
MUMBAI, JUNE 28: Two girls each from Mumbai and Chennai will represent India in the World Junior Squash Championship to be held in Antwerp, Belgium from July 26. Deepali Anvekar and Supriya Balsekar are from Mumbai while the Chennai-based players are Pia Abraham and Vaidehi Reddy. Mumbai8217;s Rhea Bhandare is the reserve.
However, India8217;s best junior prospect Joshna Chinappa with meritorious performances to back up, has been shockingly left out on the grounds that she failed to attend a training camp.
What has hurt the young Joshna more is the double standard of SRFI who has permitted Rhea Bhandare to play in Belgium despite being in America during the camp period. She was also not officially intimated about the camp. SRFI has failed to give Joshna justice for reasons best known to them going by the action taken by Indian coach Rajiv Reddy during a tournament in Kuala Lumpur.
Joshna8217;s entry was sent for under-16 but on being informed by the organisers at the last moment that she can also play in her orignial group of under-13, she made an on the spot entry. SRFI had not informed Joshna about this facility but instead of giving her chance to achieve the double, Reddy forced her to withdraw the under-13 entry.
Joshna8217;s parents were very bitter over this issue and they protested to SRFI but now they feel that SRFI has been vindictive and left their daughter out and have included players who have lost to her in internationl competition.
Sunitha8217;s argument is that it is easy for SRFI to stamp out needless authority but beyond that it is of no help. It is finally left to parents to get all details about the event, the entry forms, age classifications, payment of entry fees, get draws and accomodation for their young wards directly from the international associations through their own expenditure vis-a-vis e-mail, fax, phone and web-sites, she points out and added that since SRFI fails to provide all the significant information, it is inevitable that parents or players have to deal directly with the hosts.