The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Jansher offers to lend India a helping hand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 01, 2005

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Sport - Squash

Jansher offers to lend India a helping hand

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: : Jansher Khan is ready to take talented Indian squash youngsters under his wing in Pakistan for training and preparation. "I am willing to train Indians," said the eight-time World champion, now running a squash programme in Peshawar.

The Pakistani great spoke to the media after arriving in Mumbai for the Herald Maritime Services Squash Open at Otters Club courts.

"I have made an offer to Capt Jamshed Appoo (of Herald Maritime Services) about starting a process for identifying deserving players."

Jansher's four nephews who train with him, are all competing in the men's open category.

"They are the best in Pakistan, all world champions in the making if they work hard enough to get there," reasoned the world-beater. He was clear about the reasons behind Pakistan's inability to produce a world champion since his retirement and talked at length about the steps needed to be taken by Indian squash to attain world levels.

He pointed out that coaching and skewed federation's juniors policy as twin causes for Pakistan's inability to produce world-beaters.

"Squash talent in Pakistan is awesome, but coaching of desired level is missing. The federation's total focus on juniors also needs rethinking. I have advised the federation to field exceptionally gifted juniors on the seniors circuit instead of playing them only at their age groups."

Jansher was clear that Indian squash players lacked champions to look up to and play against, besides regular competitions.

"Pakistan youngsters taking up the sport grow up amidst world champions, whom they can observe and train with. India is short of top-level players, also tournaments like this professionally-managed Mumbai event. Indian squash needs at least four events of this level. Experience of playing against top internationals is the most vital aspect missing here for juniors who I hear are already making a mark. Otherwise, I don't see any differences between Pakistan and India."

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