Saurav Ghoshal, the stalwart flag bearer of Indian squash for over two decades, on Monday announced his retirement from the professional circuit after carving his name in the annals of the sport’s history with some remarkable achievements. The 37-year-old Ghoshal, India’s finest male squash player, will however continue to represent the country in multi-disciplinary competitions. Apart from winning two gold medals in the team events of the Incheon and Hangzhou Asian Games, Ghoshal has three Commonwealth Games medals and also won a yellow metal in the mixed doubles at the 2022 World Doubles Championships in Glasgow.
“I started my journey on the @psaworldtour 22 years ago. At the time, I never dreamed I’d play professional squash for so long. As I traveled around the world, meeting some of the most passionate people of our amazing game, “I thought it would never end,” Ghoshal, who played on big stages, wrote in a post on his official Instagram handle.
“But, there is always an end point. I am overwhelmed with emotions while writing this message. This game has been my passion, my livelihood and my identity for many years. So, with a heart full of pride and excitement, it is sad , I announce my retirement from PSA.”
Kolkata-born Ghoshal, who was a key part of the golden generation of Indian squash along with Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa, remains the only individual from the country to break into the world top 10 after achieving a career-high ranking in April. 2019 and spend six months there.
Since making her PSA debut in 2003, Ghoshal has won 10 PSA titles, reaching 18 finals, while she has won 281 of her 511 matches on tour.
Ghosal also holds the record for winning 13 Indian national titles, the last of which came in 2020.
However, Ghosal’s game is not completely over yet and he is expected to represent India for a few more years.
“Ultimately, I hope I am not saying goodbye to competitive squash completely. I would like to play for India for some more time. Hopefully I still have some fight left in me and can achieve something more for my country. Till then, thank you!” Ghoshal thus hopes to fulfill his long-cherished dream of playing in the Olympics with the debut of squash in the 2028 Los Angeles edition. Ghosal will be 41 by then, but if he chooses to play doubles and can deliver results at the Asian and Commonwealth Games in 2026, he can also take part in the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.
Ghoshal said that sports has not only given him an identity but has also shaped him as a person.
“The last 2 decades have shaped me as a person and I am forever grateful for the opportunities I have been given. I hope I have conducted myself with honor and played the game ‘the right way’ Is.
“None of this would have been possible without the support of my loving grandparents, my father, my loving wife and the rest of my loving family.
“They have molded me into the person I am today. My journey would have been incomplete without the wisdom and guidance of Malcolm Willstrop, Damon Brown, David Palmer, James Willstrop, Dr. Sheryl Calder, Gayatri Madkekar, Krishmi Chheda, and countless coaches Who guided me on the way.
“My soul is filled with gratitude as I thank the Sports Ministry of India, SDAT and SRFI and Baseline for their steadfast support over the years.” Ghosal’s final – and joint biggest – PSA title came at the Malaysian Open Squash Championships in November 2021, where he defeated Colombian top seed Miguel Rodriguez in the final.
“To all my fans, you have helped me get through the good and bad times. I can’t thank you enough for the love you have shown me during this time. Thank you so much to all the players, I It is a privilege to share the court together.
He wrote, “I will always remember the respect I received from all of you. You have been my family for so long and I will miss you all.”
His final appearance on the PSA Tour came at the 2024 Windy City Open presented by Walter Family, where he lost to Timothy Brownell of the USA in the last 64.
She teamed up with compatriot Deepika Pallikal Karthik to win the gold medal for India in the mixed event at the 2022 WSF World Doubles Squash Championships, while she had also won a gold medal at the Asian Individual Championships in Malaysia five years ago.
Under the tutelage of Major Maniam and Cyrus Poncha, Ghoshal honed his skills in his early days in the sport, paving the way for an illustrious career.
In 2004, he created history by becoming the first Indian to win the British Junior Open Under-19 squash title. After this he did not look back.
