Bikram comes of Edge

Uberoi for whom excellence in the game of squash came so easily, that till a year ago he did not even feel the need to stretch before a match, has suddenly realised that talent needs to be supplemented by a regiment of hard work. This mental awakening of sorts was brought upon by another realisation. Recent results have brought him face to face with the talent within him, which if not capitalised on in the near future will fade away like just another realisation. Recent results have brought him face to face with the talent within him, which if not capitalised on in the near future will fade away like just another bit of bluster. "Earlier, I was playing squash just for fun, and life was one big party. It's different now," says Uberoi.

Uberoi's most recent conquest has been the Asian Squash Federation's grand finals title at Chennai, where he defeated Hong-Kong's No.1 player. Yan Kaho 9-5,9-2,9-0 in the final. In the semifinals he defeated Malaysia's Macrus Yeap 9-7,9-4,9-0. These two players rank among the top four in Asia, and straight game wins over them have suddenly opened up new vistas for this 18-year-old, who vows to "accomplish what no other Indian has done before."

To do that, however, Uberoi is first looking for help from certain quarters. He hopes to attract a sponsor, now that is the Asian champion, and then employ the services of a coach who can help him make the transition from the Asian to the world stage.

"A sponsor will not only take care of my financial needs, but also act as a motivator," says Uberoi who readily admits that self-motivation is not his forte. "My mother has been playing the role of motivator now, but I cannot hope to have her with me all the time hence I need professional motivation," adds the straight-talking teenager, whose matter-of-fact way of looking at things can be easily mistaken for arrogance.  As an example, Uberoi then states the case of the players who had come to Chennai to play the Asia finals.  "I was buying shoes and this player from Malaysia just could no believe it, because they get their entire year's supply of sporting gear from their sponsors.  In fact, they make a living out of the game even at this age," he says.  It's no wonder then that Uberoi feels he would have already  made it big if he were born abroad.  Uberoi's immediate aim is to make the indian men's team and play in the Asian championships at Hong Kong.  "I have been beating players in the men's and am confident of making the team," says Uberoi.  He has played in two men's tournaments, the nationals and the DDA in Delhi, losing to Ritwik Bhattacharya on both occasions.  "It is only fitness that separates me from Ritwik, and I'm working hard at it," says Uberoi.  Before that Uberoi gets to play the world juniors in Italy and he is raring to go, mainly because he now has a taste of what it feels like to play for one's country.  "The support I received at Chennai really motivated me to do well.  Complete strangers would approach me on the street or in a restaurant and wish me well.  It's a great feeling," says Uberoi.  Uberoi's talent has been on show for a couple of years now, but his temperament has always been suspect.  He has an entirely new perspective to the game, better late than never, and one can certainly expect this talented teenager to make inroads into the professional circle of squash.          

Siddharth Suchde's Scottist Sweep

THE Mumbai lad has done it again.  After winning the under-14, Siddhath Suchde went on to win the under-17 Scottish Squash Open.  The 14-year-old was unbeatable in the under-14 category for a long time an Mumbai as a Cathedral & John Connon student.  Suchde, who is using Colinton Castle as a training base, has already started showing his mettle this season with a victory in last moth's West of Scotland Junior Open.  The Mumbai youngster has just started a four-year squash scholarship at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh and his target is to make the Indian team for next season's World Juniors.  Unlike almost every other promising squash junior from Mumbai  who have used the sport only as a passport for higher studies abroad, Suchde has set his sights on a professional squash career.  But, over the next few seasons he will be a welcome addition to the Scottish scene. 

7-2-2000: Mid-day                                                                             By Raju Chainani

Jonathan Power has not enjoyed a structured or serene ascendancy to the summit of  squash. He has played   professionally since the age of 16 and managed until recently to be very much the mishandler of his own destiny.

Despite his unpredictable temperament, Power remains the most charismatic player in the game Canadian journalist Chrisitian Endemann suggests. "He is a less intense and hermitic vision version of tennis  great Pancho Gonzales but with a presence    almost arresting. A more accurate analog might be drawn with John McEnroe-th-phenomenal natural ability, quick hands and periodic petulance.

The Candian's personal lifestyle over the years could also kindly be described as less than Spartan. A leading Canadian magazine related an incident at the 1993 World Team Championships at Karachi where power arrived late and heavy-lidded. As he bent over, a cigarette packet fell out of one tracksuit pocket and a lighter out of other. A few feet away world champion Jansher Khan looked on incredulously.

Marriage to his long-time girl-friend Sita Schumann last year has changed things. He is more relaxed and has been spending quality time with her.

Power is as avid golfer, a big hockey fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, enjoys listening to music and sampling fine cuisines.

His roller - coaster record in major tournaments had the pundits suggesting that he would not be the long-distance man. His personal coach Mike Way once earnestly implored Power to train more diligently. The response was,"

Me train? It wouldn't be fun anymore!!."

In December 1998, he became the first Canadian to win the world open world number one. Everybody knew that they are watching a genius. Power's speed and front court game enabled him to have a choice of six or seven shots whilst many others only had two.

At six feet and 175 pounds, he is an imposing figure on a court traditionally dominated by smaller men. Already there are comparisons with some of the best stroke players the world has seen like Qamar Zaman and Rodney Martin.

But, Jonathon Power has sought a singular identity that defies likening. The Tournament of Champions victor is, simply, a nonpareil.

Indian's Squashing Success In USA

INDIAN squash players are making a huge impact in the top universities here.  At Harvard, former national junior champion Shondip Ghosh (Mumbai) and Deepak Abraham (Chennai) are leading the way.  They have Satinder Bajwa as coach.  The pony-tailed Sardar recently took over this plum job.  Last year, it was the lesser known Trinity who swept the boards at the Inter-University event.  They had the services of Mumbai's quarter of Akhil Behl, Rohan Bhappu, Rohan and Gaurav Juneja.  Interestingly, all have had training with Bajwa.  

Harvard have ruled in days gone by when the likes of Darius and Farokh Pandole, Adrian and Daniel Ezra have been part of their squad.  Mumbai's Parth Doshi is being eyed by Harvard.  He is presently at Williams, another Ivy League college, Doshi's teammate from Otters Club, Abhijit Kukreja has found his way to Dennison.  The girls are also making their mark with Aisha Shah and Chennai's Anjali Ponni earning their laurels.  "Our players have done well and there is a constant demand from the top coaches.  

In August 1998, when the world juniors was held in Princeton, many of the university coaches made the effort to see the matches.  They often exchange ideas with players and offers are made," said Anil Nayar, India's offers are made," said Anil Nayar, India's eight times national champion who is currently based in New York.  Squash, the poor cousin in racket sports, is on the up in the land of opportunity.  Many Indian players have lucrative scholarships.  The rewards for winning speak for themselves.  Trinity sent their players to Amsterdam earlier this month.  There was plenty of high quality squash along with the opportunity to pick a few tulips.

24-1-2000                                                                                      MID DAY 

MAHARASHTRA players swept the was Manish Chotrani, the No.2 seed in the men’s event, who scored an emphatic board at the National Squash Championships at Chennai. Leading the way 9-4/9-1/9-5 victory over defending champion Ritwik Bhattacharya of Delhi.

Maharashtra’s cup of joy was completed by Devlali’s Mekhla Subedar who retained her ladies crown with an easy 9-0/9-2/9-2 over Mumbai’s Deepali Anvekar in the ladies final and the enigmatic Bikram Uberoi defeated Mihir Kapoor 9-4/9-0/9-0 to win the under-19 boy’s title.

The ladies and the under-19 final were in all Maharashtra affair emphasizing the superiority of the players from the state.

Chotrani’s victory was sweet revenge for his defeat in the HBSC Maharashtra State Open. Chotrani’s joined the select club of Anil Nayar, Meherwan Daruvala, Adrian Ezra and Akhil Behl to win the coveted commander in chief trophy. His victory in Mumbai’s and Maharashtra’s 21st success in the men’s category.

“This is a wonderful way to start the new millennium. Our congratulations to all the winners. They have done SRAM proud and we look forward to welcoming them and sharing their moment of success,” said "Mahendra Agarwal secretary SRAM. "

There are no rankings for girls under-13 and under11 as there was only one major tournament held for these groups.

          The above rankings will be utilised by the SRAM selection committee to select players to go to malayasia under the exchange programme worked out by the president to SRAM selection committee to select players  to go to Malaysia under the exchange programme worked out by the president of SRAM Khalid Ansari and H H Tunku Imran, president of Malaysian Squash Rackets Association.  

Sunder Rajan

Sunder recognised that Mumbai had produced many top players, some good enough to do the country proud.  He found time to talk to the likes of Anil Nayar, Satinder Bajwa, Adrian Ezra, Abdul Shaikh and many more.  The juniors soon developed a healthy respect for him. He took on establishment. He had many a word to write about the shabby treatment handed out to the juniors or the mysterious happenings in the corridors-of-power. 

The Juneja twins, Rohan Bhappu, Shondip Ghosh and Joshna Chinappa are amongst those who found a die-hard championing their cause. Sunder brought to the world of sport a professional touch. He rose to become a father figure of Indian sports journalism. He will be missed as a friend, one who cared for sport and never flinched in exposing the games politicans played.. Indian squash will miss him. The smiling face, the voice at the other end of the phone, the man to seek advice from and above all, a genuine friend.

Sunder Rajan, RIP.

The 10 days Squash Racquets Association of Mumbai (SRAM) sponsored free coaching camps at Khar Gymkhana was a roaring success.

Forty two players participated in the venture where coaching was imparted by Chandrakant Pawar (nine-time national professional champion), with assistance from Gopi Mohite, Santosh More, Rajesh Sonawane, Prakash Yelve. Riaz Mohammed, Yakub Shaikh, Vijay Sonawaneand Vijay Sonawane and Vijay Waghale.

The following players who participated in the above camps: Donato Pavrey, Alastair Pavrey, Sasha Sahni, Richa Patel, Anam Batra, Aditya Manjrekar, Simon Fernandes, Karan Malhotra, Sandeep Parab, Sanajay Pawar, Vivek Menezes, Siddharth Shanbhag, Yakub Shaikh, Ankush Fulwadhya, Anish Gupte, Vikram Malhotra, Shikha Malhotra, Karan Singh, Shiraj Nagapal, Mohammed Merchant, Neerav Tolani, Shristi Bajaj, Kanaka, Premnarayan, Manal Shroff, Soham Gupta, Divesh Shewaramani, Ishan Gupta, Kumar Nichani, Saransh Gupta, Kumar Nichani, Saransh Gupta, Harsh Sethi, Manav Tandon, Tanmay Bhardwaj.

More such camps are in pipeline. Any club wishing to avail of such facility can write to Mahendra Agarwal, Hon. Secretary (SRAM), c/o MID-DAY Publications, 7^th floor, J.Dadajee Road, Everest Building, Tardeo, Mumbai – 400 034.