Squash? Oh yes, it tastes nice. That is how the mass related to the name of the sport for years.
Chances are not many know the fundamentals of this sport. However, there is a family who have put in their blood and sweat towards the development of squash — the Pawars.
The head of the family, Chandrakant, is the brain behind the Open Squash Championship being held at the NSCI, Worli. His son Sanjay, who is also a coach, has one of his wards as his doubles partner and has thus changed the perception of team game.
The Pawars, who stay in Santa Cruz, have been turning heads for the last five decades. His other sons Ajay and Virendra are also renowned squash coaches. It all started when Chandrakant, who is an 11-time All India Champion, started as a ball boy in Bandra Gymkhana in 1963. Though tennis was his first love, he developed affinity for squash after joining the Otters Club in Bandra.
He has rubbed shoulders with greats like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan of Pakistan.
“Mr. Jahangir used to tell me I was very slow on the court. I told him had I been fast, I would have been him,” recalled Chandrakant, who won West India Championship 10 times and Maharashtra State Championship seven.
What about the sport’s growth in India? “I am trying for years, these tournaments shall encourage more people,” he said.
However, Sanjay has been on a winning streak with his student Samir Mistry in the ongoing tournament. The opponents are failing to interpret the teacher-student’s moves. Why?
“There is no teacher-student gap between us. Sanjay lifted my game from the bottom to top. He used to win 13 points back-to-back against me but now I think, I am at par with him,” said Mistry.
