Foreign coach Ashraf to visit Indian Squash Academy in May

"It is confirmed that Ashraf will come in the second fortnight of May and stay here for a week or so. More or less, he will be here before Ramadan starts," a top source told Sportstar on Friday.

Members of the Indian squash team go through their paces under the watchful eyes of coach Major S. Maniam during a training session at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai.

Egypt’s Ashraf El Karargi, who is slated to take over as the Foreign coach of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) from Maj. S. Maniam, is expected to visit the city and take stock of the facilities at the Indian Squash Academy (ISA), later this month.

“It is confirmed that Ashraf will come in the second fortnight of May and stay here for a week or so. More or less, he will be here before Ramadan starts,” a top source told Sportstar on Friday. It is learnt that Ashraf has signed a two-year contract with Sports Authority of India (SAI).

After the Indian men’s and women’s teams return from the Asian team championships in Chinese Taipei (May 11 to 15), the foreign coach is expected to speak to the players and get a feel of the Academy. Ashraf will then join officially in the first week of July after the month of Ramadan.

>READ: ISA will get better, says departing coach Maniam

Maj. S. Maniam, Consultant Coach, SRFI, who will quit office in June, will brief the incumbent on the achievements of ISA and the process he has set up with his team of coaches. Cyrus Poncha, the National coach, will head the Academy, and the foreign coach will work with him.