Ritwik squashes fears of Pakistan pressure

‘‘The conditions suit me. Once you make the adjustment in movement (the ball bounces a lot more in hotter environs), you are fine,’’ says the London-based player.

‘‘Playing a Pakistani in Pakistan is not easy for outsiders — they are very instinctive when they play at home, and there is the crowd factor. It’s like playing the Punjab hockey team in Punjab,’’ he says. Ritwik is in the city with his British coach Neil Harvey who is conducting a week-long coaching clinic on invitation from the Cricket Club of India (CCI).

Given Pakistan’s rich history with squash and the regularity with which it conducts Professional Squash players Association (PSA) tournaments as opposed to India, it offers Ritwik an ideal destination to improve his world ranking which is currently 64. Ritwik, who was ranked in the 90’s till May last year climbed the ranking after winning two PSA tournaments in New Zealand in October. It also helps that a lot of overseas players prefer to skip tournaments in Pakistan making the competition less stiff.

‘‘It is a lot easier for me to play tournaments in Pakistan since it is cheaper than playing tournaments in Europe. I can also visit my parents (in New Delhi) when I am in the sub-continent,’’ he says.

Ritwik admits that he was a bit apprehensive about playing for the first time in Pakistan during world ranking tournaments in Islamabad and Peshawar. ‘‘Once I reached there I was okay,’’ says Ritwik. ‘‘I found the people more respectful. One cab driver who knew I was Indian asked me if Aamir Khan and Salman Khan play squash.’’

Ritwik will now lead the Indian squash challenge at the SAF Games in Islamabad later this month. ‘‘We should hopefully finish with a couple of medals,’’ he says. Pakistan will field their full-strength squad spearhead by Mansoor Zaman, who is currently in the World top-20. Riwtik hopes to go back later in April-May to participate in a few PSA tournaments.