More "mature" Ghosal ready for Men`s World Team C`ship

New Delhi: Blending English way of fast-paced squash with attacking Indian style has helped Saurav Ghosal developed into a more mature player over the years and the country`s ace racqueter believes he has now started to understand his game better.

"I have developed into a more mature and competitive player. I merged the English way of fast-paced squash with attacking Indian style and that has helped me grow in confidence," Ghosal said. "Now I know my game better as to what pace I am comfortable playing during the match or how quickly I have to open the court up and attack the opponent. I know the pace of my game, my fitness level and placing has improved," he said. Ghosal, ranked 20th in the world, said the top-10 players on the professional circuit should look out for him in the upcoming tournaments as his next aim is to beat them. "I am good enough to beat the top-10 players on the PSA tour. The recent good showings have instilled more confidence in me. I want to keep adding elements to my game and keep evolving as a better squash player," he said ahead of WSF Men`s World Team Squash Championship starting from Sunday in Mulhouse, France. The UK-based 26-year-old from Kolkata credited former world number one James Willstrop`s father and coach Malcolm for turning him into a better player. "Malcolm has made me the professional player I am today. We have been working towards it for the past eight years. His coaching has helped me every bit in fine-tuning my game," said Ghosal who trains at Pontefract in Yorkshire with Willstrop`s son James. Talking about the WSF Men`s World Team Squash Championship, Ghosal exuded confidence of performing well at the biennial championships which will be held in France for the first time in the event`s 46-year history. "I was in Kolkata to train with the team ahead of the tournament. We had some good practice sessions there. Hopefully, we will have some good matches especially when Siddharth Suchde is not part of the contingent," Ghosal said. The Indian team departed on Thursday night for the 24th edition of the Championship to be held from June 9-15. Teams from 31 nations - with representation from all five continents in the top sixteen alone - will contest the championships. The India team led by national champion Ghosal has been seeded eighth. The other members of the team are Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Mahesh Mangaonkar and Ramit Tandon. Cyrus Poncha and Gautam Das will accompany the squad. Ghosal agreed that India have been grouped in a tough Pool comprising of Finland (ninth seed), Argentina (21/24) and Venezuela (25/28). "There`s going to be no easy matches. It`s a hard event with all the top teams in the world featuring in the draw. We are placed in a tough group but I am confident that Harry and Ramit carry their fine form into the tournament," he said. The Indian team had finished seventh in the 2011 edition. "We are confident of doing better this year. We have a great mix of experience and youth in our squad," said national coach Cyrus Poncha. India`s schedule: • June 9 vs Against Argentina • June 10 vs Against Finland • June 11 vs Against Venezuela • June 12 onwards - Knock-Out stage. PTI