CWG: india's best bet for medals in squash will be in doubles, insists coach cyrus poncha

India's squash squad confident of CWG medal in doubles

CWG: india's best bet for medals in squash will be in doubles, insists coach cyrus poncha

India's best hopes for medals in the squash competition of the Delhi Commonwealth Games will be in the doubles events. In the singles, the field is extremely strong with England's World No 2 Nick Matthew heading the men's cast and World No 1 Nicol David of Malaysia spearheading the women's field. For India's Numero Unos Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa to pick up a medal in singles will be a herculean task.

Saurav Ghosal

India coach Cyrus Poncha, who is hard at work with his wards, said from Delhi: "The team has worked very hard over the past couple of years. The government and the SRFI have given plenty of support. We are ready and raring to go for the CWG.

Our best bets for medals would come in the doubles category," asserted Poncha.
"The women's doubles team of Joshna and Deepika (Pallikal), who won a doubles tourney at Manchester in March, have a glorious opportunity to pick up a medal. Joshna and Harinder Singh Sandhu and Saurav and Deepika are good medal prospects in the mixed doubles event," stressed the Chennai-based coach.

India's most decorated women's player Chinappa, world ranked 34, also agreed with her coach.

"Singles will be very tough and I have a difficult opener against Malaysian Sharon Wee. Deepika and me beat the likes of World No 2 Jenny Duncalf (England) and World No 4 Alison Waters (England) and Donna Urqhart (Australia) and Casey Brown (Australia) to win a doubles event in Manchester.

'Training hard'
"I have been training really hard with Malcolm Willstrop (father of World No 4 James Willstrop) in England for the past couple of months. I am playing well and I am confident of putting up a good show," said Chinappa.
Pallikal, India No 2, and currently ranked one rung higher than Chinappa on the WISPA rankings at No 33 is also confident of bagging a medal.

"Joshna and I have an excellent chance in the women's doubles. Saurav and me also have a terrific opportunity to win a medal in the mixed doubles. I have been training hard with Amir Wagih in Egypt over the past four years and I am in good shape coming into this prestigious tournament," emphasised the 19-year-old.
Saurav Ghosal, India's men's squash ace, and the only Indian to break into the top 30 of the PSA rankings (ranked No 26), echoed his teammates views.

"Singles is a tough ask. If I get to the pre-quarters, I play Peter Barker, the No 3 seed and World No 8. It will be very difficult to get past him. I've given the men's doubles a skip as I will have to play
too many matches in a day.

"Deepika and I have been gelling well and if all goes according to the plan, we could end up on the podium," said Ghosal.