSQUASH: Tell us about the high points of your
career?
Arif: I have been playing squash since I was 14 and
played in India for four years. In 1994- I participated in National
Championship u-16 category, and I was
part of the Indian junior team which went to New Zealand for the
first time along with the
Asthana brothers and Rishad
Billimoria. In 1995 I was the
junior runner-up and was part of the men's team which
went to Cairo, Egypt. In 1996
I captained the Indian junior team to Cairo, Egypt. I was second in
the French Junior Open and fifth
in German Junior Open.
PROSQUASH: What's your view about the ISP activities?
Arif: Indian Squash Professionals played a major role in my life, as I was the first to be
adopted by Mahendra Agarwal and Subhash Wali. These two gentlemen along with few squash members of Otters
Club, helped me with financial backup so I could travel all around
the world for international tournaments. They were the biggest helping
hand for me, which gave me support and exposure to international squash.
And over the years this interest has increased tremendously and helped
numerous children in grooming themselves into fantastic squash players.
The ISP website gives me excess to gain all the information about squash
happenings in India. I am happy to see that ISP has taken a new role as a
father figure for squash in Bombay. The visit to recent CCI tournament
makes me proud to see how the young players have groomed themselves into
an exceptionally good players.
PROSQUASH: What's your message to the ISP?
Arif : Thanks to the backup
from Mahendra Agarwal the
ISP has found
talent in the young people from middle and lower class families.
Squash was mainly an upper
class and upper middle class sport. Talent
was there but there was no exposure in
my time. But today squash is a common sport like any other sport
like football or cricket. In my opinion ISP has opened numerous doors of
opportunities for younger generation. Today the younger people must grab
this opportunity and make their dreams come true just as
I have done.