How did it feel to come back to India ?
This is my third visit. I always like to be here since we are neighbours and people are friendly. 

How's been life after retirement?
Half the year I am in Pakistan, the other half I am abroad playing in exhibitions and invitation tournaments. 

People talk of your rivalry with Jahangir. Has it been really intense ?
On the court he tries to beat me and I try to beat him. Off the court we are friends. We come from the same region play for the same country. There's not much difference between us. 

You beat him quite regularly after that first win in 1987 so which was the best win?
Obviously the first time at the Hong Kong Open since I had proclaimed publicly that I would beat him.

We saw Amir Atlas win the Asian juniors title at Chennai how do you see his future?
He has good talent and at 17 he has age on his side.If he works hard he could be the next World champ from Pakistan.

I saw Maria Toor show promise at the Asian juniors, what about women's squash in Pakistan?
They have begun sending women's team to tournaments. I hope that can take them to Asian level at least.

Pakistan International Airlines' involvement in squash has come down since the days of Nur Khan and so has the squash standard of the country.
Nur Khan was a sportsman to the core. After him we had another MD, Mohammad who encouraged Jahangir and myself. After him things are not the same. But squash will continue to get encouragement.

But is Pakistan squash going in the right direction?
No, it is because the young talent that they have is made to play junior tournaments too long. They should be targeting the PSA circuit around 17-18. I stopped playing junior events after 17. By the time the kids get to the circuit it is too late.

Your coach Fahim Gul put you through the pain barrier tell us about it.
Yes it was painful but there was no go. Fahim remains the best coach I have seen. I have been  telling the Pakistan federation to use his services. I think he is pricey and that's the hitch.

Jahangir wrote a lot of books on the sport, what about you?
In the next two months a book of international standard on my life will come out.

Jahangir is planning an academy in Pakistan what about you?
I have my coaching schemes, I look after the kids and the four players that I brought here. I too have plans. I also want Indian kids to benefit.

Squash fans of Mumbai liked what they saw about World junior champ Ramy Ashour at the Herald Maritime Services  Squash. They found that that he could retrieve as well as the Pakistanis but had that something extra, the incisiveness to win rallies. Ashour says the coaching of his back-up team has made him what he is in the interview. Excerpts.

What was it coming to India for the first time?
It felt good I had heard about this great country and was happy to have come here finally. 

How did you find the conditions?
They were good. I liked the Otters Club, very homely &  friendly.

How did it feel beating six Pakistanis on way to the World junior title?
It felt great. You know their coaches are good. But I followed the instructions of my coaches to the T.

Tell us about the tradition of squash in Egypt.
For forty years now Egypt has been producing world champs regularly. It's the third most popular sport in the country. At junior level Omneya emulated me by winning the world title. 

How's it for a lad playing in the PSA circuit?
You have to be a man to play on the circuit, adapting to conditions in various countries.

What has been your biggest win?
Obviously the PSA title in Athens I jumped form 76 to 62 in the space of a month.

Any near misses?
I was 2-1 and 8-6 up against Graham Ryding, a former top ten player from Canada. But lost the match 3-2, just bad luck.

Who are guiding you?
My coaches plus my brother who hits with me every day monitoring everything I do.

What game you like, rallying or strokeplay?
Depends on the situation. I can play both & have no problems

Email from Australia 

To the Organisers of the Herald Maritime Open,

Just wanted to write to say thank you for your hospitality. I had a fantastic time in Mumbai.

The event you ran, the functions (especially the fashion show), the variety of the Indian Food and the accommodation were all at the top of its class and I felt privileged to be involved. There are so many stories and experiences for me to talk to people about.

Thank you for all of your hard work. It was greatly appreciated.

Kindest Regards,
Paul Davis