Joshna Chinappa has been selected for the
prestigious Padma Shri honor by the Indian Government.
Joshna Chinappa, at the age of 37, has won multiple
medals at the Asian Games and is a two- time
Commonwealth Games medalist. She has also won four
medals at the World Championships in doubles, including
a gold in 2022. She was the first Indian Woman to win
the British Junior Squash Championship in 2005 in the
Under 19 category. Chinnappa has won the national squash
championship for a record 18 times, which is the highest
by an Indian player.
The Padma Shri is the fourth
highest civilian honor in the country, after the Bharat
Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan. It is
conferred to individuals for their distinguished
service in any field.
“I’m over the moon,” said squash player Harinder Pal
Singh Sandhu, who is one of 26 sportspersons chosen for
this year’s Arjuna Award “for outstanding performance in
Sports and Squash Games 2023.”
The 34-year-old
won two gold medals at this year’s Asian Games in
Hangzhou in the men’s team event and the mixed doubles
along with Dipika Pallikal.
The pair also won
gold at the inaugural Asian Mixed Doubles Championships
Sandhu will become only the sixth squash player to win
the Arjuna Award after Bhuvneshwari Kumari, Saurav
Ghosal, Dipika, Joshna Chinappa and Anaka Alankamony.
“The Arjuna Award is a reward for all the medals
that I’ve won for the country and I’m grateful to each
and every one who supported me throughout this journey
of over two decades,” he said.
SQUASH in India is blessed with some greats such as R.K.
Narpat Singh, who won the National title 10 times
without a break from 1946, Anil Nayyar, Maj. Raj
Manchanda, Meherwan Daruvala, Adrian Ezra, Arjan Singh,
Ritwik Bhattacharya, Bhubneshwari Kumari, Misha Grewal,
Mekhala Subedar, Saurav Ghosal, Dipika Pallikal and
Joshna Chinappa.
The most legendary figure ever
to grace the Indian Squash scene from Armed Force, Raj
Manchanda who started making his presence felt as a
Captain from the EME, but it was as a Major that he
achieved greatness through his exploits on the Squash
Court.
He was Services Champion for an
unprecedented 11 times and won 6 straight National open
titles from 1977 to 1982. He also represented India in
Asian Championships and World level tournaments during
this period and made his presence felt through his
patented use of the lob accompanied by a nagging
accuracy of shots all around he court. He was also
awarded the Arjuna Award in 1983.
Another notable
player to emerge from the Services in the early 1980s
was Capt Narjit Singh of 2nd Lancers (Armoured Corps).
Narjit also holds the unique distinction of representing
India in 6 successive Asian Championships from
1980-1990, which is a record.
The early eighties
also saw in action the never say die Paratrooper from 17
Para Fd Arty, Major Vikas Kapoor who was ranked in the
top four in India at this time and represented India in
an Asian Championship at Jordan, 1986.
The other
Services players to make a mark at this period were Capt
LK Agnihotri, Capt Ashun Behl and who did well to make
it in the top 8 of the rankings in India and were
important members of Services teams for many years.
The late eighties saw fresh talent from the Services
in the form of Capt. Ravinder Malik and Arjan Singh.
Malik did remarkably well to win two back to back INDIA
TODAY'S squash titles and represented India in the South
Asian Federation games at Islamabad in 1989. Malik was
Services champion from 1982 and in 1996 and accompanied
the Indian team to the Cairo World Squash Championships
(1995) as coach.
The early nineties belonged to
Capt Arjan Singh who was Services Champion from 1991 to
1993 and National Champion from 1994 to 1996.
Represented India in Asian Championships in 1990, 1994
and 1996 and World Championship at Cairo, Egypt in 1995.
He has left the Army now to seek greener pastures
outside. Also prominent at this time was Lt Akshay Joshi
of the Navy who represented India in the Asian
Championships in Malaysia in 1996.
Some other
notable players who were part of Services teams in the
eighties & nineties were Capt A Ganguli, Capt IS Bains
and Maj KJ Vohra (retired as Lt Col).
The Late
nineties saw Capt Rajdeep Brar coming into his own and
dominating proceedings at the Services and national
Level. Brar, won Services Championships in a row from
1995-1999. He was part of Indian teams for Asian
Championships in 1992 and 1996.(Jordan) and also played
as India No 2 in the World team Squash Championships at
Cairo, Egypt in 1995.
This gutsy Paratrooper from
the Army Ordinance Corps used his never say die spirit
and physical ability to the Stretch World No 10 Zarak
Jahan Khan (Defending Asian champion) of Pakistan to
five games and almost beat him in the Asian
Championships at Jordan. This ranks as probably the
finest performance by an Indian against a top players in
those times.
Brar was also coach of the Indian
Junior Squash team from 1995-1996 and coached the
Juniors to the 15th position in the World Junior
Championships in Egypt (1996) which is the best ever
achieved by the juniors.
He was nicknamed "Old Fox" and was to Indian squash what
Bjorn Borg was to International tennis "A MACHINE".
He was national champion six times in a row between 1977
and 1982.
The national title in 1978 gave him
the much-needed boost and he was an automatic choice for
the Indian team for the 1979 World Amateur Squash
Championship in Australia. Two years later, in the Asian
Championships, he faced Jahangir Khan, the man who was
to dominate the World scene in the 80s.
Raj
Manchanda lost to Khan but gave Hiddy Jahan, the world
number three, a big scare in a later tournament in
Karachi.
Though India was never a power in squash
racquets, Raj Manchanda himself had a fairly good run in
the various international tournaments he represented the
country. He was captain of the Indian team on a number
of occasions including the time when India won the
silver medal in the 1981 Asian Championships at Karachi.
His best individual performance was the fourth place in
the Asian championships in Jordan in 1984 where the team
under hisleadership won a Bronze Medal.
Since
1981 when the National teams championship, the
Interstate event, got under way, till 1992 when he last
participated, he lead the services team to victory 9
times out of 11, many times against impossible odds as
in 1988-89 when the country’s 3 best players were from
an opposing team and the services team still won.
ACHIEVEMENTS: 6 times National champion from 1977
to 1982 1979: ARJUNA AWARD 1967: President's Gold
Medal at Indian Military College, Dehradun. 1980-81:
Best Sportsman in Services Award 1976: Member of
Indian team for the World Team Championships in England.
India finishes 7th position. 11 times Services
Champion in Squash 1984: Won the silver medal in the
1984 Asian Championship at Karachi 1984: Captain of
squash team which won bronze medal in Asian squash
championship in Jordan. Winner, Veteran, DDA OPEN
1999 Runner Up, Men’s Over – 45, DDA Open 2001
Winner, Over -45, The 26th Maharashtra State Open
Championship, November 2001 Winner, Over-45, 58th
C.C.I. Western India Open Squash Tournament, December
2001 Winner, Over-55, 58th C.C.I. Western India Open
Squash Tournament,December 2001 Winner, Over-50, Hero
Honda - Khar Gymkhana - ISP Golden Jubilee Squash,
February 2004 Winner, Over 55: 29th Bombay
Gymkhana-Maharashtra State Open, November 2004
Semifinalist, Over -45, The 29th Bombay Gymkhana
Maharashtra State Open Championship, November 2004
Runner Up, Over-55, The 32nd Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra
State OpenSquash Championship September 2007. Runner
Up, Over-55, 64TH C.C.I. Western India Open Squash
Tournament 2007, November 2007. Winner, Men’s Over
–55, ISP Platinum Jubilee All India Squash Carnival
January2007 2015: Conferred Major Dyan Chand Sports
Awards 2015 'Best Player Squash' award At one time he
was Vice President of SRFI and Indian Government
Observer for Squash.
Karnasingh Ghorpade (born 1955) still plays squash 4
times a week at Residency Club, Kolhapur, Maharashtra,
India. He studied in Mayo College Ajmer and was captain
of squash team in 1971.
Achievements: * Junior
Champion Berkshire and Buckinghamshire in 1973
*
Played for Kent Jr county team and Berkshire Senior
County team 1973
* Played Drysdale Cup (
equivalent to Junior World Championship ) in 1973.
* Played US West Coast circuit in 1977 and 78.
Ranked 2 in California.
* He returned to India in
1978 and played 1979 Nationals in Mumbai.
Stopped serious squash due to family commitments, but
helped Indian Squash Professionals in organising a
coaching camp and tournament in 2009 at Residency Club.
Joshna Chinappa (born 15 September 1986 in
Chennai) is an Indian professional squash player. She
reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 10 in
July 2016 and again in July 2020. She was the first
Indian to win the British Junior Squash Championship
title in 2005 in the under-19 category and was also the
youngest Indian women's national champion.
In
2000, Joshna won her first junior and senior national
championship titles. She became the youngest player to
hold both titles at the age of 14 and current
record-holder of most national championship wins, with
18 titles.
In April 2018 at EL Gouna
International Squash Tournament Egypt, Chinappa defeated
eight-time World Champion and former world number one,
Nicol David in straight sets 11-8, 11-8, 11-8. It was
her first ever win over the legendary Malaysian player.
The game of squash runs in the blood of this young
National Champion. Joshna Chinappa family has been
playing the game for the last four generations. Joshnas
great grandfather, Field Marshall K.M. Cariappa, who was
also the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army,
was a regular player of the game of squash. Joshna’s
father, Anjan Chinappa, like her grandfather, also plays
squash regularly and has also represented Tamil Nadu
several times (he also coached Joshna).
COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Gold medal – first place
2014 Glasgow Doubles Silver medal – second place 2018
Gold Coast Doubles
ASIAN GAMES:
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon Team Silver
medal – second place 2018 Jakarta Team Bronze medal –
third place 2010 Guangzhou Team Bronze medal – third
place 2018 Jakarta Singles
SOUTH ASIAN
GAMES: Gold medal – first place 2016 India
Singles Asian Individual Championships Gold medal
– first place 2017 Chennai Singles Gold medal – first
place 2019 Kuala Lumpur Singles
AWARD:
Arjuna award in 2013
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
2011-2010 Winner, Brit Insurance Metro
squash Windy City Open, Chicago , USA, Feb 2011 Semi
Finalist, WISPA des Pyramids France,July-2011 1
Round, Women’s, Buler Challenge Cup, China April 2011
Women’s Qualifying Finalist, CIMB KL Open Squash
Championships in Kuala Lumpur March 2011 Winner,
Kingfisher-57th Senior National Squash Championship
2009. Winner, PSA/WISPA Tour Event News 2009.
Winner , Womens, Maharashtra State Open Squash
Championship, Oct 2009. Quarter Finalist, Mixed
Doubles, Commonwealth Games Squash Championships, Delhi
Oct 2010 Women’s 3rd round, Commonwealth Games Squash
Championships, Delhi Oct 2010 Qualifying Finals, The
Soho Square Women's World Open Squash Championship, Sept
2010 Semi Finalist, the El-Kersh Women's Heliopolis
Open, WISPA World Tour squash event , August 2010
Runner Up, 1st Round, Seventh WISPA Gold championship of
the year - in Hong Kong, August 2010 Winner, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia: July 2010 Semi Finalist, Women's
WISPA Indian Challenger No.4 Indian Squash Academy,
Chennai, Jan 2010. Round 1, Creteil International
2010, France , Feb 2010. 3rd Place , Women's Doubles,
Chennai Squash Open, March 2010. Winner, Women,
Senior National Championship 2010,Dec 2010.
Runner-up, WISPA Indian Challenger women's squash
championship, April 2011 Winner, Germany Open Title,
May 2010, Semi-finalist, Women's Chairman's Squash
Cup, Hong Kong, Jan 2010. Semi -Finalist, Team Event,
Malaysia , Pakistan wins Gold, while India men and women
team settle for bronze in Asian games, Nov-2010.
Winner, Women’s, the 35th Bombay Gymkhana-HSBC
Maharashtra State Open Squash Championship, Oct 2010.
2009-2008 Runner-up, Liberty
Bell Open , USA , Jan 2009. Semi-Finalist,
International aux de Creteil 2009. Semi-Finalist, NSC
Series No.3, Mar 2009. Winner, Second WISPA, kuala
Lumpur 2008. Semi-Finalist, First WISPA Title , Kuala
Lumpur , 2008. Semi-Finalist, Women, Maharashtra
State Open Squash Championship 2008. Winner, Women,
56th National Squash Championship 2008.
2007-2006 Winner, Women, 64TH C.C.I. Western
India Open Squash Tournament 2007, November 2007.
Winner, Women, Isp Platinum Jubilee All India Squash
Carnival January 2007 Winner, Women’s, National
Squash Championship 2007, July 2007 Winner, Women,
The 32nd Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open Squash
Championship September 2007. Winner, Women's Open, VI
th Harish Chandra Golcha Memorial Rajasthan Open
National Level Squash Championship 2008. Winner,
Women’s, 63rd C.C.I. Western India Open Squash
Tournament 2006 Winner, Women’s Open, Jaipur Club
Ltd. Harish Chandra Golcha Memorial, Rajasthan Open
National Level Squash Championship Sept 2006 Winner,
Women’s, South Asian Games Squash Championship, Colombo,
Sri Lanka August 2006
2005-2004 Women's, Winner, 62nd C.C.I. Western India Open
Squash Tournament November 2005 Women’s, Winner, 53rd
National Squash Championship, Bombay Gymkhana, November
2005 Women’s Open, Winner, Rajasthan Open National
Level Squash Championship, August 2005 Women’s,
Winner, Otters Open Squash Championship May 2005
Winner, Girls U-19, British Junior Open Squash
Championship, January 2005 Winner, Girls U-19,
Sub-Junior / Junior National Squash Championship,
November 2004. Winner, Girls U-19, Harish Chandra
Golcha Memorial Rajasthan Open National Level Squash
Championship 2004 Winner, Women’s, Harish Chandra
Golcha Memorial Rajasthan Open National Level Squash
Championship 2004 Winner, Women, 61st C.C.I. Western
India Open Squash Tournament, November 2004 Winner,
Girls U-19, 61st C.C.I. Western India Open Squash
Tournament, November 2004 Runner Up, Girls U-19,
British Junior Open Squash Championship, January 2004.
Winner, Women’s Open, 1st National Doubles Squash
Championship, December 2004 Winner, Women’s Open,
52nd National Squash Championship, December 2004
2003-2002 Girls U-19, Winner Natalia
- SRFI Grand Final Chennai, December 2003 Women’s
open, Winner, 28th Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State
Open Championship, November 2003 Winner, Girls U-19,
28th Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open
Championship, November 2003 Winner, Girls U-19,
Sub-Junior / Junior National Squash Championship,
October 2003 Winner, Girls U-19, The Little Masters
Junior Squash Tournament 2003, September 2003 Winner,
Women’s Open, Otters Open Squash Championship, June 2003
Winner, Girls U-19, Otters Open Squash Championship,
June 2003 Winner, Girls U-17, British Junior Open
Squash Championship Winner, Girls U-17, Complan
Junior Squash Open, November 2002 Winner, Girls
Under-19, Junior / Sub-Junior National Squash
Championship, November 2002 Winner, Girls U-19, The
27th Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open
Championship, November 2002 Runners Up, Women’s Open,
The 27th Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open
Championship, November 2002 Runner Up, Women, ICICI
Lombard Otters National Squash Championship, December
2002
2001-1998 Runner Up,
Women’s Open, 58th C.C.I. Western India Open Squash
Tournament, December 2001 Winner, Girls U-19, 58th
C.C.I. Western India Open Squash Tournament, December
2001 Winner, Girls U-19, Sub Junior / Junior National
Squash Championship 2001 Winner, Women’s Open,
National Squash Championship Winner, Girls U-19, The
26th Hsbc Maharashtra State Open Championship, November
2001 Runner Up, Girls, Asian Juniors Squash
Championship Feb 2001 Runner Up, Women’s Open, The
26th Hsbc Maharashtra State Open Championship, November
2001 Winner, Women Open, National Squash
Championship, December 2000 Winner, Girls U-15, 57th
CCI Western India Open, November 2000 Winner, Girls
U-19, 57th CCI Western India Open, November 2000
Winner, Girls U-19, 25th HSBC Maharashtra State Open
Championship November 2000 Runner Up, Women’s Open,
25th HSBC Maharashtra State Open Championship November
2000 Runner Up, Girls U -19, Junior National Squash
Championship, October 2000 Winner, Girls U-15, The
Indian Junior Open Squash Championship 2000 Runner
Up, Girls U-17, The Indian Junior Open Squash
Championship 2000 Winner, Girls U-19, The Little
Masters Junior Squash Tournament, September 2000 Semi
Finalist, Girls U-19, The Little Masters Junior Squash
Tournament, September 2000 Runner Up, Women’s Open,
SWITCHER-THE LEELA Squash Tournament, February 2000
Winner, Over -45, National Squash Championship, December
2000 Runner Up, Girls U-19, 56th CCI-Western India,
November 1999 Runner Up, Girls U-19, All India Otters
Club Open, August 1999 Runner Up, Girls U-17, Sub
Junior & Junior Nationals, October 1999 Winner, Girls
U-14, Junior-Sub Junior National Squash Championship,
October 1998 Semifinalist, Women’s Open, National
Squash Championship, 1998 Winner, Girls U-14,
Singapore Jr. Open Squash, July 1998 Runners Up,
Girls U-14, Sub Junior - Junior National Squash
Championship, 1996
Dipika was born to Sanjiv Pallikal and
Susan Pallikal in Chennai on 21st September 1991.
Dipika got her sporting genes from her mother who
has represented the Indian women’s team in international
cricket.
Dipika started her International career
in a promising fashion. She reached the final of the
Chennai Open in 2008, beating the first seed (Orla Noom
of Netherland) and third seed (Christina Mak of Hong
Kong) on her way.
ACHIEVEMENTS: * No 1 RANKING at European Junior
Squash at the age of 17 * WON German
Open, Dutch open, Scottish Open, British Open and the
French Open (age 13 to 19 years) *
WINNER in Hong Kong Crocodile Challenge Cup 2011 * QUARTER FINALIST in Netherlands World
Open 2011 * WINNER in United States
Dread Sports Series 2011 * WINNER in
United States Orange County Open 2011 *
SEMI FINALIST in Australia Australian Open 2012 * RUNNER UP in United States Tournament
of Champions 2012 * ARJUNA AWARD IN
2012 (first Female Squash player to be conferred with
the Arjuna Award, India’s second highest sporting award
in that year) * PSA WORLD NO 10 IN
DECEMBER 2012 (FIRST EVER BY INDIAN SQUASH PLAYER) * WINNER in China Macau Squash Open
2013 * WINNER in Canada Meadowood
Pharmacy Open 2013 * BIG STAR Most
Entertaining Sportsperson of the Year 2013 *
TEAM MEMBER OF India wins its first historic
Gold in Women’s Doubles squash in Commonwealth Games
held in Glasgow 2014 * WINNER in
Canada Winnipeg Winter Club Open 2015 *
PADMA SHRI 2014 (YOUNGEST IN INDIA)
* DIPIKA was the first woman squash player to
be the face of reputed brands and various endorsements.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES Gold medal –
first place 2014 Glasgow Doubles Silver medal –
second place 2018 Gold Coast Doubles Silver medal –
second place 2018 Gold Coast Mixed doubles
ASIAN GAMES Silver medal – second
place 2014 Incheon Team Bronze medal – third place
2010 Guangzhou Team Bronze medal – third place 2014
Incheon Singles Bronze medal – third place 2018
Jakarta Singles
ASIAN INDIVIDUAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS Silver medal – second place
2017 Chennai Singles
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS: * 2011-2010 Semi Finalist, WISPA des
Pyramides, France,July-2011 Semi Finalist, Buler
Challenge Cup, China April 2011 Women's Qualifying
Finalist, CIMB KL Open Squash Championships in Kuala
Lumpur March 2011 Runner-up, Brit Insurance
Metrosquash Windy City Open, Chicago , USA, Feb 2011
Semifinalist, WISPA Indian Challenger women's squash
championship, April 2011 Quarterfinalist, Women’s;
16th Asian Individual Squash Championship 2011.
Qualifying Finals, The Soho Square Women's World Open
Squash Championship,Sept 2010 Runner Up, 1st Round,
Seventh WISPA Gold championship of the year - in Hong
Kong, August 2010 Runner Up, 1st Round, Women's
Australian Open, Canberra, Australia, August, 2010
Winner, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: July 2010 1st Round,
Women's WISPA Indian Challenger No.4 Indian Squash
Academy, Chennai, Jan 2010. 3rd Place , Women's
Doubles, Chennai Squash Open, March 2010. Winner,
Pallikal Powers To Historic Tour Title In Nepal , Team
Event, Nov 2010. Team Event, Malaysia, Pakistan wins
Gold, while India men and women team settle for bronze
in Asian games, Nov-2010. Winner Mixed Doubles,
Chennai Squash Open, March 2010. Semi-finalist,
Swedish Open 2010, Sweden , Feb 2010.
Quarterfinalist, Punj Lloyd Squash Masters 2010.
Semifinalist, World’s Junior Individual Squash
Championship, Cologne , Germany 2010 Runner Up,
Women's Sheikha Sheikha Saad Al Sabah International in
Kuwait Oct 2010 * 2009-2008
Semi-Finalist, Internationaux de Creteil 2009.
Runner-Up, Asian Junior Squash Championship 2009
Semi-Finalist , World Junior Individual Squash
Championship Women's Event 2009. Quarterfinalist,
Quarters of coronation Squash Open, London , England ,
Nov 2009. Semi-finalist, Mc Wil Courtwall Women’s
Austrian Open Squash Championship, Vienna, Austria, Dec
2009 Winner, Girls U-19, Sub-Junior/Junior National
Squash Championship 2008. Semi-Finalist, Women,
Maharashtra State Open Squash Championship 2008.
Runner-Up, Women, 56th National Squash Championship
2008. Winner, Women's U-17, British Junior Open, Jan
2008. Winner, Girls, (HongKong) Asian Seniors
Individual Squash Championship 2008. *
2007-2006 Runners Up, Women’s, National
Squash Championship 2007, July 2007 Winner, Girls
U-19, Sub-Junior / Junior National Squash Championship,
October 2007. Winner, Girls U-19, Sub-Junior / Junior
National Squash Championship October 2006. Runner up,
Women, Isp Platinum Jubilee All India Squash Carnival
January 2007 Runner Up, Women’s, South Asian Games
Squash Championship, Colombo, Sri Lanka August 2006 * 2005-2004 Women’s, Runner Up, 62nd
C.C.I. Western India Open Squash Tournament November
2005 Winner, Girls U-19, 62nd C.C.I. Western India
Open Squash Tournament November 2005 Winner, Girls
U-15, 62nd C.C.I. Western India Open Squash Tournament
November 2005 Winner, Girls U-19, The Daly College
Indian Junior Squash Open ,October2005 , Indore
Runner Up, Girls U-19, Sub-Junior / Junior National
Squash Championship, October 2005 Chennai Winner,
Girls U-19, The Little Masters Junior Squash Tournament,
September 2005 Winner, Girls U-15, The Little Masters
Junior Squash Tournament, September 2005 Winner,
Girls U-17, Rajasthan Open National Level Squash
Championship, August 2005 Women’s Open, Runner Up,
Rajasthan Open National Level Squash Championship,
August 2005 Winner, Girls U-17, 1st Southern India
Squash Championship August 2005 Winner, Girls U -17,
Chelmsford Delhi Open Squash Championship, June 2005
Women’s Open, Runner Up, Chelmsford Delhi Open Squash
Championship, June 2005 Winner, Girls U-17, Northern
India Squash Championship 2004 Winner, Girls U-15,
Harish Chandra Golcha Memorial Rajasthan Open National
Level Squash Championship 2004 Winner, Girls U-15,
The Little Masters Junior Squash Tournament, October
2004 Runner Up, Girls U-19, The Little Masters Junior
Squash Tournament, October 2004 Runner Up, Women’s
Open, Northern India Squash Championship 2004 Runner
Up, Girls U-15, Sub-Junior / Junior National Squash
Championship, November 2004. Semifinalist, Women’s
Open, Harish Chandra Golcha Memorial Rajasthan Open
National Level Squash Championship * 2004 Winner, Women’s Open, 1st National Doubles
Squash Championship, December 2004 Semifinalist,
Women’s Open, 52nd National Squash Championship,
December 2004 * 2003-2002 Winner,
Girls U-15, Natalia - SRFI Grand Final Chennai, December
2003 Runner Up, Girls U-13, Sub-Junior / Junior
National Squash Championship, October 2003 Winner,
Girls U-13, Indian Junior Squash Open, September 2003
Winner, Girls U-19, East India Junior Squash
Championship 2003, August 2003 Semi Finalist, Girls
U-19, East India Junior Squash Championship, August 2003
Winner, Girls U-15, Otters Open Squash Championship,
June 2003 Winner, Girls U-13, Otters Open Squash
Championship, June 2003 Winner, Girls Under-13,
Junior / Sub-Junior National Squash Championship,
November 2002 Semifinalist, Girls U-13, Complan
Junior Squash Open, November 2002 * 2001-2000
Quarter Finalist, Girls U-13, Sub Junior / Junior
National Squash Championship 2001
He was national champion for six years continuously
(1958 to 1963) and was awarded Arjuna Award in 1961.
In the late 50's and 60's he won CCI Western India
championship for 6 or 7 years before he was defeated by
another legendary squash player Anil Nayyar.
Squash player from 80's Meherwan Daruwala was 5 times
national champion from 1983 to 1987 and was Arjuna Award
winner in 1990.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
Winner-Central India Squash Open - 1987 Winner -
Western India Open/Bombay Masters Open - 1987 Winner
-East India Open/Northern India Open - 1987 Winner -
India Open - 1988 Winner - Central India Open - 1988
Winner - Northern India Squash Open - 1988 Winner -
Indian Open/Bombay's Masters Tournament - 1989 Won -
Bronze Medal for India in Asian Squash Championship -
1990 Winner - Maharashtra State Open/ Western Indian
Open - 1990 Winner - Madras Open/Calcutta Open - 1991
Winner - Western India Open - 1991 Winner - Captain
of the Maharashtra team, which won the Inter -State
Championship - 1995 Awarded the Level 1, Level 2
Coaching Certificate for squash by Canadian
Certification, recognized by WSF. - 1995
Semifinalist, Over-35, ICICI Lombard Otters National
Squash Championship, December - 2002
EZRA was national squash champion continuously for 6
times from 1988 to 1993. After his squash stint in India
he went to Harward University and emerged as top squash
player there.
He won Ivy League player of the
year award in 1992 and 1994.
A hard working and
tenacious player on the court, Adrian was the 1994
co-recipient, with fellow "HALL OF FAME" inductee
Michael Giardi, of the Bingham Award for Harvard male
athlete who has best served the purpose of Harvard
Athletics.
He says "What I have taken away from
Harvard and Harvard Squash is so much more than becoming
a better squash player. The experience has made me a
better friend, teammate, athlete and student and I would
like to thank my family, friends, coaches and teammates
for being involved in that process over the years. My
desire to win has not faded in the 15 years since I left
and I am grateful to all the people I have mentioned,
and to so many I have not, all of whom made my time at
Harvard unforgettable".
Adrian Ezra was honored
with MID-DAY LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD by His Royal
Highness Tunku Imran, Prince of Malaysia in 1999 in
Mumbai.
Adrian organised many international
squash tournaments in Mumbai from 2006 to 2010 to help
Junior squash players.
Mekhala is a 4 time national squash champion.. A living
legend in ladies squash, hails from army background.
Initially her father was her coach. She moved to squash
from other game when she was 14 years old. She is
married to Ankur and has a son who also plays squash
(Vivaan Srivastava).
ACHIEVEMENTS:
* 4
Time National Squash Champion - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002
* Recommended for the prestigious Arjuna award -
2001, 2002
* Gold Medal - Womens Team event and Silver medal
- Womens individual event: SAF games, Islamabad,
Pakistan, 2004
* Silver Medal at the Asian Womens Squash Team
Championship, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May, 2002. Was
Captain of the team.
* 4th position, 13th Asian Games Individual event
in Bangkok, 1998
* Captain of the first Indian Womens Team to
qualify for the World Squash Championship held at Odense
, Denmark in Oct 2002
* Winner of the National level, D.D.A open squash
tournament at Siri Fort Sports complex 11 years in a row
from 1995 to 2005
* Winner of the Delhi Open (a National level
tournament) continuously from 1995 to 2004
* Winner of National level tournaments -
Maharashtra State Open and Western India Open
continuously from 1997 to 2003
* Qualified Level 2 Coach - Asian Squash
Federation, 2012
* Certified International Woman Referee
* Captain of the first Indian Womens Team to
qualify for the World Squash Championship held at
Odense, Denmark in Oct 2002
* Indian team coach for the British Junior Open,
Sheffield, UK in Jan 2012
* Indian Team Coach at Asian Youth Games in
Nanjing, China as well as the Asian Junior Squash
Championship, in Iran, 2014
* Indian Senior Team Coach for the Asian Squash
Championships in Kuwait, 2015
Mr Roy was national squash champion in 1965, 1969 and
1970 and he is an Indian social activist and educator
who founded the Barefoot College. He was selected as one
of Time 100's 100 most influential personalities in 2010
for his work in educating illiterate and semi literate
rural Indians
ACHIEVEMENTS:
The Jamnalal Bajaj Award – 1985 –
"Outstanding Contribution in Application of Science and
Technology for Rural Development"
The St Andrews Prize for the Environment – 2003
Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship –
2003 – one of 20 people recognised for Social
Entrepreneurs of the Year for 2003.
The Robert Hill Award from the global Solar Community –
2009 – for his work in the promotion of
photo-voltaics
The Distinguished Educationist honor by Rocheston
Accreditation Institute, New York - Jan 2017
"Archives – 1985 Science and Technology". Jamnalal Bajaj
Foundation. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
"Swiss award for Bunker Roy". The Hindu. 22 September
2002. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
"Memorable Points – National". Pratiyogita Darpan.
Pratiyogita Darpan. November 2009. pp.
34–. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
Distinguished Educationist Honor - Rocheston
Accreditation Institute, New York .
Misha Grewal Soni has the distinction of being India’s
National Squash champion for 5 consecutive years from
1992 -1997. She rose as high as No.27 in the world and
was elected to the Board of the Women’s International
Squash Players Association from 1994 - 1998.
She is the only Indian, till date, man or woman, to
serve on the apex committee of an International Squash
Association.
In 1996 Misha won Silver at the Asian Squash
Championships. In 1997 Misha temporarily stopped
competing, solely due to the absence of sponsorship
support.
She worked in Star News TV for sometime before getting
married to India's top designer Ashish Soni from New
Delhi.
When she was 28 years old she wanted to play in Asian
Games in Bangkok and did her 3 weeks training stint in
New York.
She now has a 19 years old son Neel who is into wild
life photography and has published a book "a walk on the
wild side".
ACHIEVEMENTS:
National Champion and ranked No.1 in India 1992-’97.
Silver medallist at the 1997 Asian Squash Championships
and currently ranked No.2 in Asia.
Member of the Indian team that won bronze at the 1992
Asian Squash Championships.
Career highest ranking of 27 in the World
Capt Arjan Singh was Services Champion from 1991 to 1993 and National Squash
Champion from 1994 to 1996.
The Early nineties belonged to him.
He also represented India in Asian Championships in 1990, 1994 and 1996 and
World Championship at Cairo, Egypt in
1995. He has left the Army now to seek greener pastures abroad.
When he was just 22 years, the 6 ft 3 inch tall army officer beat defending
champion Lt. Ravinder Malik (28) in INDIA TODAY Masters Squash Championship
held in December 1990 and won the 1st prize of Rs 10000/- (which is big
prize money in those days).
ACHIEVEMENTS:
National Championship 1997 - Runner-up
East India Open 1997 - Winner
DDA Open 1998 - Winner
Bolzano Open 1997 - Pre-Quarter Final
Milan Open 1997- Pre-Quarter Final
Varese Open 1997 - Quarter Final
Mexico Open 1997 - Pre-Quarter Final
Malaysian Open 1997 - Pre-Quarter Final
Central India Open 1997 - Winner
South India Open Championship 1996, Madras - Winner
North India Open Championship 1996, New Delhi - Winner
DDA Open Championship, New Delhi 1996- Winner
Central India Open Championship 1997, Indore - Winner
Chandigarh Open Championship 1997, Chandigarh - Winner
Ist Perrier Open Championship 1995, Malaysia - Quarter-Finals
3rd Perrier Open Championship 1995, Malaysia - Semi-Finals
DDA Open Championship 1995, New Delhi - Winner
North India Open Championship 1995, New Delhi - Winner
Chandigarh Open Championship 1995, Chandigarh - Winner
South India Open Championship 1995, Madras - Winner
National Squash Championship 1995, New Delhi - Winner
Chicago Open Championship 1994, USA Pre - Quarter Final
Flagship Open Championship 1994, USA Pre - Quarter Final
Florida State Open Championship 1994, USA - Pre-Quarter Final
Los Angeles Open Championship 1994,
USA - Pre-Quarter Final
DDA Open Championship 1994, New Delhi - Winner
North India Open Championship 1994, New Delhi Winner
Chandigarh Open Championship 1994, Chandigarh - Winner
Ahmedabad Open Championship 1994, Ahmedabad - Winner
Maharashtra State Open Championship 1994, Bombay - Winner
National Squash Championship 1994, Calcutta - Winner
Germersheim Open Championship 1993, Germany - Winner
Denzlingen Open Championship 1993, Germany - Winner
Gros Zimmern Open Championship 1993, Germany - Winner
Rose Festival Pro-Am Championship 1993, USA - Winner
Services Squash Championship 1993, Bombay - Winner
Central India Open Championship 1993, Indore - Winner
National Championship 1993, Bombay - Finalist
Maharashtra State Open Championship 1993, Bombay – Winner
Attained 5th place in the 2nd Asian Junior (Team) championship, 1985 at Hong
Kong
Won the silver medal at the 4th South Asian Federation Games, 1989 at
Islamabad.
Won the bronze medal at the 5th Asian Squash Championship, 1990 at Calcutta.
Attained 4th position in the 7th Asian (Team) Championship, 1994 at Kuala
Lumpur .
Attained 4th position in the 8th Asian (Individual) Championship, 1996 at
Amman .
Runner’s Up, Men’s Open, National Squash Championship (CHENNAI) Dec 1997
Winner, Men’s Open,54th CCI Western India Open Squash Tournament 1997
Winner, Asia Sugar Delhi State Squash Championship 1996
Winner, Mens Open, 5th Pune Open Garware - Wall Ropes
Poona Open Squash Tournament 1996 PHOTO :
http://www.mahendraagarwal.com/images/celebrities/img4.jpg
HC revokes conferment of sports
prize to IOA President
Article in PTI News
New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) The
Delhi High Court today revoked the conferment of
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar (RKPP) 2011 to Indian
Olympic Association President N Ramachandran, saying it
was finalised without "proper inquiry and application of
mind."
The Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Sports had instituted the RKPP in 2009 for
contribution to sports by individuals, corporates or
institutions. Ramachandran was awarded RKPP award in the
category of "Establishment and Management of sports
academies of excellence."
"This court therefore holds that
the award of Puraskar to the fifth Respondent
(Ramachandran) was finalised without a proper inquiry
and proper application of mind, no attempt to verify the
claims of achievement of the fifth Respondent were
seriously made. The said decision, based on the
Selection Committee's recommendation, is therefore
unsupportable in law," a bench comprising justices
Ravindra Bhat and R K Gauba said.
It said the manner in which the
whole selection took place, with respect to Ramachandran
not only reveals a "casual and uncritical acceptance of
whatever was and offered by the applicant, but also
exemplifies what is wrong in such matters in Indian
sports."
"Sportspersons and where they
function and the general public they entertain, are a
world apart, it so seems from the world of sports
administrators! This disconnect is deeply thrown up in
sharp relief in the facts of the present case where
regardless of the facility which was claimed to have
been developed, the ultimate user, i.e. the squash
players/ coach etc. had no voice in the selection of
Puraskar or its awarding," the bench said.
The bench directed the sports
ministry, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Sports
Development Authority of Tamil Nadufirst to pass
consequential orders, revoking the grant of Puraskar to
the Ramachandran, within four weeks from today.
It also asked Ministry of Youth
Affairs and Sports to include eminent sportspersons in
the selection committee of RKPP for 2016.
"This Court holds that ? first,
the exclusion of eminent sportspersons from the
Selection Committee of the Puraskar was without any
basis; and directs the first Respondent to make
appropriate provisions for the same in the Scheme of the
Puraskar for 2016," the bench said in its verdict on a
plea filed by one Tatpal Singh Jaggi who challenged the
conferment of the award to Ramachandran.
Thanks to SRAM’s (Squash Racquets
Association of Maharashtra) constant efforts, Mumbai’s
young, talented and established squash player Mahesh
Mangaonkar has received a grant of Rs five lakhs from
the Maharashtra Government, late last year.
Ministry officials from the state
government handed over a cheque to the player at his
residence recently.
The 20-year-old Mahesh has steadily
risen from the junior ranks into a top class player and
is currently ranked at a career high of 44 in the world
professional circuit. He has done exceptionally well
last season winning two major titles on the PSA Tour and
finished runners-up in three other events. Earlier last
year, he clinched the $5,000 Men’s Open du Gard 2014, at
Nimes, France and back home, won the $10,000 Men’s JSW
PSA Indian Circuit No2 2014, at Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana
Club, Mumbai, last October.
Mahesh’s mother Anjali was quite
satisfied with the cash award her son received and was
all praise for SRAM. “SRAM has been promoting squash for
a long time and have been supporting Mahesh from a very
young age. SRAM has taken care of Mahesh throughout his
entire junior career, his training and now they have
used their good offices to push his credentials which
helped to obtain this grant of Rs 5 lakhs,” mentioned
Anjali.
SRAM Treasurer, Mahendra Agarwal,
mentioned that this was just a small gesture for a
player who has brought laurels for Mumbai, Maharashtra
and someone who is a bright future for Indian squash.
“Mahesh deserves this award. He has done very well from
the junior ranks and now at the world level. With his
achievements we approached the state government and they
agreed to sanction this sum, with a promise to offer
more funds later,” he pointed out.
Agarwal further stated that the
SRAM is confident the new government in Maharashtra will
soon confer Mahesh with the Shiv Chhatrapti Award, the
highest award given to a sportsperson from the state.
“He (Mahesh) is eligible for the award and I’m 100%
confident that this new Maharashtra Government will
recognise the achievements of Mahesh and give him the
Shiv Chhatrapati Award very soon. It would also be the
first time a squash player receives this award,” stated
Agarwal.
“This funding from the government
is not much and we are now looking forward to support
from the Central Government. We are also looking to rope
in sponsors and are confident that the SRAM and ISP, who
have done a lot for the game, will help to get a
sponsor. I will be grateful if corporates come forward
to support Mahesh,” Anjali said modestly.
The tall, dapper Mahesh is
currently in Boston, USA training under coach Shaun
Moxham preparing for his first major event, the Tour
Champions, starting in New York later this month.
