Not many get gifted the country’s top sporting honours — namely an Arjuna Award — precisely on the day they turn 21. But, not many have managed to dig deep, move quick and kill with speed on Indian squash courts with the precision and effect that the India No 1 brings to the sport.

Saurav Ghosal brought in his 21st with news of the award trickling into his Kolkata household, and the family gathering planned for another birthday turned noisier with greetings of congratulations.

Awarded in a discipline which last saw a winner in Misha Grewal more than a decade ago, Ghosal’s achievement puts the spotlight on a game which picked its first Asian Games medal last December and was promoted to a priority sport earlier this year.

Ghosal, currently India’s highest-ranked player at 41, made the big leap from a fledgling juniors career to fulfilling his PSA aspirations in two eventful years. The fleet-footed, pint-framed player manages University academics at Leeds alongside his PSA main draws — training under coach Malcolm Willstrop, and despite the early honours believes his career is taking off only now.

“The transition from juniors to seniors was a very big jump. But the award also means that there’s a huge responsibilty on me now. There’s a long way to go,” says the 2004 British Junior Open champion, who picked his first big medal for India at Doha late last year.

“There’s another two Asian Games and the big one — the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. I’m targetting a gold. On the pro circuit, I believe I can do well in the World Championships,” he stresses.

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