DOHA (Qatar): India’s leading squash player Saurav Ghosal felt that players get their importance in Qatar Classic PSA Tour, which starts from tomorrow.
The Qatar Classic organisers make sure everything is efficient. We feel valued. Huge congratulations to them. They have mastered the art, and as players we all want to come back every year,” Ghosal told KhelUpudates in an exclusive interview on Saturday.
The Kolkata-born player will be competing in the week-long Qatar Classic in the Qatari capital from tomorrow.
“Personally, it’s arguably the best in terms of the way they take care of the players. In an ideal world, we would have this as a blue print. All promoters in the world should organise their tournaments this way,” added Ghosal.
On the after-effects of Covid-19 pandemic, Ghosal acknowledged that mental preparation is important for the athletes to cope up with the challenge.
“Everyone has to deal with it. I’ve been taking every precautions. Not going out much in the public places. It’s difficult times for everyone. There is so much uncertainty. I too have been in the lockdown period. I went in to the meditation aspect in details. A kind of few sessions with the art of living in India,” he said.
Ghosal won his first PSA World Tour title at the Otters Open in August 2006, and also became the first Indian ever to reach the quarterfinals at the World Championship in 2013 but lost to Ramy Ashour.
“This is my second event after the lockdown after the Egyptian Open. Since March everything in lockdown. I was slightly disappointed losing in the last 16 in Cairo. The match sharpness wasn’t there much. I have been in Cairo for the last two weeks and had good training. Hopefully, I will have a good Qatar Classic,” added the 34-year-old.
However, Ghosal exuded confidence that situation will get better in future.
“It’s (pandemic) difficult and takes toll in different ways. I miss the social aspect of life. I’m sitting inside the hotel room. We all hopeful we will return to normalcy in future. We are thankful that we can play the tournament,” said Ghosal, who became the first to claim a place in the world’s top 10 during the 2018-19 campaign.
(With inputs from Mohammad Aminul Islam)
