World No. 10 Joshna Chinappa, the reigning National champion, interacted over email with The Hindu about her rehabilitation, new world high and other topics on the eve of the senior National squash championships beginning at the Otters Club here on Tuesday.
Ranked World No. 10 for the first time is a source of pride for parents and your backers as also a sense of responsibility towards coach and physio. Your views?
One of my goals was definitely getting into the top 10 and am happy that I am there. There is still more to go. It has been a combination of all the work I have done in the last four years with my physio, Ritwik (Bhattacharya, coach) and my current fitness trainer Rajamani.
Otters Club is a place you spent months on the road to recovery. Any particular facility which brings the smile back?
I spent almost a year ever day at Otters working with my rehab specialist and trainer Ahmed Youssef. I would say the gymnasium brings back a lot of memories.
Rehabilitation is usually a lonely journey, with anxiety and pain keeping regular company. How did you cope?
It was a difficult time and that is why moving to Mumbai made all the difference. I had a good team in Ahmed and Ritwik. Mentally it was tough not being able to compete.
Physically I had good days and bad days (pain-wise), but progress each day gave me confidence. More than anything else, I wanted to play for India again. Ritwik motivated me a lot and helped me believe I could be better than before my injury!
The Nationals has been dominated by you and Saurav Ghosal. Dipika Pallikal’s presence this year may lead to a thrilling women’s final. Any other talented girls to trouble the two of you?
Akanksha (Salunkhe) from Goa and Chennai’s Lakshya (Raghavendran) are a couple of the good players in the draw.
Parity in prize money at the Mumbai Nationals. Do you feel the women’s final will be as thrilling and competitive as the men’s?
It is good to have Dipika and me competing in the Nationals together after a long time. I am sure it will be an exciting match.
Seeded No. 2 behind Saurav, Mahesh Mangaonkar from Mumbai is supposed to be a hot prospect. Manish Chotrani was the last Mumbai player to win a National title. Do you feel other States have more talent than Maharashtra?
There are good players from many States who are going to be playing here. The support we get from the Tamil Nadu government, I believe, is a lot more than what other States give. It is the reason we have many good players from TN doing well.
Squash is not an Olympic sport yet. Indian women have qualified for Rio in events like wrestling, boxing, archery, shooting, athletics, badminton, tennis, gymnastics and hockey. What next?
Today we see many women doing so well in different sports and that is what India needs — strong women who have beaten the odds to be where they are to inspire the nation!
Among the strong women to inspire younger generations, do you wish to name anyone whom you respect a lot (past or present Olympians)?
I have a lot of respect for P.T. Usha, given the odds she came through to achieve her goals.
