World Squash Champion David Palmer Says Yes To India Coaching Job

The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) has confirmed that Australia’s David Troy Palmer, former world number 1 and two-time world squash champion, has agreed to take the role of coach of the Indian squash team for the Asian (men & women) Team Championships. The tournament is scheduled to be held at Kuala Lumpur from March 25 to 29 next year. However, the confirmation of the Australian taking the post will be done after the Sports Ministry gives a nod to him.

Talking to a leading daily Cyrus Poncha, SRFI Secretary said that the SRFI had written to the Sports Ministry 10 days back asking the ministry to approve Palmer’s appointment as the coach. Adding further poncho said that prior to writing to the ministry SRFI had held talks with Palmer and he recently gave his confirmation to take the role.

Further discussing on how long SRFI expects Palmer to stay, Poncho said, they are looking at Palmer on a long-term basis most probably till the 2022 Asian and Commonwealth Games.

If the ministry excepts the proposal and gives their nod to appoint Palmer as the coach then this will mark the debut of Palmer in India as he has never coached an Indian team be it senior or junior. Palmer at present is currently a coach at Cornell University in New York. In the same university Veer Chotrani, the reigning Asian u-19 boys’ singles champion, is a student.

It is to be noted that Palmer has trained some senior Indian players namely, Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa, Vikram Malhotra and Ramit Tandon in the past. The Australian has also coached Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy, former World No.1 and current No.2.

Talking further on picking up the team for the Asian Team Championship the SRFI Secretary said the team will be picked based on the Senior National Championships and the world (PSA) rankings as on February 2020. The national championship is scheduled to be held in Chennai from February 9 to 15.

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