Chennai: Harinder Pal Sandhu’s last minute health issue has forced him out of the Indian team for the WSF – World doubles squash championship scheduled in Manchester (England) from August 1 to 5.
The man in touch after his recent spectacular performances in the PSA circuit, Harinder had looked forward to this event and begun preparations in right earnest. But a painful inner tooth problem that turned up suddenly proved to be an issue which required emergency medical attention. Though the problem was surgically solved, the pain and swelling were still to subdue and the man himself has not been able to get on to the court for practice. “We waited till the last minute before deciding to keep him out,” said national Coach Cyrus Poncha, who is travelling with the side and who had also overlooked the preparatory camp in the Indian Squash Academy. The camp will have its final session tomorrow before the team embarks for England on Saturday morning.
The other members of the team Saurav Ghosal, Vikram Malhotra, Mahesh Mangaonkar, Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik have been going through intense practice sessions with top juniors Velavan Senthilkumar and Abhay Singh as also Academy coach Balamurugan joining in to assist in the sparring. As per the plan, India will field two pairs for the mixed doubles, Saurav – Dipika and Vikram -Joshna. The other combinations are Mahesh and Vikram (men’s event), Joshna-Dipika (womens). Harinder was originally to pair Mahesh in the men’s doubles.
Expressing happines otherwise with the way the camp had gone with each player sweating it out, Poncha said the competition in Manchester would be tough. “England, Australia and New Zealand pairs are strong forces but we are aiming for medal positions,” he said. At Darwin, Australia last year, the highlights were Saurav and Dipika winning the silver and Harinder and Joshna winning the bronze, both in mixed doubles while Joshna and Dipika taking the bronze in the women’s doubles.
