State must help to raise standard of squash - Pakistan coach Aziz

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

SQUASH: More support from the State is the need of the hour to uplift the standard of squash in the country and to bring more and more players to the courts said the Pakistani coach Shahid Aziz who is here on a coaching stint.

Coach Zahid Aziz, a national squash player of Pakistan, said; "there is no question about the abundance of talent that is available, but, the talent should not be allowed to fall on the way side, due to lack of support from the government. The Ministry of Sports should provide more facilities for the players and help them to purchase their tickets to which ever destination they are bound to perform".

He further said that in Pakistan, squash is very competitive and some may think that the sport may not be a pleasing or a crowd pulling one to watch, but it is. Squash is a mental game and one needs to be fit to play squash,rather than playing the game to keep fit. "Squash is a mind game and a smart one. When you enter the arena to play, it is a different ball game. Businessmen very often play squash to relieve their stress and tension after a hard days work" he said.

The 36-year-old Aziz started playing squash when he was 12 years old, and has represented his country from 1984 to 1992.

He has previously coached in Saudi Arabia, Europe and Malaysia.He was amazed on the amount of talent available during a coaching session at the Gymkhana Club Courts.

The Squash Federation is conducting a coaching session for beginners and the response has been encouraging. However, he lamented saying that the boys show more interest in studies and treat squash as secondary. Both studies and sports should go hand -in -hand for a balance life style.

About 60 players,boys and girls of all age groups were under training with lot of enthusiasm in a programme launched by the Squash Federation.

Aziz feels that at least some of the youngsters should make the grade, and the programme should be a success.

To be a good squash player, you need to do a lot of training,planning and good nutrition is needed as it is a energy draining sport.