Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa – two of India’s top squash players – said that the country needs to organise more tournaments, have more venues and improve the training facilities to produce fresh players.

“India needs more venues, better infrastructure and spectatorship. The international venues are fantastic. It gives you a feeling of being a rockstar as you are watched by so many people. The New York and Manchester courts pump up my adrenaline,” said Ghosal.

He felt the difference when he went to England to train with Malcolm Willstrop in 2005. “There are more players to train with in England. The support staff and physiotherapists are far advanced than in India,” he added.

Chinappa, India’s No. 2 woman player, seconded Ghosal and said that the need of the hour was a structured programme in India. “Having good courts won’t serve the purpose. India needs a system in place. Saurav, Dipika (Pallikal) and I did not have any system,” she said.

Chinappa asserted how she had to struggle to get sponsors. “Squash is an expensive sport and one cannot make money out of it unless he or she is in the top 10. There should be more tournaments and players from all categories should be supported,” she added.

The duo recently won the NSCI Squash Open in Mumbai and along with Pallikal will begin their campaign in the Hong Kong Open starting on December 3.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Sport> Report / by Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya / Place:Mumbai, Agency:DNA / Tuesday – December 04th, 2013