Interview | I would love to be a lot more involved with the kids, or support the Indian team in any way I can: Joshna Chinappa

Joshna Chinappa returned to action after a knee surgery and put all doubts about her fitness to rest by reaching the women’s doubles and mixed doubles finals at the National Championships in Chennai earlier this month. She finished as the runner-up (alongside Velavan Senthilkumar) in the former and clinched the title in the latter by partnering with teen sensation Anahat Singh.

In a chat with The Hindu, the 38-year-old spoke about the evolution of women’s squash in the country, her interest in coaching, prolonging her playing career, Anahat’s rise, and more. Excerpts:

Comparing Indian women’s squash from when you started with now, what changes do you see in the sport?

I obviously think it’s improved a lot in terms of more female players on the PSA tour. Before, it was just, honestly, Dipika (Pallikal) and me for a really long time. Now, there’s Anahat (Singh), Akanksha (Salunkhe), Tanvi (Khanna) – just the newer lot is really good and they’re doing well.

I mean Anahat just beat someone who’s No. 28 in the world (Marina Stefanoni of USA, currently ranked No. 27) at the world championships, and she’s had some really good wins. So, just to have more people successfully doing well, not just a one-off, but like three or four of us actually playing the tour and doing well, is really positive.

I definitely think it can improve a lot more. We get a lot more girls and women onto the PSA tour. We also have the local talent from Chennai, who are also playing as much PSA as possible. So, I think there are a good seven or eight girls right now who are playing the tour. And I think that’s really good to see.

Is Indian women’s squash getting a lot more attention now than when you started?

Absolutely, for sure. Squash getting included in the Olympics, that was obviously what we needed to get that boost and support from all the corporates, and more from the government as well. That has happened.

And the support now is so much more for these girls, which is great, because they get it now in their teens – like Anahat – and in their early 20s, which is when they really need that support to travel to play tournaments; like, support staff, coach, physio, and everything – it’s expensive, right? So, to see that level of support coming in from the federation, the government, and the corporates is the biggest change I’ve seen recently.

Because, when I was playing at my peak, it was just me and the other players travelling pretty much alone. Maybe, once in a while, we’ll have a coach travelling with us. But now, all of them have more opportunities to have their support staff with them. And I think that makes a huge difference when you’re playing matches day in and day out.

How challenging was it for you when you started playing the sport professionally? And how does it look for a beginner now?

Yes, of course. When I started, which was obviously ages back, squash was relatively unknown. It was known in the sense that it was more a club-level sport.

Now, of course, you can make it reach out to the masses in so many ways. There are a lot of public courts that have come up all across the country as well, especially here in Chennai. So, I think a lot of people are aware of it. I get so many calls from people from very different walks of life, who want to put their kids in squash. And for me, I feel very proud when I get those calls, because before it was only from someone who played at the club wanting their kids to play. Now, just so many different kids want to try out and come and play squash. And they have a really good school programme here (at the Indian Squash and Triathlon Academy) as well, where you get kids from all schools that come in to play. I really think that the knowledge and the awareness (of the sport) are so much more today.

You had your first coaching gig recently, when you took charge of the Indian women’s team at the World Squash Team Championships in Hong Kong last December. How was that experience? Have you thought about continuing your coaching career while playing simultaneously?

I enjoy being able to help out the kids whenever I have the time. And for me, going to the World teams was nice. It was a nice opportunity for me to see if I enjoyed it as well, and I did. But it is a lot of work, being present full-time and making sure everyone’s okay and being there for all the matches.

As an athlete, it’s very different. You play your match and you go back to your hotel. I would love to be a lot more involved a little later on, not right now. But I definitely see myself being able to work with the kids or support the team in any way that I can.

Are you satisfied with your performances since making your comeback following the knee injury?

Yes, absolutely. Honestly, after my surgery, I didn’t think I would ever play again. I didn’t think I would even have a body to live a normal life. That’s how bad my injury was at that time. So, for me, anything now is a cherry on the cake. I just appreciate my body so much that I can still play at this level. I’m still playing on the pro tour and some of the biggest tournaments. For me, it’s just exciting that I can still do that. And I just want to enjoy it more now, because you were under much pressure before. You’re just in a different headspace when you’re in the top-20 or top-30 in the world. And now, because I’m on the other side of it, I just enjoy the game so much more. That way, the pressure is off and I’m actually able to play better squash.

Have you thought about how long you will continue playing? And what are your goals in that period?

I only take it month by month right now. A year is very long in my dictionary right now. I’m just enjoying playing squash, as long as my body is healthy. And I honestly take it day by day. Of course, I have short-term goals – like, every couple of months, as to what I’m playing. Right now, it’s just that I want to play the Nationals, which is in August. And whatever PSA that I can get into and play. So, right now, it’s not about chasing down a crazy number of tournaments. It’s just really selecting and playing what is good for me and what I can prepare better for.

Like you did many years ago, Anahat has started making waves at a very young age. As an experienced pro, what do you think she needs to do to get to the next level in terms of improving her game and competing with the best in the world?

I think she’s already doing it. She’s already playing the PSA tour. I only started properly when I was 19 or 20. And here she is, managing a very solid junior career and playing in the senior (circuit). It’s very commendable.

I think she has a great team around her. She works with Greg (Gregory Gaultier), who’s one of the best coaches and previously one of the best players in the world (former men’s World No. 1). She has a lot of support from her parents and sponsors. As you can see from her results lately, she’s right up there with a lot of the top players. And she just has to keep working hard and grinding, because there’s no other way. You have to play the tour, you have to do the 10-12 tournaments (per year), and work hard physically because all the girls at that level are incredibly strong and tough. I think she’s on the right track.