ISA will get better, says departing coach Maniam

Major S. Maniam, whose coaching contract will end in June this year, has expressed confidence in his likely successor at the Indian Squash Academy, Ashraf El Karargi, and predicted a strong Indian contingent in five years.

Major S. Maniam says the key to coaching is to keep motivating the students.

Maj. S. Maniam is easily the most liked and respected of all the coaches at the Indian Squash Academy. “I parent them,” he told the Sportstar in a chat here on Friday.

“I tell our coaches on how to deal with the players. You have to keep motivating them. That’s the key,” said the Squash Rackets Federation of India’s Consultant Coach.

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'Proper system'

His term will come to an end this June. The 61-year-old will be taking up the role of Director and CEO of Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia. Maniam compared ISA to McDonalds in terms of having a system in place. “McDonalds is McDonalds wherever you have it. Because there is a proper system,” he said.

On his likely successor Ashraf El Karargi of Egypt, Maniam said “we wanted an experienced coach and he fits the bill perfectly. With National coach Cyrus’s (Poncha) home knowledge, ISA will certainly get better and we will have a strong Indian contingent in five years from now.”