Newsletter Issue No.3

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NEWS LETTER OF THE INDIAN SQUASH PROFESSIONALS Vol No.1 Issue No.3

DIRECTORS: MAHENDRA AGARWAL/ SUBHASH WALI / NARENDRA GOUR (I.R.S.) CHANDRAKANT PAWAR.OUR HONORARY MEMB NAVNEET SONI(I.R.S.) / BHARAT BHUSHAN (I.R.S.) / SAIFEE JANI (M.D. JANI SALES LTD.) / RAJESH LIHALA( M.D. SHIVA MKT LTD) / RAKESH LAKHANPAL (M.D. S.S.KNITTING IND.) MUKESH BABU(CHAIRMAN, MUKESH BABU SECURITIES LTD) HONOURED PATRONS:VIVEK NAIR(VICE CHAIRMAN & MD THE LEELA)/SAJJAN JINDAL VICE CHAIRMAN & M.D.JINDAL GROUP OF COMPANIES)
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RAHMAT KHAN GETS INTO THE THICK OF IT

From coaching Saket Wali at the Leela courts to the professionals, women and finally the leading juniors of the state, it has been a steady rise to acceptability for Rahmat Khan, the renowned coach of Jahangir khan during his heady days at the top of world squash.

Rahmat’s desire to produce a world champ from India must have been the main reason for the Squash Rackets Association of Maharashtra to rope him in for coaching their juniors.

His instant rapport saw them do well when they played in local events, with Parineeta Choudhary being the best of the lot, and Karishma Juneja not far behind. Rahmat thought the women needed a lot of hard work before they could reach the acceptable standards.

Rahmat Khan coaching Women

Later, the efforts of the new persident of the SRAM, Vaman Apte, Rustom Dalal and Subhash Wali, a new entrant to the official body, saw Rahmat coaching the juniors at the CCI courts.Nineteen players from all over the state took part in the squash clinic during April.

Rahmat has signed a two-year contract with the SRAM. He coaches four times a week. Initially, there was a bunch of 24 which will be pruned down to 12 for Rahmat wants to concentrate on the chosen few so that champion can be given the final touches. The youngsters are still incapable of playing the long-drawn-out game still need brushing up on the basics and the fitness levels have to be considerably boosted so that they can come up to the lofty standards Rahmat has set in the sport.0ne hopes the players of Maharashtra show enough commitment so that Rahmat’s work gets noticed in course of the year through titles in the various national events.

VEGGIE WHO’S AFTER THE BIG FISH OF SQUASH

Parth Doshi

Till recently when Abhijit Kukreja resumed his squash after his tenth exams, Parth Doshi was the lone standard bearer in the Junior Squash Circuit. His effort bare fruit when he won the boys under 16 Perrier title in Singapore and Malaysia in 1996. Back home he won the National title at Chennai, the Little Masters at Willington and the Western India at the CCI. In this year’s Asian’s, he beat Aaron Soyza before losing to Hong Kong’s Wong Wai Chung. In 1997, Parth again reached the under16 final of the Singapore Perrier event, losing to Mohamed Azlan of Malaysia.On way to the final he beat players from Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. In Malaysia Parth was advised by Maj Manian, under whom he trained for a month, to take part in the higher age group, the under-19, where he could get better competition.Parth played in the first two legs of the Milo-Sport Excel Junior Squash circuit. He came fourth in the first leg. In the second he was sixth. Competition in the second leg was stiff as players from Singapore and Australia were in the fray. Parth lost to an Australian player but not before taking a game off him.

Indian Squash players have been generally thought to be lacking in direction. They live from day to day, don’t have a fixed programme and everything is ad hoc. In Doshi’s case it is different. Thanks to sponsorship of Raj Mahtani of Lalchand Dhalamall Jewellers, himself a keen golfer, Doshi has chalked out a systematic plan to develop his game. A last eight place in the British Open Junior under 16 event shows that he can be counted among the top ten juniors of the world, not bad for an Indian.

It is obvious that with more exposure and guidance Doshi can go from strength to strength. There seems to be virtually an army of helpers for Parth. Beginning with doting parents Dr. Prakash and Dr. Purna who take time off from their busy practice at Ghatkopar. Then Dr. Anand Gokani whose dietary guidance is essential, for Parth is a vegetarian and has to look for odd sources for building up stamina and endurance.

Then there is Dr. Rajendra Bharve, a sport physiotherapist whose work enabled Parth to focus better than before and stay cool and confident. On-court training has been coming from Jansher’s manager Satinder Bajwa, Maj. Maniam from Malaysia and local coaches Santosh More and Baburao Salvi. Otters Club Bandra have been another pillar of strength for Doshi for free time and access to a squash court is invaluable. The Non Resident Indian Squash Association has helped with Prince rackets sponsorship. When on the circuit Raju Chainani, the freelance writer, can be counted upon for help. All in all a big entourage is behind Doshi in his attempt to scale the heights of squash that seem to be unattainable for an Indian because of lack of exposure. One can hope this veggie can eat up the big fish of the game.

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