India’s esteemed men’s squash player, Saurav Ghosal, made a significant announcement on Monday, declaring his retirement from the professional circuit after a remarkable 22-year career. Despite this decision, he plans to prolong his representation of India in multi-sport events for the foreseeable future.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ghoshal has left an indelible mark on the sport, securing three medals at the Commonwealth Games and clinching two gold medals in team events at the Incheon and Hangzhou Asian Games. Notably, he also triumphed in the mixed doubles category at the 2022 World Doubles Championships in Glasgow.
Reflecting on his journey, Ghosal shared his sentiments on Instagram, reminiscing about embarking on the PSA World Tour two decades ago with dreams beyond his imagination. “Every journey has its destination,” expressed the 37-year-old, acknowledging the mix of emotions accompanying his retirement announcement. Squash has not merely been a career for him; it has been his passion, livelihood, and identity for many years.
Hailing from Kolkata, Ghosal stands as India’s sole player to break into the top 10 globally, attaining a career-high ranking in April 2019, which he maintained for an impressive six months. Since his debut on the PSA Tour in 2003, Ghosal has showcased his prowess by reaching 18 finals and securing victory in 10 PSA tournaments, boasting a commendable record of 281 wins out of 511 matches.
Furthermore, Ghoshal’s dominance extends to the national arena, where he has clinched a record 13 national titles, with his most recent triumph in 2020. Despite bidding adieu to professional squash, Ghoshal remains committed to representing India, expressing his desire to continue competing for his country. “I am not bidding farewell to competitive squash just yet,” asserted Ghoshal, expressing gratitude for the support and affirming his determination to contribute further to Indian squash.
