Need to maintain the 'sanctity' of National meets: Ghosal

It is rare to find top Indian sports persons participating in National Championships. Squash, though, stands as an exception. The HCL 74th National Squash Championships, with its main draw beginning on Wednesday, features a strong field which includes Indian international players — Joshna Chinappa and Sourav Ghosal.

Defending champion Dipika Pallikal, too, was to participate in the tournament but had to pull out last minute due to ankle sprain, the organisers confirmed.

Ghosal, who achieved the career best ranking of 15 in 2015, said it was important to maintain the “sanctity” of the National Championships. “The international circuit is very hectic but this is the only domestic tournament we play. I feel it is our responsibility to show the youngsters what the best in the country has to offer. The National Championships shouldn’t be just a name. If none us play, the title win won’t have much significance for the players. In 2014, Harinder (Sandhu) beat me in the final, because he was the best that year,” Ghosal, an 11-time National Champion, said.

Joshna, a 14-time champion, agreed. “I am playing in the Nationals since I was 10 years old. I wish I could play more on the domestic circuit.”

Continuing from last year, the organiser HCL have kept an equal prize money of Rs 1.5 lakh each for both men and women winners. The championship has received entries of 553 players with 312 entries in men’s singles and 64 in women’s singles. The championship will be held at Shiv Nadar University in Greater Noida. “At this stage we cannot quantify if it’s correct or not (equal prize money). But if it helps young girls to take up sports, if it can help us get even 10 Deepika or Joshna, then it’s the best possible thing to do,” Ghosal said.

Joshna, however, said: “I would have played irrespective of the prize money, but that is my view.”

The two were effusive in praise of Egyptian coach Ashraf El Karargi and credited him for the recent good showing of the Indian players. “I have been working with him, he has lot of creative ideas, I felt he has made a difference to my game. He has seen all the top Egyptian players from close quarters. There has been a definite improvement in my game,” said Joshna, who achieved her career-best ranking of 10 last year.