THIS IS HOW WE LOSE OUR BEST PLAYERS-Udai Singh

Mid Day 10-12-99                                                               By Raju Chainani

SINGAPORE: FORMER India number two Udai Singh is likely to make his debut for Singapore at the 2000 Asian Seniors Squash Championships.  The 28-year-old Singh has been a victim of the Indian political web.  “I was disgusted with the way the Squash Racquets Federation of India (SRFI) treated me.  When they wanted me to play for India at the 1996 Asian championships, I was sought after.  For the next Asian, they did not bother to reply and things got to a stage where I had to decide what options were open,” he suggested.  Singh had represented India at the 1991 Asian juniors at Colombo and the 1996 Asian seniors at Amman.  He had reached the final of the men’s Nationals at Delhi four years ago.  “I had been studying in Australia and later got a job opening in Singapore.

The SRFI did not bother to respond when I asked for my entry to be accepted at the Nationals.  To me that was the final straw in a series of events where there were vague replies from some officials and it was in my book, a do-as-they-pleased situation.”  Subsequently, Singh won the Singapore Nationals.  “All going well, I should be eligible to play for Singapore next year.  I would have loved to represent India but the powers-that-be have their own ideas,” he said.  “I am not alone in the list of players who have been treated shabbily.  Adrian Ezra, Rohan Bhappu, the Junejas, Arif Paul and Akhil Behl have been at the receiving end too.  Of late, I have been reading about Joshna Chinappa’s troubles.  When is this going to stop?”

The Singapore Squash Racquets Association President David Tan and their nationals coach Fahim Gul are waiting on developments.  “The ball is in Udai’s court and if he decides to play for us, we would welcome him,” said Fahim.  “He is an asset.  If Udai, Mohammed Rizal and Lim Jet Uei make up our team for next year’s Asian, we have a good chance of finishing in the top three.”  The thought of one of our top players donning another country’s colors says a lot about our politburo.  As of now, the Singapore Sling is being chilled for the big test.  It’ll be interesting to see who has the last laughs

CLEAN SWEEP FOR DEUTSCHE BANK

MID-DAY                                                                                                         Date : 7-12-1999

Deutsche Bank players made a clean sweep of the titles in the Great Eastern Corporate Squash Championship co-sponsored by ING Barings and Pennzoil and managed by Saran Presents at the CCI Courts on Saturday.

In the 35-45 years category, Sunil Shirole (Deutsche Bank) had to work hard to prevail over Shoaib Shaikh (Pennzoil) in a nail-biting finish. Shirole won 15-10, 15-13, 10-15, 15-13.

In the 40-45 year category, Shankar Basu (Deutsche Bank) beat Prakash Kuruvilla (HSBC) 9-15, 15-8, 15-5. Carl Saldhana (Deutsche Bank) prevailed over S Vaidyanatha n (CitiBank) 15-9, 15-10, 15-4.

The overall Great Eastern Corporate Championship Trophy was won by Deutsche Bank  and the runners up were the HBSC team.

Results : Ladies : Shabnam Kaput (Stratcap Securities) bt Nandita Swarup (Essar Shipping) 15-9, 15-10, 15-6. Men (25-30yrs): Champions Trophy:Sumeet Rewari (Kotaki Securities) bt Vishal Jhunjhunwala (Trion Comm) 10-15, 15-13, 15-7, 15-8. Men (30-35yrs): Champions Trophy : Janak Madhavdas (Mitsubishi) bt A Padgaonkar (HSBC) 15-12, 15-11, 15-11. Salver Pankaj Ratna (IIT Investrust) bt Gautam Thakkar (Anderson Consulting) 8-15, 15-6, 15-6, 15-12. Men (35-40 yrs): Champions trophy: Sunil Shirole (Deutsche Bank) bt Shoaib

JANSHER LEAVES  A BIG  HOLE

ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND: JANSHER Khan, winner of the World Open a record eight times and the British Open six times, did not feature in draw, made here on Tuesday, for a British Open squash tournament for the first time in 13 years, reports AFP.

The absence from the world’s longest-established tournament of arguably the most complete player of all time suggests that Jansher is unlikely to be a serious contender again for the big titles.

Despite knee problems and other injuries which have limited the 30-year-old Pakistani to only occasional appearance, he has often still claimed during 1999 that he has the capacity to return for significant challenges on big occasions.

But Jansher’s decision nit to complete here next month (December6-12) follows his absence from the World Open at the Gaza pyramid two months ago.

The last time Jansher competed in a major was when he lost in the final of the British Open to Scotland’s peter Nicol at Birmingham 19 months ago.

“The Squash Rackets Association wanted to give Jansher a wild card. But when it became  clear he  would number two peter Marshall instead,” said  British Open  Organizers Alan Thatcher, who also made  an  appeal to world’s number  one  woman, Michelle Martin.

The Australian quit squash rather suddenly after losing last month’s World Open final in Seattle to England’s Cassie Champion, and Martin has resisted at tempts to persuade her to change her mind, saying she no longer has the motivation.

This means the 32-year-old will not defend the British Open title she has won six times in a row, and that Champion, formerly Jack man, becomes the first English player for 15year to be the top seed, with the New Zealander Lillian Joyce her nearest rival.

The British Open’s entry list does show one piece of good news. Another Aussie, the three-time former world champion  Sarah Fitz-Gerald, will make her  international come back  during  the tournament after seven months out of the limelight with a knee injury.

Although it is almost certainly too soon for Fitz-Gerald yet to become a title contender again, the hard-hitting Melbourne woman will be the 13^th seed and is a potential quarterfinal wobble for champion.

The other leading home hope, Nicol, does not emulate Champion as seed, even though he is the holder and the first British man ever to win the World Open. Instead Jonathon Power, the former world champion from Canada, tops the men’s draw with a likely semi-final against the world runner-up from Egypt Ahmed Barada.

However, the second-seeded Nicol, who is playing in his home city where he may have over-whelming support, will be unofficial favorite for the British Open title, despite a probable quarterfinal against the controversial Australian Anthony Hill. 

THANK U, YUSUF 

A MUMBAIWALLAH  who  has lit up Seattle with his hard work, charisma and in what has been a rags-to-riches story. Yusuf Khan, a sprightly seventy plus, used to work as the squash professional at the cricket club of India courts, Mumbai some thirty years ago. The famous black dodge parked outside the club suggested Khan Saheb was at the courts.

He made the Western  India professional event a one-man show. It was Yusuf versus the rest. He raised the standard of the game in CCI and India to an extend that had never been done. It was his sacrifice in terms of time and effort that made the difference. Yusuf used to play against Anil Nayar and Fali Madon. Yes, him against India’s top two, give them eight points and service and beat them, That was class in itself. His  struggle through life was kept at bay as he worked for a measly couple of hundred rupees as the squash pro.

Today, it is very different story. Yusuf has made Seattle as his base, is well-settled in life and moves around in a sleek Mercedes. Phil Smart, the main sponsor of last   month’s Women’s World Open said, “Yusuf has taught us a lot  more than squash. We owe him a huge debt.”

He has become Americanized but has retained his contacts back home. Yusuf frequently calls his friends and relatives, checking up on what is going on in  Indian squash.

He has never forgotten the old days. “ How are my friends Shyamlal, Munnuswamy and Francis? I hear they are still coaching,” he asked.

Whilst the likes of  Hashim, Azam and Roshan came from Nawakille on the North-West Frontier, Yusuf was from Noshera. He began as a tennis ball boy, moved to India and found a squash coaching job at Deolali in Western India. At the Temple Hill Club he trained Capt K K Hazari and soon saw him win the National men’s title. That was the beginning.

The move to the CCI in Mumbai was in the in pipeline. Yusuf became coach, friend, mentor and guide to Anil Nayar  who is regarded as India’s greatest player. Nayar won the Drysdale Cup in 1965, the unofficial world junior crown. Eight men’s national titles and victories in America amongst a successes had come about thanks to the training  of the prestro.

The  technique was evident as Nayar progressed from a good to a great player. In 1967, Yusuf moved to America Nayar had a scholarship at Harvard University and was still making waves.

The initial years for Yusuf were very tough as there were few openings for a squash pro.

He had to teach tennis at the Washington Club. But the fire in his belly remained as he looked for a job in the game that was his first love. Seattle was to offer him that opening.

The rest is a rags-to-riches story of an Indian making it to the top. It isn’t just in the coaching field.

Today, Yusuf is highly rest  by  the  squash fraternity, from to Jahangir, from Jonah Barrington to Geoff Hunt, from Heather Mckay to Michelle Martin. Mumbai’s  loss has been Seattle’s again.

Yusuf has eight children. Azam, Shabana and Latasha have represented America at international events. Today, Azam  coaches in Seattle but the girls have continued to play on the world circuit. Latasha is currently ranked at 19 and Shabana at 25.

Yusuf’s proximity with the squash fraternity was evident at the World Open. Jahangir stayed at his home. The great Hashim, now in his nineties, was to fly down from his base in  Denver but his fragile health prevented him from doing so.

The Seattle Club is like a second home to him.

He is like a father figure. The players and officials dote on him. Everybody had a kind word to say about his organisation and hospitality.

There was a plaque from the World squash Federation and simple message from Jahangir, “Thank you, Yusuf.”