New Delhi: She has been a long-time flag-bearer of Indian squash in the international circuit and is celebrating her ninth title win this week, but Joshana Chinappa is far from happy as she feels her contribution has not helped the sport grow in the country.
"It is a sad situation at the moment. I don't see anyone coming up in the near future. Most of the younger players these days play only to get admission in colleges abroad," Chinappa told PTI after returning from Richmond, USA where she stunned former world number one Rachael Grinham to win the tournament.
Organising world class tournaments is one way to popularise squash but India has not hosted a major tournament since the Punj Lloyd Masters was scrapped in 2011 despite the fact the world body is headed by an Indian - N Ramachandaran, who is also the IOA boss now.
The likes of Joshana, Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal have managed to make their mark on the gruelling professional tour even as they often miss playing at home.
"It sounds unreal that no major tournaments are taking place in a country as big as India. The potential is surely there and I hope something can be organised soon," said Chennai-based Joshana.
On a personal level, the 12-time national champion can't complain on how she is shaping up post her comeback from a career-threatening knee injury in 2011. It was only last month that the 27-year-old attained a career-high rank of 19, joining 12th-ranked Pallikal in the top-20 club.
"Now I feel the knee surgery was the best thing that could have happened to me. It changed everything about my life, whether it was the company I kept or the way I approached my game. It was like starting my career from scratch after being on the couch for six months," recollected the current world number 21.
"The first year after the return was tough but I am all good now. I feel fitter than ever and working with Ritwik Bhattacharya (former player) and fitness trainer Rajamani has been beneficial," said Joshana, who now works out six days a week.
Though rising up the rankings ladder gets tougher from where she is, the Coorg native is eyeing a top-12 spot by the end of the year with her top priority being the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
"The road certainly gets tougher. I need to be consistent and win more against the top-10 players. Winning a medal each in Commonwealth Games and Asian Games is definitely the goal for this year," she said.
Joshana will be working with reputed coach Malcolm Willstrop, who also works with Ghosal, in the run up to the British Open next month.
For sometime the younger Pallikal has been the highest-ranked women's player from India. Asked how she sees the rivalry, Joshana said: "I don't set my goals thinking about anyone else. It is good that Dipika is doing well and I feel we both have a great chance of winning a doubles medal in CWG."
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