RITWIK TO WORK HARDER ON DEFENCE

Rediff India Abroad – Sept 4, 2003 – The only Indian to win a title on the world Professional Squash Association circuit, Ritwik Bhattacharya plans to work harder on his fitness and defence to achieve the larger goals he has set for himself.

Ritwik, who is in Jaipur to play in the All India Harish Chandra Golecha Memorial squash tournament, said he is eager to get back to practice with his coach Neil Harvey in London.

“The newly gained star status after my back-to-back titles in the New Zealand PSC has got me busy with press, autograph hunters and felicitations and that leaves me with no time for practice,” said Ritwik, who is currently ranked 72 in the world, the best ever placing for an Indian, bettering the 74th rank by Arjan Singh.

“I have earmarked some grey areas and finer points that I need to work upon. I need to work more on fitness and defence,” he said.

Asked what made him click in the professional circuit, Ritwik said psychological training worked wonders for him.

“Earlier I had the game and fitness, but I was losing crucial matches. I used to play five fine points but the next five were disastrous. But psychological training and yoga worked wonders for me. Now I am more focussed, feel more confident, and poised during matches.”

But Ritwik denied he is undergoing any special training. “My coach… former world No 12 Neil Harvey, knows about sports psychology too. Later just to confirm that we were in the right direction we sought advice from Dr John Murray, an American psychologist,” he added.