Indian players need to give squash top priority: Coach

NEW DELHI - Indian squash players are loaded with talent but they need to give more time to the sport to become a force on the world circuit, feels coaching great Malcolm Willstrop.

The Englishman, one of the most respected coaches in the world and who runs an academy in Leeds, finds that Indian players are stuck between academics and sport, which is proving to be a hindrance in the development of their game.

India currently have three players — Saurav Ghoshal, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal — on the professional tour and in the top-50 bracket. The Englishman is coach to all three.

Willstrop strongly feels that the players need to give the sport top priority.

“This dilemma is not only in the minds of the Indians but also the Egyptians,” Willstrop told IANS.

“It is between the age of 18-22 when you give total commitment but here I see the players have to manage their college and the sporting career. It has to be either of the two. In Europe, many players opt out of college to pursue squash. My son (World No.5 James Willstrop) did the same.”

The last decade has seen the end of dominance of Pakistan and Egypt with six Europeans figuring in the top-10. Nick Matthew, the reigning World Champion is from England. Though Egypt still has four players in the top-10, none of the Pakistani players are in that bracket.

According to Willstrop, the half-hearted approach towards the sport results in injuries on the professional tour.

“The injuries are inevitable if you don’t give adequate time to the sport,” he said.

“Ramy Ashour (the current No.1) is quite prone to injuries and had to pullout from the Punj Lloyd Masters here. Saurav (No.22) is a bit lucky in this case. He was training under me in Leeds and also had his college there.”

Willstrop, who is also here to teach the upcoming players, said: “I spoke to some of the junior players and there is no concept as to how to train. Their parents want them to study as well. I say let them play if they are passionate about the game else they always have the option to fall back on academics,” he said.