My ultimate goal is to be world No. 1: Saurav Ghosal

Think of it, Saurav Ghosal ought to have no deep-rooted urge to push the limit apart from his personal development as a professional squash player.

Squash isn't a game for the masses in India, and therefore rests quite low in the popularity charts. More pertinently — and discouragingly for players — squash has been repeatedly kept out of the Olympics, with the sport missing out for the 2024 Paris Games as well. The only time Saurav and his professional squash compatriots can have the honour of representing and battling for India is in lesser important events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Yet, the 32-year-old Saurav continues to break barriers and raise the bar for Indian squash. He has become the first male player from the country to break into the top 10 of the world rankings, jumping a spot to be placed at world No. 10 on April 1. Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa have both reached a highest ranking of world No. 10 in 2012 and 2016, respectively.

And while Saurav cherishes the addition of another personal milestone in his career spanning over 15 years and counting, he hopes the frequent scaling of newer peaks by himself, Dipika and Joshna has a larger impact — make kids pick up the squash racquet and grow the sport in the country.

"We are all playing to push the barriers and create history," Saurav told DNA. "It is our responsibility to do the best we can to inspire the next generation of squash players in India."

The Kolkata man might have already written a chapter in the history books but he isn't done just as yet. Not even close.

"Making the top 10 in the world rankings has been a goal of mine for a very long time. So, it is extremely satisfying for me to achieve that target. I can now sets my sights higher.

"My dream and ultimate goal is to be the world No. 1. I am working every day to make it happen. Hopefully, it does one day," he said.

Saurav is aiming for the sky, and isn't merely shooting in the dark.

After a disappointing second-round exit in singles from the 2018 Commonwealth Games that made him take "stock of my life", Saurav began working with Australia's former world champion David Palmer in the US from June 2018.

While he continued training with his long-time coach Malcolm Willstrop of England, adding Palmer to his coaching team began to work wonders in quick time.

The 12-time national champion won the Kolkata International title in November 2018, with better results in store after the turn of the year.

Saurav entered the quarterfinals of the 2018-2019 PSA World Championships in Chicago for the first time in his career in February, and made the same stage at the prestigious Grasshopper Cup in Zurich last month.

"It has been a result of a lot of hard work," Saurav said.

"All the work I have done over the years, especially with Malcolm Willstrop, is falling into place. Also, working with David Palmer since last summer has helped a lot.

"I am a lot more secure with my game now. David has helped add to whatever I have learnt with Malcolm over the years. I think the combination is a really good one," he added.

A major transformation has been in his mindset, which Saurav believes has become more solid now than ever before.

"I believed in myself earlier but maybe the belief wasn't strong enough. Over the years, I have definitely started believing more.

"I trust my abilities as a player a lot more now. The confidence comes from all the work that I have put in on and off the squash court," he said.

Saurav has no qualms in saying that he is currently playing the best squash of his career so far, which reflects in his strongest mentality as well as the highest ranking. Yet, he believes there is more to conquer during the rest of the year.

"We set a few goals at the start of the season and they haven't been accomplished yet," he said.

"So, the focus is now on working towards that, trusting the process and putting the work in. Hopefully, the results will follow," he added.

DID YOU KNOW?

Saurav Ghosal is the first Indian male squash player to break into the top 10 of the world rankings. Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa have both reached a highest ranking of world No. 10 in 2012 and 2016, respectively

PLENTY OF FIRSTS

• First Indian to be ranked junior world No. 1 
• Won India’s first squash medal at the Asian Games in the 2006 edition in Doha (bronze) 
• Bagged India’s first ever silver medal in singles in squash at the Asian Games in the 2014 edition in Incheon 
• First Indian player to break into the top 20 of the world ranking in February 2013
• First Indian ever to reach the quarterfinals of the World Championship in 2013