Saurav Ghosal is a professional Indian squash player who is currently ranking as World Number 14 in February 2018. He became a known face in Indian squash world after reaching the rank number 15 in December 2013 which was the record in his career.
Early Life of Saurav Ghosal
Saurav Ghosal was born on August 10, 1986 at Kolkata. Saurav Ghosal moved to Chennai after completing his schooling from Lakshmipat Singhania Academy in Kolkata. There he was based at the ICL squash academy in Chennai and was coached by Major (Rtd) Maniam and Cyrus Poncha in Chennai. Now Ghosal is coached by Malcolm Willstrop, father of former World No.1 James Willstrop.
Career of Saurav Ghosal
Saurav Ghosal started playing squash in his hometown of Kolkata, at the Kolkata Racquet Club. In the year 2004, he became the first Indian ever to win the coveted British Junior Open Under-19 Squash title, defeating Adel El Said of Egypt in the final at Sheffield in England. In the year 2013, he became the first Indian squash player to reach the Quarter finals of the World Squash Championship at Manchester, England. His first major title was the German Open (U-17) in May 2002 and he won the Dutch Open two months later. Saurav defeated Gaurav Nandrajog at the National Championships 2006 in New Delhi and same year he won the bronze medal at the Asian Games 2006 in Doha.
Ghosal has numerous firsts to his credit, the first Indian to be ranked junior World No one, the first to bag the junior National championship three years in a row and in December 2006, he won the country"s first medal in squash in the Doha Asian Games. As of May 2010, his PSA world rank was 27. In 2013, he became the first Indian squash player to reach the quarterfinals of the World Championship. In 2014, he won the silver medal in individual singles in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon. He claimed his 10th Indian Nationals title after downing Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu in 2015`s final. He lifted the Kolkata International title in September 2015 when he beat former World No.1 Marwan ElShorbagy in the final. Ghosal also won the Indian Nationals in July 2016 beating Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu. He led the Indian Squash team to its first ever Gold Medal at Incheon. He won silver at 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in mixed doubles.
Personal Life of Saurav Ghosal
Saurav Ghosal married Diya Pallikal (sister of Dipika Pallikal Karthik) on February 1, 2017. He was awarded with the Arjuna Award by the President of India in August 2007.
