CHENNAI: Whenever an Indian squash player goes abroad, most feel his or her life is secured. Some are branded selfish and money-minded. There is also an impression that these athletes are neglecting their sport and chasing other dreams.
Ask Vikram Malhotra and he will tell you that’s not the case. The 27-year-old, who has spent the last nine years in the US, is very much an India player, who represents the country when picked. He is also a coach at Trinity College in Connecticut, where he went to study as a teenager.
While a player/coach designation is cool for your resume, the reality is pretty harsh. “As a player, the finances were not up to the mark and coaching is something that I had to do to survive,” said Malhotra, who lost in the quarterfinals against Saurav Ghosal on Friday.
Training under Thierry Lincou, a former World No 1, Vikram is relishing his dual role. “It’s a positive thing. As a player, you see certain dimensions of the game and as a coach, you see a different side. I don’t know about other players. But seeing from outside, it helps me better my game as well. It gives me a different perspective of things,” he added.
There are disadvantages as well. Constantly fighting a battle with time, the Mumbai man who has been coaching for the last three years is not satisfied with the amount of free time he gets. “It’s tough to dedicate hours to both. You are always helping someone or basically helping each other. Sometimes, athletes push to two or three sessions a day. Having a full-time job and playing affects me. The downside is there is no time to rest. But it is something that I have to do.”
With no plans to come back to India in the near future, the World No 70 credits Lincou for helping him. His training methods have made him realise that he is not that fit, compared to the standard abroad.
“His methods are very hard. I think every squash player is different. People have different techniques and strengths and weaknesses. But it’s important to mold them on certain aspects. Also, coaching is definitely tougher than playing. It is more frustrating.”
vimalsankar@newindianexpress.com