Hyderabad: It is very rare for a father-and-son duo to show up champions in their respective categories in the same tournament.
It happened in the Netplay-closed Telangana State Squash Championship with Gangashetty father Arvind Kumar, a former starting candidate for the Ranji Trophy in Hyderabad, who won the men’s singles 45+, while his son, Gangashetty Dhruv Kumar, the boys ’ u.17 award on Wednesday.
“It’s a nice feeling to win squash titles after enjoying cricket in the early part of my career,” said the 47-year-old left-back. The fact that he went to cricket squash was basically to keep himself fit, because this game requires a lot of running and physical agility. ‘When I played professional cricket in England, I started this game because it gave me a lot of fitness. Squash is a fast paced game and it consumes your energy. As a result, it helps you improve your fitness, ” said Arvind, who has been playing squash for the past ten years after retiring from first-class cricket in 2004.
Arvind played a serious squash in 2008 and won the 35+ title at the age of 34 in the Secunderabad Open in his first tournament. ‘It was the big motivating factor to continue with squash. When I kept playing local cricket leagues, it helped me play squash. I was also a badminton player at school and the ‘racket’ touch was handy. ”
This is where one of the coaches told him to take part in the Nationals, and Arvind immediately took part in the GSM tournament in Bengaluru and finished second in the category over 35.
Squash gave him a lot of peace, he said. “Cricket is all about discipline and team spirit, while squash is about individual excellence,” said Arvind. ‘My beating in the Ranji trophy against Kerala was the best. It was in Kochi where I played the first ball and was the last batsman to be out. I scored 141 in a game with a low score, but unfortunately I could not carry the bat for the team. That would have been a unique record for Hyderabad. ‘
As a winner of five titles in the State Squash Championship, Arvind has twice won 35+ Nationals (2005 and 2007). ‘I was once third in the 35+ senior citizens. Thanks to squash I can still play cricket for Canara Bank today at 47 and this season I have beaten three consecutive centuries. Squash is good for cardio breathing because it’s a quick game, ” he said.
Meanwhile, Dhruv played cricket for a few years before switching to squash three years ago. He participated in the u.17 tournament and ended up as runners-up in 2019. “This is my first title and I feel great that my dad and I won titles in the same tournament,” he said.
Dhruv, a first-year student at Tapasya Junior College in Lakdi-ka-Pul, said this tournament gives him the confidence for bigger tournaments. “I intend to play in the Nationals and my dad plays a big role by giving the finer tips,” he said.
Source: Telangana Today