Reigning CWG champ says life hasn’t changed much despite historic gold in Glasgow
Joshna Chinappa
Despite creating history by winning India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medal in women’s doubles squash last year, struggles still continue to be a part of Joshna Chinappa’s life.
India’s Joshna Chinappa returns to Hong Kong’s Lee Ka in the women’s singles quarter-finals of the JSW Indian Squash Circuit at NSCI, Worli yesterday. Pic/ Pradeep Dhivar
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In the CWG final, the fifth-seed pair of Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal had beaten the top-seeded English pair of Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro 11-6, 11-8 in Glasgow.
Yesterday, Chinappa spoke to mid-day on the sidelines of the JSW Indian Squash Circuit event at the National Sports Club of India, Worli.
“I don’t think my life has changed after winning the CWG gold as my struggles still continue. Despite being the No 2 player in the country, funding remains a problem. If you look at a sport like badminton, for example, the system helps players travel abroad for tournaments alongwith their coaches. In squash though we have to pay for everything. The only change that has come post the Asiad and CWG medals is that the government has started providing top squash players some funding.
In our country funding comes easily only if an athlete plays an Olympic sport. But there are players from sporting disciplines like squash and cue sports, who have represented India and achieved a lot, but it’s not good enough to merit funding equal to those who represent play Olympic sports,” said the 28-year-old, who entered the semis of the JSW meet yesterday with a 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2 win over Hong Kong’s Lee Ka.
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