It happened in 2006, then in 2010 and now once again in 2014. So, it can’t be a mere coincidence that Indian players are being continuously drawn in the same half of the draw at the Asian Games. And that despite a clear directive that the squash competition should be conducted in accordance with the World Squash Federation (WSF) rules and regulations which states “optimum separation of players of the same nationality to be used”.
However, India’s top squash player Dipika Pallikal and her longtime teammate Joshana Chinappa are drawn to meet in the quarterfinals a month after winning India’s first ever squash medal — a gold — at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the women’s doubles.
Making her frustration apparent, Pallikal on Thursday said that it was ‘no coincidence’ that two Indians have put in the half three times in a row and she is ‘considering’ pulling out of the Incheon Asian Games starting from September 19.
“I have already written to our federation to appeal against the manipulated draw but I am yet to get a reply. I am surely going to think about pulling out if the draw is not set right,” Pallikal said after conducting an ‘adidas master class’ with the city’s budding players here.
“There are certain rules that certain people have to follow, which they haven’t. It’s a bit disheartening. Joshana and I just teamed up and won India’s biggest medal (gold) in squash. It’s a very sad affair.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that three editions in a row two Indians are put in the same half and they have to face each other in the quarterfinals. It is a wrong approach,” she added.
Pallikal believes that both of them have the capability to reach the final and fight for the gold medal. “I am keeping my fingers crossed that the message goes to the people who are in charge of the draw. It (the draw) robs India of a chance of getting two medals in the women’s singles. Both Joshana and I are good enough to reach the final play for gold and silver,” she said.
Dipika, first Indian to break into the top 10, was confident of India’s chances, saying the competition at the Asian Games would not be too different from the Commonwealth Games and she is ready for it.
“The level of competition is not that different. Malaysia and Hong Kong will pose the toughest challenge but even in the Commonwealth Games we had to contend with English players, who were hard to beat,” Pallikal said.
A semi-final appearance is enough for securing a bronze at the Asian Games. India’s top male player Saurav Ghosal had won back-to-back bronze in the 2006 and 2010 edition beating compatriots Ritwik Bhattacharya and Siddharth Suchde respectively. Besides Ghosal’s medal, India had won a bronze each in the men’s and women’s category of the team championships.
Pallikal and 21st-ranked Chinappa will meet in the quarterfinals on September 21 if they win their respective opener against China’s Jinyue Gu and Korea’s Sunmi Song. The draw was announced on September 4 in South Korea under the supervision of Karl Mak, technical delegate of the Asian Squash Federation (ASF).
Interestingly, India has a significant clout in the administration of world squash with N Ramachandran being the president of world body WSF and patron of the ASF.
with PTI inputs