He resisted the Mumbai youngster’s commonplace calling of willow and leather. Neither did he accede to his weightlifter father’s legacy nor was he impelled by badminton like his mother. He dabbled with basketball and tried his hand at shooting. But nothing caught his imagination like squash. So it wasn’t a dilemma for Mahesh Mangaonkar to prioritise options in his life. “I want to play squash at the highest level and, importantly, I want to excel in the toughest of circuits. I know that’s my future. From hereon, wherever I study, there will be a squash programme for sure. I don’t want anything else to divert my attention,” he says.
If you are struck by such single-mindedness and commitment in a 14-year-old, you will be more surprised by his amount of exertion to better his game. Two hours of physical workouts are followed by an hour of on-court practice under the discerning eyes of Egyptian trainer Ahmed Yousif and coach Waman Apte at the Otters’ Club in Mumbai.
Besides, he earnestly devours demo CDs of top-ranked players, but none so eagerly as those of his idol Jonathon Power — JP Exposed And Above The Tin. He even e-mailed Power, seeking advice. Much to his jubilation, the former Canadian No 1 duly replied to his e-mail. “He answered most of my mailed questions on ball-striking and mental toughness. I was amazed that he replied and that a top squash player could be so responsive,” confides Mahesh, a class IX student at the Don Bosco High School in Borivali.
A stint with legendary Egyptian coach Amir Wagih has further tightened his game. “The training was hard but very enjoyable. The focus was on on-court fitness and I never really felt tired. I played some good matches with the local lads and Wagih ironed out a few flaws in my technique and advised me to be judicious in shot selection, besides working on court coverage. Overall, the stint was a great learning curve and prepared me for the British Junior Open,” says Mahesh, who surprised the squash fraternity by reaching the quarterfinals of the senior nationals last year.
The rise has been constant. Mahesh won the British Junior Open title in the U-15 segment this January by beating top-ranked Oliver Holland. “Mentally, I felt fresh throughout the tournament. Physically, I was at the top of my game. I had defeated him at the German Open in April last year and clearly had the psychological edge over him. Also, I knew his weaknesses and, therefore, was well prepared. In a couple of years, I want to start playing on the Professional Squash Association’s circuit. That’s the real test,” he said.
At 5’9”, he is tall for the average player on his circuit. “My height helps me reach shots early. I need fewer steps to cover the entire court. I’m 14 and, hopefully, will grow a few inches in the coming years,” he hopes.
All the same, Mahesh is not overawed by instant success. “My big test will be to perform well in the professional circuit. It’s a long and winding road with potholes and I need to sustain my consistency throughout. My mantra will be to take it tournament by tournament and not be perturbed by reputations,” he says. What he looks forward to is a session with Power in Canada. His finances permitting, he should manage that midway through the year.
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