POPULAR PROS

RIAZ MOHAMMED

VIJAY WAGHELA

One of the popular but low profile professionals in Mumbai squash is Vijay Waghela. He took to coaching in 1997 and in eight years has coached at Khar Gymkhana, Juhu Gymkhana, Bombay Gymkhana and the Andheri complex during camps arranged by the Squash Rackets Association of Maharashtra. He picked up the ropes from Baburao Salvi, a contemporary of of greatest pros, Shyam Lal Verma and Francis. Salvi too was a modest person doing his work quietly at Holiday Inn. 

No titles have come the way of Waghela who has reached the quarters and semis of some events notably the Otters Open. He is sad that Juhu Gymkhana which has great facilities could not throw up a champ during his stint there. But he is happy at the work he has put in at Khar. ``I am happy to see players like Dhiraj Nagpal come up. I've worked at times with Vikram Malhotra and he is sure to reach the top.'' 

Vijay also coached Kanika Premnarayen and she regularly made the semis and finals of the girls events. 

Fitness is something he always stresses. And he feels he has the confidence to take the kids to the advanced level. 

In contrast Riaz Mohamed is more outgoing. The son of famous coach Faiz Mohamed of Otters and then SeaRock, Riaz began coaching in the year 1980. 

From 1982 to 89 he and Chandrakant Pawar were popular pros at Otters. That was when the likes of Meherwan Daruwalla, Akhil Behl, Niraj Shirgaonkar and Cyrus Poncha came up. Meherwan acknowledges that his National win was helped by the sparring he had with Riaz. Riaz like Pawar went to Dubai where he worked for Subash Wali and coached at the Intercontinental hotel. He also played the local leagues. 

Back in India he continued at the five star hotels like Holiday Inn, Centaur and now is at the Hyatt. 

He has been reaching semis of pros events and was India No 3 once. As a junior he remembers being East India No 2 losing to Otters lad Aashish Kamat. 

Now his friendly disposition sees him getting the best out of the kids, notably Sachika Balwani who won the under-15 national title. He also sees potential in Avni Shetty and Rohan Gracious and is happy to participate in all activities of the SRAM and ISP. He has been especially happy to coach the city's cops and hopes to find a champ from their midst. 

Good Luck, Riaz and Vijay. Keep squash going.

HARINDER IN SAURAV'S FOOTSTEPS 

With Saurav Ghosal now lost to Indian domestic squash having  chosen to study in the UK, doors have opened to the second stringers. Among those aspiring for this slot is Harinder Singh Sandhu. 

This lad from Chandigarh was frustrated at first because he would have to travel to Chennai all the time for squash events. He even missed a few because this. Now ironically Chennai has become his adopted home because he is training at the ICL Academy. 

He won't complain because he is winning titles and won the National under-17 title. 

And when he came to Mumbai he won the under-17 title at the State Open beating Vikram Malhotra in the final. 

Says Harinder about his win:``This was a different Vikram from the Junior Nationals. Then he was  trying to finish off the rallies. That gave me the chances and points. Here he was keeping ball in play. That made it hard to win.'' 

Harinder knows he is fitter than Vikram  and will have the edge in long-drawn encounters. Even so he is working on his weak points. ``I still need to make a few shots more effective.'' 

At the start of the new year he is targetting the British Juniors Opens won thrice by Indians Joshna (twice) and Saurav Ghoshal. ``I have played in the under-17 and know what it takes.'' Harinder has also played four PSA events but hasn't got beyond the first round. ``There have been five-setters but I have still to win one around.'' 

Still 16, he has three more years in the junior circuit and can easily replicate the feats that Saurav Ghoshal did. 

FROM NO 3 IN BATTING ORDER TO NO. 3 IN THE SQUASH LADDER

SURBHI MISRA  

Trying to make an impact among Indian women squash players is Surbhi Misra. Right now in Chennai where she trains the spotlight is on Deepika Pallikal and Anwesha Reddy. But Surbhi is determined to make her mark. She is always cheerful and accepts what comes here way. Surbhi comes from Jaipur. She has played women’s cricket for her state and was the best bowler in one of the invitation tournament. 

But the fielders were not taking catches and Surbhi thought she should turn to squash where she alone would be responsible for her performance. 

The no 3 batter is now no 3 among the girls. The under 17 title at the Bombay Gymkhana came her way as Deepika had pulled out. She lost to Joshna in the national women’s semi final. But she has age on her side. 

She hopes to get sponsors and pursue her ambitions in the world arena.