PROSQUASH
Vol 13 No. 1 Issue No.
49 January 2009
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As one looks back on 2008 it is with pride about one person more than anyone else. It is Vikram Malhotra. This lad did a unique thing: win all the age group titles that were there for the taking. It shows the consistency and dominance of this fabulous player and arguably the best shot maker in the country over the last decade as a junior. Asked what struck him most as he looked back on his junior career, Vikram, who leaves for the US for higher studies in January, said: 'All my National and International tittles and of course India finishing fourth in the Junior World Championship. No other Indian junior team had achieved that'. Speaking on the team's brilliant performance at the World Juniors Vikram was very complimentary of his team mates, 'It was a superb team effort and each one of us was highly motivated and performed when it mattered'. When quizzed if the National U-19 final was the best and most memorable match of 2008 Vikram replied 'no way the best, but yes, certainly the most memorable'. |
'My wins against Harinderpal Sandhu after being two games down at the Otters open, against Pakistan's Farhan Zaman for the Asian bronze and against Joe Lee of England at the World Juniors stand out as my best this year. On the flip side Vikram also chooses a match with eventual world junior champ Mohamed Shorbagy of Egypt. 'It was neck-and-neck in most of the games. His greater exposure went in his favour''.
Taking us through the Junior National Championship
Vikram said 'I was in very good shape having trained with my coach Amir
Wagih in Egypt for a month before the event. None of my competitors had
beaten me before and there was no way they would do it this time. But I must
confess I had butterflies in my stomach as for one, I wanted to win this one
very badly and two, I was expected to win and this put additional pressure
on me'.
'I took it easy up to the semis when I turned it on against Laxman and was at my attacking best. I gave him no chance whatsoever and finished off in quick time. In the finals against Aditya I had the game plan and strategy worked out. I knew he would play the waiting game, waiting for my mistakes. He expected me to play my natural attacking game. I did just the opposite. I played a rather defensive but fast paced game using the cross to keep the ball deep and moving him from side to side and had him pinned down on both the back corners of the court. Less than ten minutes into the match I was in control and knew I would win the match. Though the first two games were neck to neck in the initial stages, I just needed to press a little bit more to finish off both in a similar fashion. The third game was a mere formality after I took a 10-5 lead.
Fondly called 'Viku' by his Egyptian coach Amir Wagih , Vikram gives full credit to him for his success. 'Coach Amir really motivated me and was in touch every single day of the Nationals. In fact he was the first person I called to thank after my win. My fitness coach Ahmed Youssif, who I first met while training in Egypt was also equally responsible for my success.