Chennai :
When Joshna Chinappa makes her flight bookings to take part in events on the other side of the world, she must ensure that she advances well into the tournament to even break even. Unbelievable? “If I make the main draw in a $25,000 event, I get about $400 for playing the first round,” she says. “But what’s $400. Flight costs $1000. So you are not really making much unless you are a top 10 player.”
Chinappa is just outside the top 10 (world No 13), but even she finds the unforgiving nature of the sport a bit tough at times. “It is hard because I pretty much do this on my own. I travel on my own so it is sometimes hard to be constantly motivated when you don’t have someone in your corner. A lot of girls I play with are in the top 15 and they always come with a team. So I am at a slight disadvantage but I have been playing and enjoying.”
Given that’s the case, has the 29-year-old ever contemplated giving it all up? The answer starts even before the question is completed. “I just love what I do,” she smiles. “I don’t know anything else. I have a limited time in this field and I just want to make the most of it.”
The Chennai girl, who was at the Indian Squash Academy (ISA) on Friday for an exhibition match-up with Malaysia’s Delia Arnold (No 15) and Dipika Pallikal (No 19), also spoke about how the sport is on the right path apropos equal pay. “It’s become so much better in squash. A lot of the big tournaments have equal pay but you are not going to have that all the time. There will be times when the men get paid more and there will be times when the women get paid more. It balances out somewhere down the line,” she says.
Pallikal chimes in. “Two days ago, it was announced that the 2017 World Open (Manchester) will be having equal pay for the first time. That’s a massive change. I’m a big believer in it and I hope our sport can set the standard.”
Given Pallikal and Chinappa cannot play together because of the absence of a doubles tour on the circuit, the former was happy to have a hit with her more senior partner. “We don’t tend to play with each other because of the absence of the absence of a doubles circuit. We only play once in four years during the Commonwealth Games. So it was nice to come back and enjoy a hit with her.”
The 24-year-old has slid down the rankings chart recently but isn’t too bothered about that. “Rankings aren’t as important for me as much as playing well and enjoying the game. I keep telling myself that if I play well, the rankings will automatically improve.”
Bigger tests await both women but they will first have to tackle giants Malaysia in the Asian Team Championship that begins in Chinese Taipei from May 11.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport / by Swaroop Swaminathan / May 07th, 2016
