Going places

Hopefully, my recent win will spur me on to greater things. I dream of winning a medal for India at the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2010, says Saurav Ghosal in this email interview with S. R. Suryanarayan.

For sheer attitude and commitment national squash champion Saurav Ghosal is like tennis ace Leander Paes. Both are fiercely competitive and both dazzle when egged on by a supportive crowd. It is not uncommon in India to see seats filling up when Saurav is in action and there is this constant chant, “come on Saurav”. The man loves a fight, enjoys company and is a hit with players and officials, both here and abroad. That is how his future in the game was taken c are of, once he left Chennai for higher studies in England, at the noted Pontefract Squash and Leisure Club in Leeds run by Malcolm Willstrop, whose son James is a former world junior champion. Malcolm had seen Saurav in Chennai during the 2002 World junior championship (where James was crowned champion) and was impressed with the lad’s chutzpah.

A product of the ICL Academy in Chennai where SRFI consultant Maj. S. Maniam and National coach Cyrus Poncha put him through the paces, Saurav’s is a story of a steady rise from a humble beginning. Leaving Kolkata at a tender age was difficult. Even more so was forsaking his favourite game, cricket. But his grandparents provided him the homely touch in Chennai and the squash academy proved to be a temple of learning. The rest is history.

With a clutch of national titles and a handful of international trophy triumphs, Saurav, now 22, has graduated to a serious professional who has just begun to reap the benefits of hard work. The success in Bordeaux, he admits, has been the biggest in his career and it has inspired him to aim for greater heights.

“The latest success augurs well for Saurav as he had got past players many rungs above him in world ranking. Surely, his ranking too will rise in the days to come,” said Poncha.

Excerpts from the interview:Question: How do you rate the Ornano win?

Answer: My win in the Ornano International in Bordeaux, France, is the biggest PSA title win of my career. It is particularly satisfying because I beat three higher ranked players, including two from the top 30. I was quietly confident before the tournament started as I have been playing some good squash in the last couple of months. I took one match at a time and I am very happy I emerged victorious in the event!

You missed the home support, but how was it beating a Frenchman in France?

I played Renan Lavigne (WR 27), a French player, in the quarterfinals. To be honest, the crowd was very knowledgeable and appreciated good squash. Thus, although they wanted the French player to win, they were not really hostile towards me.

Your next big assignment and your goal for the year?

I am playing in the World Open in Manchester in October. It is a big tournament and I hope to do well. I hope to play three or four more tournaments before the year is out. I would like to continue my recent good run of form and that will push my level of squash up and take care of my ranking.

Your own assessment of how much you have improved and your experience in the PSA circuit…

I think I have improved immensely as a squash player since I went to England. My basic understanding of the game has gone up considerably, although there are still areas for improvement. My physical conditioning is much better now and that has helped immensely. I think the PSA circuit has made me mentally stronger.

You have said that Malcolm Willstrop has tuned you up for bigger challenges…

Malcolm Willstrop and everyone at Pontefract Squash & Leisure Club have made me feel at home in England. It was difficult in the beginning because I was a touch homesick. However, I am thoroughly enjoying my squash in England. I feel like I am learning every day from James Willstrop and Lee Beachill and all the other players in the club. I could not have asked for a better training base.

The Ornano success was your fourth PSA title. Can you please tell the readers about your earlier ones?

My first PSA title was at the Otters Open in Mumbai in 2005. After that I won the Chennai Open twice, in 2007 and 2008.

Frequent traveling — all on your own, are you liking the life of a professional?

The travelling does get tiring at times because one is always living out of a suitcase and there doesn’t seem to be much stability in life. Hence, I make it a point to enjoy my squash as much as possible. It is also nice to interact with new cultures and people. However, I must admit that I hardly get to see much of all the wonderful places I go to.

Looking back, what are your thoughts?

I would like to thank my grandparents and my dad and mom for all their support. I appreciate the support from my sponsors, India Cements, Veedol and Prince. My past coaches Cyrus Poncha and Major Maniam helped me a great deal in my formative years. I am also extremely grateful to Malcolm Willstrop for all his help in the three years I have been with him. I hope to continue working with him.

Looking ahead, what are your plans?

Hopefully, my recent win will spur me on to greater things. I dream of winning a medal for India at the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2010!