Saurav Ghosal, India’s squash legend, has officially returned to the PSA tour after announcing his retirement nearly a year ago. The 38-year-old, who has earned multiple medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, decided to make a comeback to pursue his Olympic dreams. In this exclusive interview, Saurav talks to RevSportz about the journey back to the court, his mental and physical challenges, and his goals for both the short-term and long-term future of his career.
Q: What inspired you to come out of retirement and return to the PSA tour?
A: When I retired from PSA in April last year, my plan was always to play League of Legends. But I needed time away to recover mentally and physically before assessing whether I still had the drive to compete at the highest level. So, for about five to six months, I did no structured training.
On August 13, I returned to the gym with a plan to test my body. At 38, I knew my mind might want to do a million things, but my body had to respond. The initial weeks were brutal, but as I regained my flow, I went to David Palmer in Ithaca and Damon Brown in Philadelphia to push myself further. The response was encouraging, and by September, I felt ready to compete again.
By November-December, it became clear that to seriously play for India, I needed to be back on PSA, maintain a ranking, and give myself a real shot at making the team. The ultimate goal remains to win for India on the biggest stages, and PSA is the path to that end.
Q: How challenging was it to regain a competitive mindset after stepping away from professional squash and training?
A:Mentally, the transition wasn’t too hard because I genuinely missed competing and even the pain of training. The key for me was ensuring I had an intrinsic desire to return—not just an external goal. Once I was certain, the next step was seeing if my body could keep up. Fortunately, it has, though I’ve had to manage my schedule carefully, focus on recovery, and do more prehab work than ever before.
Regarding adjustments, I initially kept squash sessions minimal—just three times a week—while prioritising gym work and conditioning. Over the past month and a half, I’ve increased my squash training, but not to pre-retirement levels. The plan is to maintain a balance: enough squash to stay sharp while allowing time for recovery, strength work, and prehab. The total workload remains the same, but the split between on-court and off-court training is now more balanced.
Q: Does having a strong new crop of players performing well for India, ease the pressure on you and influence your decision or planning?
A: I’m really happy for them and for Indian squash. But to your question—I’ve never seen it as a burden; it has always been a privilege. Representing and delivering for India on big occasions is something I’m deeply grateful for and wouldn’t trade for anything. A stronger team only improves our chances of achieving more together, which is great for both Indian squash and me personally.
Q: Has stepping away from squash given you a fresh perspective on the game?
A: Absolutely. Stepping away gave me a fresh perspective. While inside the game, I took certain skills for granted. But coaching juniors forced me to break things down, giving me more clarity on my own game.
Now, in this second phase of my career, I want to compete and win, but also enjoy the process—travelling, training, and the overall experience—just like the kid Saurav Ghosal once did. Managing everything beyond just playing is crucial, and finding the right balance will only help me perform better.
Q: What are your short-term and long-term goals?
A: I’m working in two phases—the Asian Games, next year, in September, and the 2028 Olympics as the long-term goal. While the Olympics is on my mind, my focus is on the year ahead, improving my level step by step.
In the short term, I’m starting back on PSA from the bottom, playing smaller events like Sydney and Chennai to build my ranking toward the top 60-70 this year. Before the Asian Games, I also aim to compete in the Asian Individuals in June and the World Cup, in Chennai in December, but selection comes first. Right now, my focus is simply on performing well in Sydney and Chennai.
Saurav’s return to the PSA tour marks a new chapter in his already illustrious career. With his eyes set on the Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics, he is focused on improving step by step while enjoying the process. As Saurav gears up for his upcoming events in Sydney and Chennai, the squash world will be watching closely as he makes his mark once again.
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