Press Reports (2000)
 

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Squashing Glory
Mid Day : December 2000
By Raju Chainani

After a heady year in 2000, squash players, especially the younger lot, are looking ahead with confidence in the new year.

MAHARASHTRA squash was on a high in the year 2000.  The juniors won five of the seven titles at the nationals and the seniors provided the icing on the cake with a clear-cut victory in the interstate championship.  Manish Chotrani, Bikram Uberoi, Mekhala Subedar and Priyanka Yadav had their moments of glory on the senior circuit.  It was, however, the little ones who stood out.  Vikram Malhotra, Jay Bhagat, Jay Dalal, Mihir Sheth, Maneck Mathur, Nikhil and Vir Seth, Sahil Vora, Supreet Singh, Aditya Manjrekar, Bipin Batra, Karanpal Sethi, Junaid Nathani, Vishal and Mihir Kapoor, Ishaan Balwani, the Jindal boys, Rachita Vora, Alisha Mashruwalla and Natasha Lal… they were the ones fighting it out at many an event.  The results were by no means a foregone conclusion – a healthy sign for the sport.

If one were to handpick three from this lot, it would be Vikram Malhotra, Sahil Vora and Alisha Mashruwalla.  Interestingly, Vora opted out of the under-17 category and chose to play the under-19 event at the nationals.  He reached the semi-finals and is in line for a place in the squad for the Asian juniors.

There was success for Malhotra and Mashruwalla at the Hong Kong Junior Open.  Last week there was a fourth place finish for little Ishaan Balwani at the Scottish Junior Open, where the arctic conditions did not dampesh his spirit.  Such keenness, such applicant, such results make the association, parents and supporters look with a sense of pride to the future.

There were more tournaments in Mumbai for the kids and the seniors.  The Hong Kong Bank-sponsored Maharashtra State Open had a record purse of Rs. 450,000.  The Rabo Bank Indian Junior Open, the Little Masters and the Otters Junior Open gave the younger lot plenty to play for.  Air-India came in with a junior satellite and there were seven tickets on offer for the respective age-group winners.  The Motilal Sanghi inter-club event has become part of lore and continues to grow every year.  Coaching schemes increased and, towards end of the year, world-renowned Chris Clark conducted a clinic for the kids.  The Indian Squash Professionals put together a series of events and, for the first time, there was a tournament in Kolhapur.

As 2001 moves into the second gear, there are positive movements towards the public courts.  The eggs have not been put in one basket.  Instead, several leading lights have been approached and it is all looking good.  The recent elections of the Squash Rackets Association of Maharashtra (SRAM) saw Khalid A-H Ansari and his team be re-elected to another term of office by a thumping 9-1 majority.

 NAYAR NORM : Former eight-time national champion Anil Nayar

By Raju Chainani

Mid Day Nov 2000

Anil Nayar’s record of eight men’s national squash titles has remained intact for the best part of the last 20 years.  The closest anybody has come near it was Adrian Ezra who won five.  The New York-based Nayar is a regular visitor to the metropolis and has followed the developments here with keen interest.

            “ Today, the Ivy League schools in America have several Indian students. The majority have gone on the strength of their achievements in squash.  Harvard used to dominate the scenario but when Trinity recruitment four top Indians, the Inter-University title changed hands,” said Nayar.

            Satinder Bajwa is Head Squash Coach at Harvard.  “He has Shondip Ghosh, Deepak and Dilip Abraham in the team.  Baj was recently at the World Junior Boys Championships in Milan on a talent-spotting mission.  Interestingly, players from countries like Columbia and Mexico want to join Harvard,” he added.

            The same applies to other universities.  “It has been part of a revolution in America and today the game is growing significantly.  We have more tournaments at all levels.  Coaching camps have attracted some 400-450 players which just drives home the point.”

            On the home front, Nayar was all praise for the performance of the Maharashtra juniors at the recent nationals.  “The bandwagon rolls on.  One question I have to ask.  Where do they go from here? Although the junior scene has developed in the country, squash is still not attractive enough for them to make it a way of life”.

            It is a significant point made by India’s greatest player.  “For a long time we talked about our illustrious neighbours.  Today you have Malaysia’s One Beng Hee and a few Australian youngsters who are on the up.  They are playing full time, training with the top professionals and squash is their bread and butter.”

MEN'S WORLD OPEN OF SQUASH 2001-2005 INDIA

The governing body of Men's Professional Squash, the Professional Squash Association, is delighted to announce that the Men's World Open rights and title for the years 2001,2003,2004 and 2005, together with the World GRAND PRIX Finals 2002 has been awarded to Procam International, India.

In a historic Agreement, squash has secured a one million dollar prize money deal for the most prestigious event on the world tour, representing the largest ever prize fund in the history of professional game and was announced at a glittering function at Hotel President. 

The Men's World Open, the most prestigious event on the world tour, is a 64 player draw involving the top players of the world.  PSA executive director Gawain Briars stated: "This award represents a momentous occasion in the history of world squash, and the PSA looks forward with great enthusiasm to working partnership with Procam International over the next five years".

Procam International first tryst with the big time squash was in 1993 and began with an eight man event with US$ 55,000 as prize money.  A special squash court was flown from Hong Kong and laid at the lawns of Bombay Gymkhana.  The event, called Mahindra International, grew in stature over the next four years, and was hosted at CCI lawns.  It culminated in the World Open in 1998, which unfortunately had to held in Qatar, following the Shiv Sena's agitation over the entry of Pakistani players. 

Procam should be congratulated for a giant step taken in the history of squash in India, when every other sports promoter is going after cricket.  The prize money of Rs 5 crores spread over 5 years is something very big for squash in India and World.  

The President of SRAM (squash racquets association of maharashtra) Mr. Khalid Ansari rightly said "If at all anyone in India is capable of pulling this off, it is Procam International.  They have a proven track record in squash and should have no difficulty in turning this dream into reality".

SRFI warns Procam 

Chennai: The Squash Rackets Federation of India on Tuesday, warned the Mumbai based Procam Sports Private Ltd that they will take action, if Procam involves with the federation in this hosting of the World Squash Open in India.  According top the statement, SRFI secretary general Mr.N.Ramachandran said, till this date no arrangement or agreement existed between SRFI and Procam Sports or Procam International in respect of the World Open.  He said the statement attributed by Procam, that the World Open would be hosted in Indian sub-continent “under the promotion of Procam International and the auspices of the SRFI providing an enormous boost to the nation’s ambitions in the game”, were totally unsubstantiated and incorrect. (UNI)

Clark to conduct squash clinics in city

By Raju Chainani
Mid-Day : October 2000

CHRIS Clark is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s best squash coaches.  He has been national coach of Hong Kong for a decade and is also on the select list of world referees.  Clark is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on November 19 for some business meetings.

            In an exclusive arrangement with the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra (SRAM), Clark has agreed to conduct coaching and referees clinics from November 20-23.

            “This is a splendid opportunity for the youngsters.  We are delighted that Chris has agreed to conduct the clinics.  We have been all for the development of the juniors and there is a double benefit in this as the referees would also gain,” said SRAM President Khalid A-H Ansari.

            The under-15 age group would be given first preference.  Players/referees interested should fax Steffi D’Souza on 4938734.

 

Clark helping out a group of professionals at the Bombay Gymkhana.

By Chris Clarke

Little boys and girls, junior rackets and a large ball.  The name of the game was mini-squash.  There were a dozen in the 6-9 age group who came for the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra’s lauch of this recently devised concept.  They were bouncing the ball off their rackets, running up and down with it, hitting it against the side-walls and generally having a great time.

            Catching them young has always been a good ploy and with the SRAM having introduced mini-squash in the state, it should have a snowball effect.  I believe Maharashtra is the first state in the country to have officially introduced mini-squash.  That is a feather in their cap. 

            Whilst the 6-9 age group were hard at work, the others went on with their drills and practice.  I was impressed with the way they were doing their bit.  It is the self-discipline which is very important.  A coach can teach you the routines but if you don’t follow up on these and made them a habit, you end up being the loser.  I am not for one moment advocating a hard and fast rule.  Be sensible and basic.  It makes all the difference between a good player and a champion.

            SRAM had asked me to conduct a referees clinic.  The turn out for this was excellent.  I was told the club professionals are the ones who do a lot of officiating at tournaments.  They came from near and far.  You do not become a top referee overnight but the sort of questions they asked made me feel they were on the ball.

            It is time to fly back to Hong Kong.  I have had the pleasure of meeting and inter-acting with a lot of people during the last four days.  I have happy memories of this trip, my first to Mumbai, and am looking forward to coming here more often.  You have all made me feel very welcome.

Thank you, Mumbai.

SRAM SIGNS CHRIS CLARK

By Raju Chainani

The Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra (SRAM) have entered into an exclusive arrangement with world-renowned coach Chris Clark to be their consultant coach and referee.  Clark is widely acknowledged as one of the top coaches in the world and figures in the select list of world referees.

            He was head squash coach in Malaysia and later moved to Hong Kong where he spent thirteen years as the island’s national coach. “My heart has always been in the game,” said Clark, “I would love to do something for India.  Being with the juniors this week has been an experience and I can see that the SRAM has done a lot for them.  When the SRAM President, Mr. Khalid Ansari asked me to be the consultant coach for Maharashtra, I was very honoured and happy to accept.”

            The SRAM hosted a dinner for Clark at Wall Street last night where the who’s who of Mumbai squash were present.  “Thank you for all you have done this week.  We at SRAM are very grateful for the coaching and the referees clinic.  We look forward to your next visit and hope this will be the beginning of a long standing relationship,” said Mr. Ansari.

            Clark has made a deep impression with the juniors and professionals.  He was mingling with the fraternity and it was quite obvious that they had taken to him.  He left for Hong Kong in the wee hours.  “Believe me, I shall be back soon,” he said just before flying off.

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