Press Reports (2001)

• 05-12-2001:  CCI Honours a Legend in squash (Mr. Anil Nayar) 
• 05-12-2001:  Need for continuous coaching : Anil Nayar (Times of India, Mumbai)
• 04-12-2001 : Harinder Shocked, Joshna loses to Second Seed 
• 01-12-2001:  Article of Siddharta Suchde & Sandeep Jhangra (Times of India, Mumbai)
• 26-01-2001 : A red letter day for Indian Squash (Mid-day, Mumbai)
• 21-10-2001 : Article on our Director and Founder Mahendra Agarwal  (Indian Express)
• 14-10-2001:  Misha Grewal's (Arjuna Award Winner) Final Victory: (Times of India, Mumbai)
• 12-09-2001 : 2nd Public Squash court by SRAM in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune (Mid-day, Mum)

• 04-09-2001 : Mashruwala on a high

• 04-09-2001 : Vaman Apte Warned by SRAM for unfair Umpiring (Mid-day, Mumbai)

• 16-08-2001 : Aamir Khan Inaugurates A-H Ansari Squash Academy (Mid-day, Mumbai)

• 15-06- 2001 : Squash goes public in Maharashtra (1st Public Squash court in Maharashtra)

• 11-06-2001:  Joshna Chinnappa, Saurav Ghosal & Alisha sweeps Singapore Junior Open
• 02-06-2001 : Joshna, Saurav Ghosal & Alisha Mashruwala are the winner in Malaysian Open

• 16-05-2001 : Journey Boys (Mid-Day, Mumbai)

• 28-05-2001 : Team Mid-Day Tour to Malaysia, Mumbai 2001

• April 2001 : Trinity Men's Squash wins 3rd straight national team championship (Mid-Day)

British Junior Open 4-12-2001

Harinder Shocked, Joshna loses to Second Seed

The Indian challenge ended at the British Junior Open Squash Championship, with both Harinder and Joshna crashing out. Siddharth Suchde had lost earlier.

Finally, his nervous and tentative start to matches got the better of Harinder. While on earlier occaisions, a lead in the initial stages, lack of opponents ability and excellent Technique and fitness saw Harinder emerge winner in tough matches, he finally came up with a clever opponent. Karim Samy, Egyps Under-11 No-2, unseeded here came back strongly from a 4-7 deficit in the first game with excellent tactics, in serving well, extracting a loose shot from Harinder, and playing a tight drop in reply. Harinder lost this game 8-10, having had a game ball at 8-5.

The loss cost him dear, because although he won the second game 9-5, Samy had moved him around and unsettled his rhythm enough to tire him. In the third game, Samy, reaching every shot and absorbing all a timid Harinder could throw at him, won at 9-2. In the fourth, Samy volleyed well, continued with his clever and successful game plan and caught up with Harinder from 5-7. Samy took the game and the match at 9-7. Final Score- Samy- 10-8, 5-9, 9-2, 9-7.

Clearly, in my opinion as a coach, Harinder needs to become stronger mentally, leaving his timidness behind him. It takes proper mental preparation, besides physical warm up and stretching, before every practice session, to develop the ability to start every match strongly. This applies to all atheletes in all sports.

Realizing this, and making a new start already, Harinder, in a 1st Round Losers' Match this morning, beat Adam Murliss (Eng) with clinical precision 9-6, 9-6, 9-0.

In the Girls Under-17 event, Seventh seed Joshna lost to second seed Sara Badr (Egypt) in a well contested Quarter Final match- 4-9, 9-4, 7-9, 8-10. Joshna had her chance at 7-4 in the third game to take the lead, as well as in the fourth to level at 8-5, Game Ball, but faltered. While she had found a winning game plan in slowing the pace of the game, she erred in playing needless 'Boasts' (side wall shots), giving openings to Sara. Thus, she lost the third game. At 8-5 in the Fourth, Joshna volleyed the ball into the tin, and Sara never looked back.

Joshna will now play for 5-8 positions.

Need for continuous coaching : Nayar

5-12-2001 Times of India

Mumbai : Anil Nayar was totally surprised by the Cricket Club of India;s gesture in naming their courts after him. India’s all-time great player, ‘Lucky’ Nayar, based in the U.S. for over 40 years, won the National men’s title eight times, the Western India an equal number. He won the junior and senior title in the same year, 1964. The 1969 Arjuna awardee went to the U.S. in the sixties, winning the U.S. inter-collegiate title thrice, the U.S. international title twice, the Canadian twice and the Mexican title once. He won the U.S. under-45 title three years ago. 

Moved by the CCI’s gesture he says he owes it to the sport to help Indian juniors to earn a name on foreign filds, as he himself did. Excerpts from an interview. 

What are our feelings on this honour?
I am totally awed. It’s a huge honour. I am too young for it. I hope I can live up to it.

Meeting old friends and foes must bring back memories
Indeed, I relive he hard times, days and days of coaching and drilling under Yusuf  Khan and the enjoyment in the process.

Tell us about your contemporaries.
Raj Manchanda was a deft, fundamentally strong player who took a lost of my force. It took a while to get adjusted to his fame. But Sanjit Roy was great fun to play. He was a very creative player who kept you guessing. I actually had to study where he hit most of his shots from. I actually had to study where he hit most of his shots from. A backhand from mid-court could go quickly to the reverse corner. Dinshaw Pandole was a good sparring partner for me. Others like Fali Madon, Nikhilesh Senapati and Soli Colah were competitive.

What’s your message to the youngsters?
There has to be continuous coaching approach. A plan about how to make one’s play stronger, increase one’s skill levels, also the cerebral level, becoming competitive. There is no substitute  for going overseas for an extended stay to experience the different levels of the sport.

The squash drain to the Ivy league lowers our standards, doesn’t it ?
No one blame the players if they go to the U.S. universities. Good luck to them. But I will discuss this week with the local association about a scheme to pick 3-5 good athletes from public schools, give them scholarships, give them playing memberships of clubs. This is happening in the U.S. where players from black and Hispanic backgrounds are being given continuous coaching.

What’s your advice to our administrators, some of whom are at loggerheads with each other ?
One must not bring one’s ego into the sport. That makes it political and is not the ay to promote the sport.

CCI honours a legend

The Cricket Club of India honoured India’s best-ever squash player in the best way possible-by naming their courts after him. The ceremony was performed by a squash player-turned chief minister, Digvijay Singh, of Madhya Pradesh.

The CM recalled  his squash days during his speech. “I played here 37 years ago in the 1964 Western India. I beat Cadet Manchanda (the young Raj Manchanda who went on to become India’s six-time national champ) and then lost to Fali Madon. I remember losing a five-setter in the semi-finals next year.” The CM added that players like Madhav Apte and Dinshaw Pandole, whom he met  on Tuesday, were a class apart, much before his time.

Taj Singh Dungarpur, the club president, paid tribute to Nayar,w ho is the only Indian to win the unofficial world juniors title, the Drysdale Cup in the U.K.

Former CCI president, Test player Madhav Apte, a former Western India champ,s aid if more people followed the example of Digvijay Singh-of sportspersons entering politics-there would be better sportsmanhip in politics than politics in sport. He recalled the glory of squash at CCI where Pakistani Abdul Bari was the professional, followed by the likes Yusuf Khan, who trained Nayar intoa top-class player.

Nayar did’nt speak except to request the audience to observe a minute’s silence in memory of his dear fried Raju Chainani, the squash writer who passed away a few months ago. The club presented several former Western India winners with mementoes on the occasion.

CCI gesture motivates Anil Nayar

Nayar, the only Indian to have won the Drysdale cup in England, has to his credit many coveted titles, including the US Collegiate title, the US Open, the Canadian Open and the Mexican Open. The eight-time national title winner is also the winner of the CCI Open Western India Squash Championships a record eight times in the years 1964-65, 1966-67, 1972-76, 1977-81. Nayar is also an Arjuna Award recipient.

But yesterday, he had little to say as he sat mesmerised during the presentation ceremony organised by the cCI to honour winners of the Western India Open Squash Championships over the years.

Nayar said CCI's gesture to name the courts after him is a new motivation to give back more to the game he still holds close to his heart. "I am motivated by this move and wish to give back some thing more to the fame," he said.

About future plans, Nayar said: "I will discuss with the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra and other authorties about long-term plans to develop the game. There are two ways to go about it. First, there should be a great emphasis to cultivate players at the grass-root levels. We should tap talents from public schools. Second, there should be a centralised coaching scheme. There should be more emphasis on strength, skill, stamina and competition training in this scheme."

Mashruwala on a high

ALISHA Mashruwala’s entry into two finals, the under – 15 and the under-19 age groups of the West Zone Inter-School and Inter-College tournament hardly cause a flutter, even though Alisha, just 12 years old, is expected to find it tough in the higher age group. However, her contest against the top seed Rachita Vora in the under 19 final was the match expected to provide the fireworks and the crowd that had gathered at the Khar gymkhana on Sunday was not disappointed.

The 12 year old student form Bombay International took the 18 year-old Rachita from H R College the entire distance, losing in the end by the proverbial whisker, failing to withstand the rigours in the decider.

It was creditable display from Mashruwala by any standards, but disappointing for her personally and also the spectators, who always expect her to win in the higher age groups. But, that has been the story ever since this extremely talented lass took a liking for the game. Winning in her own age group with ease, she has made more of a name winning titles in higher age groups.

Still four months away from her 13^th birthday, Mashruwala is already the National Champion in the under-13 and under-15 age groups. She has won a total of eight tournaments abroad, one on the European circuit and seven on the Asian  circuit, besides inscribing her name on all the major open tournaments in the country, having yet to lose a tournament in her age group.

It was with general curiosity that the question was popped to her about how difficult she found it to motivate herself for the inter-school, where she faces no competition in the under-15 and is a serious contender for the under 19 title, where she is seeded second. “I am playing for my school,” says the soft-spoken youngster, diplomatically. Having recently won the under-13 title at Hong Kong Open, after victories in the Singapore and Malaysian Opens, one can well understand Alisha’s dilemma.

She loves a game that is not too popular in the country and the only quality opposition she faces is either five to six years her senior and that too only at tournaments.

Mashruwala, amazingly mature for her years, knows exactly where she stands, which is why she hopes to make a career in the reasons behind her decision, the first answer is “because I like it.” She then says, “only the top five to ten players in the world can make money form squash. If I can make it there then I will definitely look at a career in squash.”

Also helping in her endeavour towards excellence are various sponsors like Head, who provide her with rackets and bags, the Cricket Club of India, who give her Rs. 50,000 a year for her travel and Labrada, a nutrition company, who provides here with weigh proteins for nutrition.

Yet, one gets the feeling that all is not being done to promote a prodigious talent like hers, who, at 12, is already the best in Asia and among the top three in Europe. With the right kind of support, there is no reason why she shouldn’t bloom into the best in the world.

Aamir Khan Inaugurates A-H Ansari Squash Academy

By: A Chalomumbai Correspondent:  August 16,2001

It was another big day for squash on Tuesday when the Mid Day A-H Ansari Squash Academy at the Andheri Sports Complex was inaugurated by film actor Aamir Khan.

The academy will give a big boost to a game popularly perceived as elitist. Courts will be open to the public for a very nominal rate.

The academy, the first of its kind in the state, is sponsored by Mid Day Multimedia Ltd in memory of its founder and freedom fighter, the late A-H Ansari, for the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra (SRAM).

A regular squash player, Khan played a round of exhibition squash with Mid Day Multimedia Managing Director Tariq Ansari, Bhushan Gagrani (Director-General, Information and Public Relations and deputy secretary to the Chief Minister) and under-11 champion Vikram Malhotra after launching the three state-of-the-art courts.

Aamir Khan said: "It (the academy) is a good beginning. It is high time that our country produces a world champion in this lovely sport."

SRAM president and Mid Day Multimedia Ltd chairman Khalid A-H Ansari described the occasion as "a dream come true. It has been our endeavour for years to take squash to the masses. We're confident that these public courts will produce future champions. If Pakistan can produce world champions in squash, we believe so can we."

Khan also handed out trophies to some of the junior squash players for their performance in the recently-concluded Fujifilm Hong Kong Junior Squash Open.

Nikita Emanuel (winner in the under-11 category), Alisha Mashruwala (winner in the under-13), Naishad Lalwani (runner-up in the under-13), Supreet Singh and Anurag Gill were among the young talents honoured by SRAM.

Also present at the inauguration were Deputy Municipal Commissioner D D Jadhav and Pratap Vedpathak, of the Brihanmumbai Kreeda Ani Kala Pratishthan.

In a bid to promote the game, the academy will provide free coaching as well as racquets and balls to school students for the first month.

The complex is open for SRAM on a pay-and-play basis everyday from 10 am and 4 pm. SRAM membership is available to the general public at an annual rate of Rs 120 for players who are under-19.

For those over 19 years of age, membership will cost Rs 240. Those interested in becoming members may contact Mahendra Agarwal on 852 3433 or Steffi D'Souza on 494 2586.

More News:

India sweeps Singapore Jr. Open Squash

Mid-day 11-6-2001

Singapore, June 11 Indian players were in the limelight  on the final day at the Singapore Junior Squash Open which concluded yesterday. 

There were doubles for Chennai’s Joshna Chinappa and Calcutta’s Saurav Ghoshal, with Mumbai’s Alisha Mashruwala making it five titles for the Indians following her straight games win over Fatin Balkis(Malaysia) in the girls under-13. 

This trio had been successful at the Milo Malaysian Junior Open in Kuala Lumpur last week and added to their collection of silverware with emphatic victories last afternoon.

At Kuala Lumpur, Chinappa had struggled to beat her Chennai colleague but she showed Reddy a clean pair of  heels here winning both the under-17 and  under-15 finals in straight games. 

Ghoshal had defeated Australia’s Ben Reece last week in straight games but had a tougher time today. He lost the first game but won well thereafter. Ghoshal also won the under-15 title where he did not allow Australia’s Russel Wegner to trouble the scores.

Results: (Final)

Girls under-19 : Joshna Chinappa beat Vaidehi Reddy 9-5, 9-5, 9-0.
Girls under-17 : Joshna Chinappa beat Vaidehi Reddy 9-7, 9-2, 9-2.
Boys under-17: Saurav Ghoshal beat Ben Reece (Australia) 6-9, 9-2, 9-4, 9-2.
Boys under-15: Saurav Ghoshal beat Russel Wegner (Australia) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 

Triple Treat (Milo Malaysian Jr.Squash)

Mid-day 4-6-2001

The Indian brigade finished with a flourish at the Milo Malaysian Junior Squash International. In the main age group events, there were wins for Alisha Mashruwala (under-13), Joshna Chinappa (under-17) and Saurav Ghoshal (under-15).

Mumbai’s Jay Dalal took fifth place in the boys’ under-11. In the classic Plate events, Ramit Tandon (under-11), Manek Mathur (under-13) and Supreet Singh (under-17) Emerged victorious while Chandigarh’s  Harinder Pal Singh finished seventh in the boys’ under-13. 

For the third in a row, it was Ghoshal who held the spotlight. Watched by a pack gallery Which included Malaysia’s head coach Major S Maniam and elite coach Jamshed Gul, the 14-year-old Kolkata boy outplayed the number two seed Kapil Nesan (Malaysia) 9-4, 9-3, 9-3 in 34 minutes.

“It was an impressive win,” said Major Maniam, “Saurav was in command. He has improved a lot since last year.” Declared the best player in the under-15,  Ghoshal initially did not figure in the top eight seedings.

Mashruwala was fancied to win the girls’ under-13. She needed a wake-up call after Malaysia’s Nabilla Ariffin had won the opener. The Mumbai junior showed her mettle, taking the next three games with a stamp of  authority 6-9 9-4 9-0 9-3, the clock stopping at 39 minutes.

The Chennai derby between Chinappa and Vaidehi Reddy could have gone either way.Chinappa won the first game over extra points after having trailed 5-8. She drew away from 3-3 in the second and the two-game cushion looked comfortable.

Like the Kuala Lumpur weather, there came  a dramatic transformation. Chinappa began making mistakes and as Reddy grew in confidence, using the down the line passing shots to repeatedly catch her opponent off-guard, the third and fourth games became a different story.

The decider saw the national champion put her act together and she went 8-1 up and closed the match with a clinical backhand drop. Chinappa had not been well for the last week. A chest congestion and dehydration had not helped her cause but on the day, she provided the finish when it mattered. It gave India three titles and overall a creditable performance.

Results (Finals)

Boys’ under-15: Saurav Ghoshal beat Kapil Nesan (Malaysia) 9-4, 9-3, 9-3.
Girls’ under-13: Alisha Mashruwala beat Nabilla Ariffin (Malaysia) 6-9, 9-4, 9-0, 9-3.
Girls U-17: Joshna Chinappa beat Vaidehi Reddy 10-8, 9-5, 5-9,1-9, 9-2. 
Play-offs/ Plate Events: 
Boys under-11: Play-off for fifth place: Jay Dalal beat Adeep Arif (Malaysia)9-2, 9-7, 1-9, 9-5. Classic Plate Final: Ramit Tandon beat Wong Xi Liang (Singapore)4-9, 9-2, 9-0, 9-6.
Boys U-13: (Classic Plate Final): Manek Mathur beat Sandeep Jangra 8-10, 9-7, 9-6, 9-4.
Boys U-17: (Classic Plate Final): Supreet Singh beat Todd Noon (Australia) 9-1, 9-0, 9-5.

Results (Semi-Finals): 

Boys Under-15:
Saurav Ghoshal (Ind) bt Risto Krauss (Aus) 9-1, 9-5, 9-4; 
2-Kapil Nesan (Mal) bt Mohd Afzar Azan (Mal) 9-2, 9-2, 8-10, 9-5.
Girls Under-13: 
1-Alisha Mashruwala (Ind) bt Kimberley Bessell (Aus) 9-5, 9-4, 9-3; 
2-Nabilla Ariffin (Mal) bt Low Wee Wern (Mal) 10-9, 9-3, 9-0.
Girls Under-17: 
1-Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt Cherelle Kelly (Aus) 9-4, 5-9, 5-9, 9-7, 9-4; 
2-Vaidehi Reddy (Ind) bt Sally Looi (Mal) 9-0, 5-9, 9-4, 10-9.
Results (quarter-finals): 

Boys under-11: 1-Spencer Davis (Aus) bt Aiman Aziz(Mal) 9-4, 9-4, 9-0
Vincent Chew(Mal) bt Mohd Kharul B Rahimi(Mah)9-5, 9-0, 9-1
Kamran Khan (Mal) bt Lee Cal-vin (Mal) 9-2, 9-4, 9-2
2-Ivan Yuen (Mal) bt Jay Dalal (Ind) 9-4, 9-0, 9-1.
Boys under-13: 
1-Elvin Keo (Mal) bt Tom Steward (Aus) 9-10, 9-3, 9-2, 9-5 
Lim Lu Tjun (Mal) bt Marcus Phua (Sin) 7-9, 9-3, 0-9, 10-8, 9-5 
Jesmond Low (Mal) bt MohdAsyraf Azan (Mal) 9-7, 9-7, 7-9, 6-9, 9-4 
2-Mat Reece (Aus) bt Harinder Pal Singh (Ind) 9-5, 9-5, 9-2.
Boys under-15: 
Saurav Ghoshal (Ind) bt 1-Ben Reece (Aus) 9-1, 10-8, 9-2 
Risto Krauss(Aus) bt Russell Wegner (Aus) 9-6, 9-6, 9-0 
Mohd Azfar Azan (Mal) bt Mohd Izam Mahazer (Mal) 9-4, 9-2, 9-4 
2-Kapil Nesan (Mal) bt Mohd Nafizwan (Mal) 9-5, 6-9, 9-2, 9-1.
Girls under-13: 
1-Alisha Mashruwala (Ind) bt Ashley Starr (Aus) 9-5, 9-5, 9-5 
Kimberley Bessell (Aus) bt Sagita Parmalingam (Mal) 9-2, 9-5, 9-4 
Low Wee Wern (Mal) bt Pushppa Dewi (Mal) 9-7, 9-2, 9-2 
2-Nabilla Ariffin (Mal) bt Lara Miller (Aus) 9-3, 9-4, 9-2.
Girls under-15: 
1-Skye Miller (Aus) bt Liana Deboo (Ind) 9-0, 9-4, 9-1 
Munirah Arif Kor(Mal) bt Nora Ashikin (Mal) 9-1, 9-0, 9-2 
Ho Baoxia (Sin) bt Siti Munirth (Mal) 9-0, 9-5 9-0 
2-June Tiong (Mal) bt Tan Poh Yong (Sin) 9-5, 9-0, 9-1.
Girls under-17: 
1-Joshna Chinappa (Ind) bt Lim Yoke Wah (Mah) 9-0, 7-9, 9-1, 9-3 
Cherelle Kelly (Aus) bt Delia Arnold (Mal)10-9, 9-2, 9-10, 9-1 
Sally Looi (Mal) bt Joanne Jee (Mal) 9-1, 9-4, 9-2
2-Vaidehi Reddy (Ind) bt Sahar Jasmina (Mal) 9-4, 9-1, 9-4.

JourneyBoys!

They can be called the 'journeymen of Indian squash', the only problem being they are hardly men. 'Journeyboys' would be a more apt term to describe these two of enterprising teenagers with similar sounding names Gaurav and Saurav who have been  traveling around the country on the Indian squash circuit, taking care of their entire expenses and even making a tidy profit at the end of it all.

Gaurav Nandrajog, who hails from Delhi, is 16 year and five month old and is playing squash for the fourth year in succession, while Kolkata's Saurav Ghosal, at 14 yeas and 9 months, is in his third year on the circuit. Both players have definitely emerged as role models for squash playing youngsters from other metros.

Champions in their age groups, both Gaurav and Saurav were easy winners in the Otters-Old Castle Indian Open Squash Championships, which concluded over the weekend, but the disappointment for them was not winning in the higher are groups.

Last season, Gaurav swept all the titles that were up for grabs, even finishing among the top eight in the men's category of the senior nationals, which prompted him to opt for the under-19 and men's categories in the Otters Tournament, rather than enjoy an easy run in the under-17. He lost in the final of the under-19 to  a charged-up Junaid Nathani and in the men's semi-final to eventual champion Manish Chotrani, making it a profitable outing, the prize money cming to Rs. 30,000.

Saurav win the under-15 title but lost in the under-17 final to Sahil Bora, making about Rs. 20,000 in the bargain, commendable for someone his age by any standards.

Gaurav, son of an Army Major General, and Saurav, son of a Tidewater Oil employee, were always encouraged to travel, provided they fend for themselves. They received some financial assistance for he fist yar but since then they have managed their finances most commendably.

For Gaurav, it was train travel in the initial years, but his air-fate is not taken care of by Dhampur Sugar Mills, Nike provides him with apparel and shoes, while Head gives him his rackets and kit bag. Last season, Gaurav won Rs. 75,000 in prize money, more than enough to take care of his miscellaneous expenses. As most of the squash tournaments are played in Mumbai, he either stays in the Army Inspection bungalows or at the residence of Bikram Uberoi, a local squash player.

Saurav is doing even better. He gets Rs.40,000 from Power, while the Calcutta Rackets Club gives him Rs.35,000 for his travelling expenses. Starting from last year, Saurav gets Rs.150,000 from Caltex. Besides this, he also gets his rackets and kit bag from Head, which leaves him with a tidy sum, saved for his future exploits.

This academic year will be crucial for both, as Gaurav enters his 12th at the Army Public School in Delhi and Saurav goes into the 10th at the Laxhmipat Singhania Academy. And unlike the majority of squash players who use the game to gain scholarships in the US, both boys vow to stay on and play for the country.

Says Gaurav : "I will use the game to get admitted to either St. Stephen's or Sriram College, which are among the best in Asia. Then, I want to be a part of the process that is trying to propularise the game of squash. I will go abroad for training, but will never settle down there."

Says Saurav : "Even if I travel to Europe for my studies, I will always come down to India to play the national tournaments, so that I can be a part of the Indian team that plays abroad." Big words from both these players at this stage of their careers but, then they they have always been doing big deeds for someone their age, completing many a journey.

One can't help but take them seriously.

Team Mid-Day 2001

Team MID-DAY off to KL for squash treat (Mid-day, 11-5-2001)  

TEAM MID-DAY comprising of 15 junior squash players is set to leave for Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. “They shall be training with KH Ong at Lakeview Club for two weeks and participating in the Malaysian All Stars Junior Open from May 30 to June 3,” said Team manager Raju Chainani. The trip to Kuala Lumpur is part of an exchange programme with the Petra Foundation.

The Malaysian under-15 cricketers have trained in Mumbai at the Elf Vengasarkar Academy and the squash juniors are about to embark for an intensive session with a top class coach. The actual strength of the party is 19 with four additional players opting to take private tuition with KH Ong.

The juniors were selected on merit and it is a strong team that is donning Team MID-DAY’s colours. There could be a welcome bonus for them. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's scheduled to be in Malaysia from May 13-15 and there is a distinct possibility that Team MID-DAY would get a chance to meet him.

Team MID-DAY comprises of Ishaan Balwani, Jay Bhagat, Jay Dalal, Vikram Malhotra, Sadiq Madraswalla, Maneck Mathur, Gautam Kalani, Naishadh Lalwani, Ritesh Sharma, Sarvesh Chauhan, Sandeep Jangra, Vikas Jangra, Liana Deboo, Shubika Bilkha and Priyanka Yadav. Manager: Raju Chainani Additional players: Parth Jindal, Mrinal Todi, Joran Diwanand Bhaktiveda Dhaul. 

Team MID-DAY’s day out (20-5-2001)

Kuala Lumpur, May 19 Team MID-DAY were in good nick as they trounced Lakeview Club14-3 in their first competitive encounter which was played at the hosts’ courts this morning.

The Mumbai Juniors have acclimatised well to the conditions and were at ease in surroundings they have been training at all week. The only match that went the distance saw Liana Deboo on the losing end. She was beaten by 11-year –old, Zulhijjah Ajan who is being hailed as the next Nicol David. “The Indian Juniors played very well specially the younger boys. I feel they will be a threat to the Malaysians in a few years if they maintain this rate of progress,” said coach K H Ong.

Team MID-DAY were in for a surprise as Kamran Khan, son of the legendary Jansher, was in the line-up for Lakeview Club. The 11-year-old Kamran is highly regarded by coach Ong. “I think you will hear a lot about this boy in the future.” His mannerisms remind one year much of his illustrious father. He may not be strong enough yet, but is developing in the right direction and could represent Malaysia in a few years time.

Results: Team MID-DAY beat Lakeview Club 14-3. (Naishad Lalwani beat Shian Loong Wee 9-1 9-0 9-0 Ishaan Balvani beat S. Darveedran 9-0 9-1 9-0; Vikas Jangra beat Kapil Nesan 5-9 9-2 9-1 9-7; Vikram Malhotra beat Sunny Foo 9-4 10-8 9-2; Mrinal Todi beat Beatrice Ng 9-3 9-10 9-0 9-3; Ritesh Sharma beat Micky Foo 9-1 9-0 9-0; Parth Jindal beat Jonathon Moby Dick 9-0 9-6 9-3 Gautam Kalani beat Jeffery Tan 9-3 9-2 9-5; Joran Diwan beat Sunny Foo 10-8 9-7 9-0; Vikram Malhotra beat Sachin Nesan 9-0 9-7 9-2; Jay Bhagat beat Kamran Khan 9-2 9-6 9-0; Liana Deboo lost to Zulhijjah Azan 10-8 6-9 9-4 5-9 8-10; Jay Dalal beat Jonathon Moby Dick 9-0 9-1 9-2; Ishaan Balwani lost to Sachin Nesan 2-9 2-9; Manek Mathur lost to Kapil Nesan 10-8 3-9 7-9; Priyanka Yadav beat Jeffery Tan 9-2 9-5 9-5  Bhaktiveda Dhaul beat Sik Yi Chan 9-0 9-0 9-1)

Another triumph for Team MID-DAY (21-5-2001)

TEAM MID-DAY glowed in the Sunday sunshine as they scored a 12-4 win over the MPPJ Juniors at the Astaka Squash Center. The opposition was tougher than the Lakeview Club side and to their credit, the Mumbai brigade rose to to the occasion and won well.

The girls had their work cut out with the trio of Priyanka Yadav, Liana Deboo and Shubika Bilkha being taken to the wire by their respective opponents. Jindal’s Sandeep and Vikas Jangra were impressive.

Henry Tan, coach of the MPPJ team, was all praise for Team MID-DAY. “I played with your some of your boys last year. The present squad has depth and are stronger,” he remarked. “I feel the under-11 and under-13 should do well in the Malaysian Junior Open.”

The Astaka Squash Center has eight air-conditioned glass-back courts. It was the venue for the 1997 Men’s World Open and the inaugural World Cup. This morning, the courts were busting with activity as players and parents had come in numbers to watch. It’s back to the training schedule tomorrow. There’s another major happening too in the afternoon as draw for the Malaysian Junior Open takes place and it’s worth putting on record that this is going to be made in public.

Results: Team MID-DAY beat MPPJ 12-4 Jay Bhagat beat Vincent Chew 9-5 9-0 10-8, Sandeep Jangra beat William Yeoh 9-0 9-10 9-2 9-4, Gautam Kalani beat Teoh Wai Hoong 9-3 9-2 9-10 9-5, Vikram Malhotra beat Ivan Yuen9-5 9-5 9-2, Manek Mathur beat  C Suvendra 9-2 9-0 9-1, Priyanka Yadav beat Nicholos Queck 9-6 9-5 4-9 3-9 9-2, Shubika Bilkha beat a Mathew 9-3 6-9 7-9 9-4 9-3, Liana Deboo beat Aaron Rahman 9-5 10-8 4-9 2-9 9-7, Ritesh Sharma beat Woo Yew Fong 4-9 9-7 9-7 9-3, Sarvesh Chauhan beat S Yogeshwaran 9-1 9-4 9-0, Vikas Jangra beat B kumar 9-3 9-5 8-10 9-1, Naishadh Lalwani beat Teoh Wah Kong 4-9 9-5 9-2 9-1, Bhaktiveda Dhaul lost to L Pushppa 9-1 6-9 6-9 6-9, Ishaan Balvani lost to B Nadia 5-9 7-9 2-9, Mrinal Todi lost to Ng Yoke Peng  4-9 4-9 5-9, Joran Diwan lost to Jinn Cheok 9-2 6-9 1-9 10-8 7-9.

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