Guwahati, Feb. 5: The Pakistan squash team is looking to raise the bar, eyeing at least four gold medals to clamp their supremacy in the 12th South Asian Games that got under way here today.
The absence of Indian star Dipika Pallikal, who is nursing a shoulder injury suffered in an event in the US recently, will certainly be an advantage for the team from across the border. "We are confident of at least three gold medals (two in the men's individual event and one in the team event). Another gold in the women's individual event will be a bonus, which apparently is a possibility with Dipika pulling out," Md Saqib Yousuf, acting coach and player, told The Telegraph during a strenuous practice session at the newly-built squash arena on the premises of the RG Baruah Sports Complex here this afternoon.
The team, which arrived here last evening, comprises four men and as many women. Nasir Iqbal (ranked 35th), Farhan Zaman (ranked 59th), Danish Atlas and Md Saqib Yousuf are among the men while Maria Toor, Muqaddas Ashraf, Samar Anjum and Sadia Gul are representing the women's team. Pakistan won two gold medals and a silver in the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka in 2010.
Asked whether the services of two coaches who were yet to be given accreditation cards were being missed, Yousuf, currently placed 130th in the world squash rankings, said, "Yes, to an extent. But we hope Fahim Gul, the coach of the men's team, and Sattawat Babar, coach of the women's team, make it to the meet."
The brand-new four-court arena was looking good but for the air-conditioning that failed to take effect during the training session. "The climate here is warmer than in Peshawar where I come from. So, the ACs not working makes it a little difficult," said Danish Atlas, a nephew of former Pakistan number one squash player, Jansher Khan.
Sweating it out in one of the courts was Samar Anjum, a young Priyanka Gandhi lookalike. "Our morale is high and we hope to win. Dipika's absence will be an advantage," the Punjab University (Lahore) graduate told The Telegraph, as she sipped on juice after a two-hour workout.
