The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Sparkling fare in the offing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 13, 2004

Sport

Sport - Squash

Sparkling fare in the offing

By S.R. Suryanarayan

Jehangir Khan, President, World Squash Federation (centre), handing over the WSF flag to N. Ramachandran, Secretary-General-SRFI (second from left) to mark the inauguration of the second World doubles squash championships on Sunday. Also seen are (from extreme right) Ratnakar Rao, W.I. Dawaram and P.W.C. Davidar. — Photo: Vino John.

CHENNAI, DEC. 12. For squash lovers there is little to look beyond the ICL-TNSRA courts for the next few days for some eye-filling action from some of the best players with the World doubles championship to be held from December 13 to 17.

In a way this championship is Squash Rackets Federation of India's (SRFI) way of continuing with the thrust to make squash a popular and more result-oriented sport in the country. Two years ago the World junior men's championship came in handy. The top class competition triggered a wave of interest. A little of it rubbed on our junior talent. India now has two top juniors in Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa, both national champions at the senior level.

Transformed look

And now the same venue presents a transformed look in keeping with the requirements for doubles (widening of courts by four feet). Not many venues in the world have doubles courts or scope for converting singles courts into doubles, and that observers believe was one reason why after the first edition, launched in Hong Kong in 1997, the second had taken this long. The modified Academy's existing modern ASB courts, including the glass-back centre court, can now have five doubles matches at a time. It is an impressive setting, something even a legend like Geof Hunt, visiting the country for the first time as head coach of Australia, was quick to admit.

What this event will mean to India is simple: have the best available talent in the world at home and allow our national players have some rich experience.

Top players in fray

And this championship can boast of some top-ranking players. David Palmer is ranked fourth in the world in men's and Rachael Grinham, who has played in WISPA competition here before, is World No. 1 now, to name just two. Both these Australians carry a special mission to India: to grab all the honours.

Who else but Hunt himself summed up his side's aim. For, as he said, Australia was preparing for the 2006 Commonwealth Games at home and "we take the Games very seriously". This championship had come at a time when not many doubles events are held in the world for the Australian side to sharpen their skills.

That factor alone should promise sparkling squash. But, as Hunt was to muse, if only England and Scotland too had come, this Chennai event would have had the best field. "Even otherwise it is strong with New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia and Pakistan there", he said. "I have not seen the Indians much so I cannot hazard an opinion", Hunt added.

Most of the teams have arrived. Australia, New Zealand, U.S. and host India went through long practice sessions on Sunday. The Pakistanis took it easy. Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong are to arrive late in the night.

Jehangir inaugurates

At a function held at the official hotel, The Taj Connemara, the President of the World Squash Federation, the legendary Jehangir Khan, formally inaugurated the championship on Sunday with the customary handing over of the WSF flag to the SRFI Secretary-General, N. Ramachandran. The Vice President, SDAT, W.I. Davaram released a souvenir with SDAT Member-Secretary, P.W.C. Davidar, receiving the first copy.

The format for the championship is the pool league with the top two from each pool making the knock-out round.

Following are the pools: Men: Pool `A': David Palmer and Anthony Ricketts (Aus), Ritwik Bhattacharya and Saurav Ghosal (Ind), Vivian Rahmanan and Mohd Rizal (Sing), Paul Atkinson and Michael Tootill (South Africa). Pool `B': Naishadh Lalwani and Rushabh Vora (Ind), Mohd. Azland and Ong Beng Hee (Mal), Jame Crombie and Preston Quick (US), Roger Ngan and Wong Wai Hang (HK). Pool `C': Manzoor Zaman and Shahid Zaman (Pak), Byron Davis and Cameron White (Aus), Vikas Jangra and Harinder Pal Singh (Ind), Raymond Arnold and S. Maniam (Mal). Pool `D': Safeerullah Khan and Faroukh Zaman (Pak), Bala Murugan and A. Parthiban (Ind), Dan Jenson and Camaron Pilley (Aus), Gaurav Nandrajog and Niraj Shirgaokar (Ind).

Women: Pool `A': Natalie Grinham and Rachael Grinham (Aus), Shelly Kitchen and T. Leevey (NZ), Kasey Brown and Melissa Martin (Aus), Loiuse Hall and Latasha Khan (US). Pool `B': Nicol David and Tricia Chuah (Mal), Heidi Mather and Amelia Pittock (Asu), Diana Argyll and Angie Clifton Parks (South Africa), Loise Crome and Lara Parks (NZ).

Mixed: Pool `A': David Palmer and Rachael Grinham (Aus), Michael Tootill and Angie Clifton Parks (South Africa), Callum O'Brien and Lara Petera (NZ). Pool `B': Glen Wilson and Shelly Kitchen (NZ), Jamie Crombie and Latasha Khan (U.S.), Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa (Ind). Pool `C': Ong Beng Hee and Nicol David (Mal), Cameron White and Dianne Desira (Aus), Preston Quick and Louise Hall (U.S.), Abdul Fahim Khan and Rebecca Chiu (HK). Pool: `D': Den Jehson and Natalie Grinham (Aus), Mohd Azlan and Tricia Chuah (Mal), Paul Atkinson and Diana Argyll (South Africa).

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