From starting out as a tennis player to getting selected in the senior squash team- the story of Velavan Senthilkumar
The Indian squad for the Asian Championships slated to begin from the 11th of May in Chinese Taipei was picked last week and the side suffered a serious blow when Saurav Ghosal was ruled out of the competition due to an ankle injury that he sustained during the British Open in March.
His replacement will be the current national champion in the Under-19 category Velavan Senthilkumar, who will form the quartet, also consisting of Harinder Pal Sandhu, Kush Kumar and Vijaykumar Meena in carrying the Indian hopes at the event.
The 18-year-old, however, feels that he was a bit fortunate to have been selected in the squad when asked what his first reaction was after hearing the news and didn’t expect the call to the senior team so soon.
“I felt sad because Saurav Ghosal had to pull out. Had he been there, then we would have definitely had a much stronger team. I feel I am lucky to have got the opportunity to play with the senior squad. I didn't expect to be picked,” Velavan told Sportskeeda in a telephonic interview.
Velavan’s journey into becoming a squash player started off as it does or did for a few others. He was initially inclined towards tennis and it was only when a new squash academy came up near their name that they began looking it as an option.
“Initially, I was more inclined towards tennis. I played the sport for 4 years. Then one day, my neighbours told us about a new squash academy coming up nearby. I enrolled into the academy and soon enough, started to enjoy the sport and have never looked back after that,” he added.
Talking about the influence of his parents on his squash career, Velavan says that he was never discouraged by them when it came to playing it and they always wanted to him to move out of home and play a sport.
“My parents wanted me to move out of home. When they started to see my name in newspapers, it impressed them and never did they tell me to not pursue the sport,” he said.
When asked what was his turning point , where he felt squash was to be his future career option, he recollected a competition in Mumbai 8 years back.
“When I was 11, I went to Mumbai to take part in a competition and I came back winning that competition, That victory gave me the confidence and I felt that squash was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he says.
Velavan also praised the three coaches- Mr. Cyrus Poncha, Major Maniam and Mr.Balamurugan for their role in his growth as a squash star.
“I am what I am in squash because of them. It is more of a team effort with each of them giving their suggestions to help improve my game further,” he said.
When asked about what his expectations from the event were, Velavan just one line to say.
“ I want to get a medal for my country,” he concluded.
India are grouped in Pool C with Japan, Philippines and Macau and will begin its campaign against Japan on the 12th.