Ghosal qualifies for squash’s Wimbledon

MUMBAI: When Saurav Ghosal beat Hisham Mohd Ashour at the 2005 Men’s British Open in Manchester on Monday he etched his name in the annals of Indian sport.

While India’s top ranked player Ritwik Bhattacharya fell by the way side Ghosal went on to become the first Indian to qualify for the men’s main draw of what is known as the Wimbledon of squash.

Nineteen-year-old Ghosal is understandably delighted that he could progress in the premier tournament but has his feet firmly on the ground and his goals well laid out. “The real test lies ahead. Consistency is the key if I am to leave my mark in the sport,” Ghosal told DNA from Manchester on Tuesday.  A student of economics at the University of Leeds, Ghosal is fast being exposed to a new culture in class as well as on the squash court. “I get to play against the top players in the world —- Lee Beachill, John White —- regularly at Pontefract, where I train under Malcom Willstrop. Playing against the best is a reality check on where you stand and how much you need to improve,” Ghosal said.

A former junior British Open champion, Ghosal moved from Chennai, where he was under the tutelage of Cyrus Poncha, to Britain only three weeks back. At Leeds too, he will be doing what he did at the South Indian city; pursuing studies as well the sport.

His first year in Britain will also be his maiden one on the men’s circuit and Ghosal, who was seeded No.1 at the World Junior Squash championships in Islamabad last year, is ranked No.70 in the big league. “Sparring against the best in the run-up to the British Open definitely helped me. I am sure my game will improve and my rankings climb,” he said. “Going into the British Open I was in good form. What is important is that I maintain my good run,” he added.