Press Reports (1999)

Josh Mein

JOSHNA Chinappa's exclusion from the selection trials of the World junior Squash Open in Belgium was more of a fillip than a heartbreaker. While the team Singapore Junior Open but lost in the final. She is not too bitter about her ouster from the trials and the Singapore defeat is behind her. Now she is looking to go the distance in the ongoing Otters Club All India Open where she will participate in the under-15 and under-19 categories. One of the brightest young prospects in Indian squash, the junior India number tow plans to do justice to her talent. "I am trying to concentrate more on under-19," She said. Last year Joshna was in her element. Apart from towering over others in the Asian under-13 circuit, she also claimed the under-14 National title. Chinappa became the first Indian to win the under-13 title in Scotland. Earlier this year she defeated Britian's No 1 Danielle Bolt to reach the semi-finals of the British Open. Her record-breaking string continued when along with Pia Abraham she won the bronze at the Asian Juniors. "I wanted her to play competitive squash and urged her to concentrate more on under-15 and under-17 events," her father Anjan said. She took just three months to prove his point. She defeated the Malaysian No 1 Tang Ooi Ean to win the Milo-Dunlop Open in Kuala Lumpur. Chinappa Sr vouched for his daughter's attitude towards the game. "She has a strong mind. While the trials were being conducted on one court, she was practicing with me on another. She was not disturbed at all," said Arjan. Arjan will now seek permission from the SRFI to send Joshna to the Australian Junior Open at Brisbane in September. But for now, glory at the Otters Club beckons.

Small Wonder Eyes Boy Zone

ALISHA MASHRUWALA had little time to savour her success this Sunday at Hong Kong a win that confirmed her status as the world's reigning princess of under-11 squash. Alisha was back at school yesterday, and her immediate task was to get the pile of incomplete homework out of her way. There were doubts if she would find time for a press interview, but fortunately, the teachers at Bombay International School were indulgent with the sixth class students today. 

The little champion ordered for a chicken club sandwich at the coffee shop, and CCI regulars stopped by and congratulated her. Father Tushar said, "Because of her performances, others are now willing to play with her. Earlier I used to be her only sparring partner." Alisha's win at Hong Kong last year, in her first ever under-10 tournament, prompted Tushar and mother Jyoti to ask India coach Cyrus Poncha to oversee her progress. "This year she worked much harder," Tushar said, Hong kong's Leung Shin Nga would vouch for that, She lost to Alisha in the final at Hong Kong on both occasions and must be sticking pins into a voodoo doll bearing a distinct likeness to Alisha'a pretty frame. 

"Forget the girls, I could have won the boys' final too. I used to beat Marcus Phua, who won the boys under-11 title, 3-0 in practice matches," said Alisha between mouthfuls of sandwich. She speaks sensibly, without exaggeration, with a reassurance that could only have come from the three title wins. Her words could ring true at the city's first open under-11 tournament, at Otters Club next month. As there is no separate event for girls, Alisha will contest with the boys. Mumbai lads, be warned.

Alisha Does It Again

22-7-1999: Times of India 

She went, She concentrated, She conquered. Being the top seed in the tournament she won unseeded last year was no great reason to celebrate for Alisha Mashruwalla. In fact, before she left for Hong Kong to participate in the Fuji Film Hong Junior Squash Open, Alisha stated that she would forget about her top billing and only concentrate on her game. Concentrate she did and in style, to win the trophy for the second successive year. Last year she won in the U-10 category. 

This year she triumphed in the U-11 category. Being the top seed, she received a first round bye and in the next two games she hardly received any competition as she steam rolled over her opponents were not up to the mark. The final against Leung Shin Nga, however, tested her nerves. She won 9-2, 10-8, 7-9, 9-7. Asked to comment about her best game she says, "In the second game of the final I was down 2-8 but rallied to win 10-8." How did she let her concentration slip by? "She also played well," 

Alisha says giving due credit to her opponent. And what is the lesson she has learnt from this tournament? "I have realised that in the U-11 category, it is wise to play at the back court and hit length balls. It is difficult to pick up and thus the rallies get shorter and you save up a lot of energy." So will she return to Hong Kong next year as well? "I don't know," is all that she says. 

Maybe, a willing sponsor may change her tune to 'Yes' as of now, Alisha will participate in the Nationals in Delhi somewhere in October. This will be followed by a trip to Sri Lanka to participate in the Sri Lankan Open. Then it is to the Indian Open in "Chennai in November. Alisha has a word of thanks for her parents, coach Cyrus Poncha and also Vaman Apte, a member of the CCI, a good squash player himself, with whom she plays with to sharpen her skills.

India's U-19 champ to Represent Hongkong 

Akansha, who is based in Hong Komg and is part of their junior programme, was allowed to play in the last junior nationals where she defeated Mumbai based Deepali Anvekar in the final to lift the under-19 girls crown.

The decision of Akansha to turn out for Hong kong seems to have caught the Squash Racquets Federation of India (SRFI) on the wrong foot.

The Indian squad for the championship, commencing on July 25, includes Supriya Balsekar, Pia Abraham, Deepali Anvekar and Viadehi Reddy with Cyrus Poncha as the coach.

UNI adds: Despite full knowledge of the fact that Hazari was part of Hong Kong, the SRFI has permitted her to play in last year's nationals in which she beat Deepali Anvekar.

The move has shown SRFI 's inconsistent policy. Some years ago they announced that Rishad Billimoria and Adrian Ezra, junior and senior champions respectively, were not eligible for India as they were British passport holders.

However, now two of the juniors, Pia Abraham and Supriya Balsekar, scheduled to play for India in the Belgium championship, have British passports.

SRFI claims that the government allows India-born players upto the junior level to play in the nationals even if they have foreign passports.

GIVING IT HIS BEST  SHOT

Junaid Nathani is far the best squash players in his age group in the country. Lapses in his focus on the game have seen him lose the odd tournament, but  by and large, the consensus is that he is one of the best player s to come out of Mumbai in a long time, with the  potential to attain international standards.

Two national titles in two years, in the under-16 last year at Delhi, and in the under-17 last month at Indore support his claim as one of the best players in the country and several all-India  titles add luster  to a fledgling but already promising supporting career.

At 16 years and ten months, Nathani is already a strapping lad, who is also one of the hardest hitters of the ball today . The three-and-a-half years since he took to the game have seen him improve in leaps and bounds, but he needs to look at avenues that provide specialized training if he hopes to make it big in squash.

Currently studying in FYJC at H.R. College, Nathani plans to make the most of it this year, before concentrating on his studies in the next. He is confident of making Indian junior teams for the Asian and World Champions and for this is also thankful to his principal, Mr. Adjwani who has always supported him in terms of granting leave from college and grace time for practice.

Nathani first begun playing tennis, but switched to squash because he  found tennis to slow to his liking. He began training under  Cyrus Poncha and continues to do so. Nathani  also had a stint  under Rehmat  Khan, which he feels helped  him raise his fitness levels.  Nathani needs just to go places with his game, but is undecided yet about the future course of action.

Nathani takes great pride in the fact that for two years he has only lost one tournament  in his age group. He enjoys  a great rivalry with Delhi’s  Neerav  Tomar and his only loss in the under –17 came against this player in the WMI Little masters in September.

World greats likes Jehangir Khan, Jehangir Khan, Rodney Eyles and Peter  Nicol are all Nathani’s idols, and he aspires to be one among them sometimes in the  future, but also on the flip side is the question  of whether a player can make a career out of squash in India. Nathani does not think so, hence hopes to get  a scholarship abroad and further his game.

Among the local circuit, Nathani is Known for his positive temperament, focus  on the game  and his desire to get better. Coupled with all this is the willingness to learn and the ability to take criticism for what it’s worth, which  endears him to squash fan and aficionado alike. He also enjoys a good fan following among his juniors.

Says Waman Apte, former president of the Squash Rackets Association of Maharashtra,

“ Junaid is the unofficial  pin-up boy of squash in Mumbai. “ Coach Cyrus  Poncha too has great faith in his  ward’s talent  says, “ He is the hardest hitter of the ball and also has a wide array of winners. He just has to get them all working together.”

This is easier said than done and no one  knows it better than this talented youngster. With support from his family and friends, he is more than willing to give it his best shot. How  far he makes it in this grueling sport is anyone’s guess.

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