ISP Squash
 
 

SQUASH RACQUETS ASSOCIATION OF MAHARASHTRA

 

Life Member // Patrons //Corporate// Individual Membership form // Club Membership Form //   Committee Members

Public Squash Courts // Indoor sports facilities at the Police Gymkhana, Marine Drive // Photo Gallery

   
   
 
    

About SRAM

25 years ago, a few squash enthusiasts from different companies came together to discuss the problems squash faced and regulate the organization of few tournaments that were held at the time. This marked the birth of the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra.

 

SRAM’s role is to regulate the game of squash in the state of Maharashtra which includes the smooth function of tournaments, selection of state teams, training programs, coaching programs, creating state ranking system, to co-ordinate with the National body in the interest of players, co-ordinate with clubs and overall promote the game in the state. SRAM’s efforts are also towards creation of an International level squash infrastructure and coordination with other nodal sports agencies in the government and associations.

 

Most important is to enforce the squash rules in conduction of tournaments to ensure fair play, discipline and good conduct among the players.

 

Though not much could be achieved in the initial years in terms of promoting the game, a foundation was laid which helped the successors to turn SRAM in to an institution that has influenced many youngsters to take to the game.

 

The first Treasurer of SRAM, Arun Sanghi remembers how individuals went out of their way to get money for organising tournaments. Getting publicity was impossible as squash was considered an elitist sport. No one would sponsor the tournaments as squash was not popular. All this meant that squash was just an amateur game played by the well-to-do class of the city.

Times were very difficult. Fortunately, SRAM had many influential people amongst them and everyone used their influence for promoting squash. A party would be held after every tournament with invitations to the who’s who of the city. Slowly but steadily people began noticing squash. Press coverage increased and money started coming in.

 

The tide turned when glass courts were introduced in India in the early 90’s. Squash was no longer closed inside four walls. It was now a spectator sport fast, exciting and thrilling. It started influencing the youngsters and its popularity was on a rise. SRAM then invited Jansher Khan to play a few exhibition games and needless to say, the legend drew capacity crowds. Things started to change for the better. Gone were the days when sponsorship was an issue. With the introduction of public squash courts, the game was no longer elitist, meant only for those with membership to premier clubs. Squash was now a professional sport that the masses took to. Anyone with the passion for the game had a chance and SRAM made sure they were given the opportunity to perform at a competitive level.

 

With every passing year, squash began gaining popularity and SRAM, on its part, started organising more tournaments every year with the number crossing 15 in the last few years. Time had changed and so also people’s perception. The transition was clear. Squash is no longer an elitist game it has changed in to the fastest growing sport in the country.

  

 

 
    
 

Squash goes public in Maharashtra

Raju Chainani 15th June, 2001

   
Bombay's first public squash court is ready and rolling. It is situated at the Andheri Sports Complex (close to the international airport). The state body, the Squash Rackets Association of Maharashtra (SRAM) wasted no time in getting things under way. A free coaching camp has been organised from June 15 to July 15 with local professional Yaqoob Shaikh.The public can hire rackets free of charge. The response from the man-on-the-street has been very positive.

"We have a full house for the first week's coaching and are well on the way to filling up the other three weeks,” said SRAM Secretary Mahendra Agarwal. The public court concept had been mooted for some time but had not gone through due to a number of reasons. In all, three courts will be available to the public. The other two are under repair and should be ready by 15th August.

 

The funding for the project has been provided by the Mid-Day Multimedia Group. Their chairman, Khalid A.H.Ansari, is President of SRAM and a driving force for the game in the state. The complex has been named The Mid-Day A.H.Ansari Squash Academy. The cost of repairing the three courts is in the region of 600,000 Rupees (approximately ten thousand pounds sterling).

 

Up until now, the game has been confined to the private clubs and the armed forces. But, with the arrival of public courts, the SRAM is looking to take the game to the masses. Today Bombay has just over 50 courts. But it has to be said that there has been a major thrust forward with courts being built in several parts of the state of Maharashtra. It is worth noting that Bombay has been considered as the home of Indian squash. Back in the 1940s, Hashim Khan won the Western India title at the CCI courts and since then, there has been a regular flow of champions from the metropolis.

  
 

Sanghis boost for Mumbai Police Gymkhana, Marine Drive
July 2003

Ranjan Sanghi (second from left) presenting cheque for Rs 10 lakh to Mumbai Police Commissioner R.S. Sharma towards creating indoor sports facility at their police Gymkhana.SRAM president Khalid A-H Ansari, Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Barve (IPS, 1987 batch) and Mahendra Agarwal are also in the picture

 

Sah and Sanghi, Mumbai's leading automobile dealers, have come forward to extend support to the rapidly expanding sporting facilities of Mumbai Police at Marine Drive and elsewhere in the city. Ranjan Sanghi, executive director of Sah and Sanghi Group of Companies and vice-president of the Squash Racquets Association of Maharashtra (SRAM), presented a cheque for Rs 10 lakh on Monday to police commissioner R S Sharma at police headquarters at Crawford Market.

 

The amount is part of a total contribution of Rs 20 lakh to the police force and will be utilised to set up improved and additional indoor sports facilities at the Police Gymkhana at Marine Drive.

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