New Delhi, March 21 Former India No. 1 Saurav Ghosal hailed the inclusion of squash in the 2028 Olympics as a turning point and emphasized the need to expand access, improve coaching, and strengthen the ecosystem to sustain the sport's growth.
Recently appointed Sports Commissioner of World Premier Squash, Ghosal said this role is a culmination of his career in the sport.
"I have played professional squash and for India for more than 20 years... it has been a privilege. This is a chance to bring together all those experiences and I am excited to contribute to the sport at a global level," he said.
"I have always seen pressure situations as opportunities... this is a chance to achieve something significant in the sport," he added.
On the growth of squash in India, Ghosal highlighted the importance of participation.
"Strength lies in numbers... if more players participate, the chances of producing champions increase," he said.
"The upward trend is very encouraging... and this is an attempt to make squash more accessible, involving more children, more people, and recreational players, as the entire ecosystem needs to be involved," he added.
He also highlighted the importance of exposure and opportunities.
"Many players haven't had the financial backing or the right guidance. This provides them with a chance to showcase their talent on the world stage," he said.
Currently, India has multiple players in the top-50, including teenager Anahat Singh.
"It's great to see four boys in the top-50... and Anahat is also in the top-20. Success breeds success, and this will benefit the entire ecosystem," Ghosal said.
"She has all the potential—talent, mental strength, and support. If she continues with her current performance, there's no reason she cannot be a top-10 player," he added.
"I don't want to put undue pressure on her; she is still 18 and needs to enjoy this time," he said.
On squash's debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Ghosal said it marks a defining moment.
"This is a significant moment, not just for Indian squash but for the sport globally. The Olympics is the ultimate platform for sporting excellence," he said.
"It's natural that squash gets the opportunity to showcase its athletic excellence on the biggest stage... and I am sure it will be a very exciting event," he added.
"I hope to see Indian players making a significant impact in the 16-player draw. That's what everyone is striving for," he said.
On pathways to the Olympics, he pointed to the Asian Games and called it an opportunity for players to secure their spots.
"The winner at the Asian Games will have an automatic qualification spot. Winning gold is challenging, and no Indian has achieved it before, but it is definitely possible," he said.
"The goal is not just to qualify but to be in a position to realistically compete for a medal," he added.
Despite the progress, Ghosal highlighted gaps in Indian squash.
"It's not possible to train at the highest level in India for 365 days. Even top players train abroad because the quality of coaching is not at the highest level in India today," he said.
"This is something we need to work on—getting people from abroad and having Indian coaches train with them to understand what it takes at the highest level," he added.
Comparing with other top squash playing nations, he said: "If you look at Egypt, most players train at home, and you have top players training together and constantly pushing each other."
He also stressed the need to expand grassroots access to the sport to make it more popular in the country.
"Squash has been a slightly exclusive sport... access to courts has been limited, although this is slowly changing," he said.
"Junior programmes and more tournaments have helped... kids see the sport, get involved in competitive play, and play more," he added.
"To truly grow, it's important to introduce squash in schools and use digital platforms to reach players even in remote areas," he said.
"Getting squash on TV is extremely important... it gives kids the inspiration to take up the sport," he added.
On the format and innovation in World Premier Squash, which uses AI-enabled qualification pathways, he said it will be "very different" from traditional squash.
"It will be short, sharp, and entertaining, and as inclusive as possible across all age groups," he said.
"Many talented players may not have the opportunity to travel... this gives them a chance to qualify from wherever they are," he said.
"All you need is a phone and the app, and you can be on a global leaderboard and even compete with the top players," he added.
"It's about bridging the gap between the professional tour, junior players, and recreational players... a comprehensive effort to elevate the sport," he said.
Asked about India's maiden Squash World Cup triumph, Ghosal said it was a significant step forward, but bigger goals remain.
"It's a good achievement, but there are even bigger goals to achieve. The Olympics is the pinnacle, and players now have the opportunity to achieve something significant there," he said.
Ghoshal stressed that collective effort will be key going forward.
"We are talking about five players today; we need to aim for hundreds. If all stakeholders work together over the next five to 10 years, there's no reason why we can't achieve that," he said.