Saurav’s as quick as ever at 32 – and he’s fast to remind you why

KUALA LUMPUR: When you watch India’s Saurav Ghosal (pic) play squash, you can’t blink because he’s one of the fastest players you’ll ever see.

Even though he’s already 32, the 12-time Indian national champion still moves like Speedy Gonzales from one end of the court to another.

Saurav attributes his speed and agility to the different sports he has played during his childhood days.

“I’ve played badminton, table tennis and cricket when I was young and playing those sports has given me a well-rounded perspective, and I think it has also helped develop different muscles in my body when I was younger,” said Saurav.

“Also, if I had only played squash since my young days I don’t think I would still be playing it now because

I would be burned out mentally.

“So I think speed has always been my friend since those days and now

I’m trying to use it in a more attacking way, not just defensively.

“It’s still a work in progress and hopefully, the work I’ve put in will come to fruition now.”

His efforts are paying off as after a career spanning over 16 years, he has finally broke into the world’s top 10.

He’s also the first Asian to do so since two Malaysians who have retired from the sport -– former world No. 7 Ong Beng Hee and world No. 10 Mohd Azlan Iskandar.

“It’s nice to be in the top 10 and also to be the first in Asia since Beng Hee and Azlan but I’m working on going higher.

“It’s a tough sport and very competitive to be in the top 10 or 20, but I’m enjoying it fully and hopefully I can go higher before the end of the year.”

Saurav is now looking to be the first Indian to win the Asian Individual Championships at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil here. He is the top seed.

He will also be looking to bury the past where as the second seed he lost in the final in 2013 on home ground in Chennai, India, to Hong Kong’s Max Lee who was then seeded first.

“At that that point of time obviously I was quite distraught, but Max is a good player and he had played well throughout that tournament.

“But I think I’m in a better place in my life now than two years back. I also lost in the semi-finals of the Asian Games last year which was even bigger and I dealt with that a lot better.

“Of course I still want to win the title but I’m not thinking of that now as I still have many more days before Sunday. So I’ll take it one match at a time and hopefully have a good week.”

Saurav continued his challenge for his first Asian title after he took out Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsuke 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 in the third round yesterday.

He takes on Malaysia’s Nafiizwan Adnan for a place in the semi-final.