A stretch in time can save squash

For a sport that stretches you both physically and mentally, visiting Egyptian coach Samy Farrag finds it astounding that squash8217;s young practitioners...

For a sport that stretches you both physically and mentally, visiting Egyptian coach Samy Farrag finds it astounding that squash8217;s young practitioners in Mumbai give the all-important 8216;stretch8217; a most callous miss.

In town for the Otters Open squash tournament, the 35-year-old points out that they are skipping the critical warm-up routine 8212; most only going through the motions 8212; at their own peril. 8220;It8217;s not just warm-up, but a necessary routine. How will you play if you aren8217;t flexible enough?8221; Farrag says, adding that rigid bodies are dragging down an otherwise talented bunch.

On a month-long vacation-cum-coaching stint in Mumbai, Farrag realises there8217;s little that can be drastically modified in such a short period. A professional for 15 years, and having played with the national team for seven, Farrag insists that Indian beginners can do with some help from 8216;PSA8217;-tagged coaches, who have been on the circuit not too long ago.

Comparing the youngsters here with those back home, he says: 8220;In Egypt, kids benefit from having seen champions groomed up-close. Here, seriousness is lacking, and I8217;ve rarely seen that passion to train.8221;

Working with Egypt8217;s top-end juniors 8212; British Junior Open stars Omar Mosaad and Heba El Torky, with Men8217;s World No 10 Wael Eh Hendi providing constant inspiration at the Maadi Club, Farrag has watched 2005 Otters Open winner Ramy Ashour fast-track to success, becoming World No 3, and with world-topper Amr Shabana to look up to in the country, Farrag sees in Egypt a model worth emulating.

8220;Clubs there can sustain on coaching fees alone since we have top-notch coaches who can command that kind of money. Here, you are dependent on memberships of rich families playing for mere recreation,8221; he says, adding that his upcoming academy in Cairo under Egypt8217;s maverick 1990s hero Ahmed Barada, will provide for a residential set-up for Indians.

8220;Barada was an icon. People loved him because he came from an average background, and became powerful,8221; he says. The costs at his proposed club though, will be prohibitive for Indians.